Creating sustainable livelihoods for people from community tourism model in Da Bac
Xom Da Bia (now Duc Phong hamlet), Tien Phong commune, Da Bac district is a famous community tourism village of Hoa Binh province and has been voted and received the ASEAN Community Tourism Award in 2019. With that advantage, Da Bac has a policy of promoting the exploitation of this destination, creating stable jobs and increasing income for people.
The simple stilt houses of Ngoc Nhem Homestay have the typical features of the Muong people in Da Bia hamlet, Tien Phong commune (Da Bac, Hoa Binh). Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
Increasing income
Xom Da Bia is located along the Da River lake, with about 40 households (Muong people) living. The main livelihood of the people is agriculture.
In June 2014, the Australian NGO Action on Poverty (AOP) in Vietnam, in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Da Bac district, implemented the project “Community tourism in Da Bac”. Xom Da Bia is one of the villages selected for support in community tourism. Currently, Xom Da Bia has 5 community guesthouses with living spaces imbued with the stilt house culture of the Muong people of Da Bac. In addition to speaking ethnic languages and Kinh, most women, young people and children in the village speak English and French very well.
Xom Da Bia is a small hamlet of the Muong Ao Ta people located right next to Hoa Binh Lake. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
Owner of Ngoc Nhem homestay in Da Bia hamlet, Bui Thi Nhem, said that in the past, Da Bia was a small hamlet, an isolated oasis of mountains, forests and rivers. Realizing the potential of the landscape suitable for community tourism, many households in the village have received support from the government and organizations to repair their houses to develop tourism.
When transportation became more convenient, homestays began to form in the village. Although they were renovated and rebuilt, the houses of the households in the village still retained the stilt house architecture and unique cultural features, meeting the needs of eating, sleeping, resting, and at the same time connecting and providing many experience services to tourists.
Resting space for tourists at Ngoc Nhem homestay in Da Bia hamlet, Tien Phong commune (Da Bac, Hoa Binh). Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
The cultural space and landscape of Da Bia village are still almost intact, suitable for tourists who like to experience and learn about the unique cultural values of the Muong people. Xom Da Bia offers memorable experiences with various types of tourism such as trekking tours through the forest, exploring village life, fishing, eating rice, sleeping in stilt houses…
The hamlet has many ancient stilt houses, which are the common living space of the Muong people. The space for visitors is arranged in each room with curtains. In particular, the wooden stilt houses do not need to be locked, people can easily walk and visit each other, creating a very special feature that attracts tourists.
Xom Da Bia is located next to Hoa Binh Lake in Tien Phong Commune, Da Bac District. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
In the morning, visitors can wake up early to take a walk, watch the misty clouds covering the mountains, watch people fishing, enjoy the fresh air of Hoa Binh Lake, or sit on bamboo chairs right in the stilt house, enjoy the cool air.
Tourists take a cruise ship from Bich Ha port in Hoa Binh city to Da Bia hamlet. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
In the evening, by the light of the Muong kitchen fire, visitors can participate in cultural programs at homestays, dance with bamboo poles, and drink wine with the hospitable local people.
Tourists leave the tourist boat to go to Da Bia hamlet. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
Tourists can also stroll along the paths in the hamlet, enjoy the quiet space…, feel the relaxation, peace and recharge after tiring working days.
Coming from Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy shared that she knew about Da Bia hamlet through a friend in Hanoi. She and her family chose Da Bia hamlet to experience the life and culture of the Muong people in Hoa Binh. Although the distance is far and there are many means of transportation, this is indeed a place worth visiting with majestic and poetic landscapes, unique life and culture of the indigenous people. Ms. Thuy said that she will return to Da Bia hamlet with her family and friends many more times.
The simple houses are very typical of the people of Da Bia hamlet, Tien Phong commune (Da Bac, Hoa Binh). Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
The unique cultural feature of the hamlet that makes tourists excited is the model of the Self-service Shop at the residential areas in the village, selling agricultural products such as bananas, honey, bamboo shoots, chicken eggs, etc. Notably, the shop has no sellers, the price is listed under each item, visitors or residents choose which item, voluntarily put the corresponding amount in the basket and take the item away.
The sacred Thac Bo Temple on Hoa Binh Lake. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
Development from community tourism
From a poor hamlet in a remote and disadvantaged commune of Da Bac district, the people of Da Bia hamlet have overcome difficulties to become a bright spot in the development of community tourism in the province.
The hamlet has about 40 households, of which 5 households are doing community tourism, supported by the provincial government, and Action on Poverty (AOP) Australia provides financial support and technical advice to develop community tourism, creating sustainable livelihoods for the people.
Peaceful river scene of Da Bia hamlet on Hoa Binh lake. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
According to statistics, in the first 9 months of 2022, Da Bia hamlet welcomed nearly 1,000 domestic and foreign visitors. The community tourism model in Da Bia village attracts nearly 100% of households to directly participate in tourism service activities…
According to the owner of Quang Tho homestay Lo Thi Thuy, the homestay has a stilt house that can accommodate 12 guests. On weekends and holidays, Da Bia hamlet is always fully booked. All homestay businesses connect and share guests with households in the hamlet participating in community tourism to promptly meet the needs of tourists.
The reception area below the stilt house at Ngoc Nhem Homestay in Da Bia hamlet, Tien Phong commune (Da Bac, Hoa Binh). Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
After the COVID-19 pandemic, life returned to normal. The sharp increase in tourists helped households in Da Bia hamlet have high incomes, stabilize their lives, and continue to invest in developing community tourism.
Ms. Bui Thi Mia, a member of the Da Bia hamlet art troupe, said that participating in the art troupe to perform for tourists at homestays is also a way for her to contribute to preserving the cultural identity of her people.
Peaceful life of people living along the Hoa Binh hydroelectric lake. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
Chairman of the People’s Committee of Da Bac district Luong Van Thi informed that every year, the district welcomes nearly 100,000 domestic and foreign tourists, creating jobs for thousands of people living along the lake.
Da Bac district has developed a project to develop district tourism by 2020, with a vision to 2030, aiming to turn the locality into an attractive tourist destination, contributing to creating more jobs, increasing income for the community and increasing revenue for the State budget.
Local products are sold at the shop (the shop has no sales person, each item has a listed price, tourists or locals choose which item, voluntarily put the corresponding amount in the basket and take the item away). Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
Many specific solutions have been issued by the Da Bac district government to develop community tourism in Da Bia hamlet (Tien Phong commune), Sung hamlet (Cao Son commune), Ke hamlet (Hien Luong commune)… associated with exploiting natural potential, cultural identity, supporting transformation, improving service quality, and developing in a professional direction.
The district focuses on promoting and connecting markets; building brands for tourism products and services in a sustainable manner. The locality also coordinates with relevant departments and branches to create favorable conditions for investors to research and implement projects, creating strong development in tourism and services, contributing to hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and new rural construction.
Tourists from Hanoi enjoy the Self-Consciousness Restaurant model. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA
