Xuan Son National Park in Tan Son district has an area of more than 15,000 hectares, ranking the 12th among the 15 largest national parks in Vietnam. The park is considered a “green lung”, an attractive tourist destination located in the northwest of Phu Tho, with a forest cover of up to 84%, and a stable and well protected forest ecosystem. In recent years, the community-based tourism model in Xuan Son has attracted many domestic and foreign tourists to visit and experience.
With its advantaged geographical location, Xuan Son National Park is considered to have a clean and cool air and water environment with a typical four-season climate: cool Spring in morning, hot Summer at noon, slightly windy Autumn in afternoon, and cold Winter in evening. This is an advantage for further development of ecotourism and resort tourism.
As a result of the weathering and hydroification process, Xuan Son has 16 rock caves with beautiful and diverse stalactites in a variety of shapes. Visiting the caves here, visitors will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the stalactites hanging down into strange shapes. Tien cave is an underground cave in the heart of a 10km long marble mountain. Inside, there is a ventilation path to the top of the mountain, making the fresh cool air. The lake has many interesting strange fish species.
Up to now, in Xuan Son commune, there are more than 10 households engaged in homestay business providing the capacity of 300 guests per day. Households participating in the community-based tourism are well trained in the ways to receive, cook and serve visitors. The business households all focus on building their images such as uniformly investing in bonsai flower pots, fence systems and flower gates, creating a green, clean and beautiful landscape, and at the same time raise the sense of responsibility of the local community to join hands to develop the community ecology... The households who are not yet eligible to run homestay business develop livestock and farming services, provide food for homestay units and guide tourists.
In recent years, Xuan Son National Park"s tourism facilities have received more and more attention, and community eco-tourism products are clearly being formed, attracting more and more tourists to visit and experience. Coming to Xuan Son, tourists have the opportunity to visit and experience many unique models such as: “Xuan Son water column”, “Xuan Son tourist flower road”; “Xuan Son Beach”; “The statue of multi-spur rooster”... which have become indispensable “check-in” points for every visitor on their arrivals.
In addition, tourists may also experience the production activities of local people such as knitting, weaving brocades, brewing wines, catching stream fish, picking medicinal leaves for bathing, cooking typical dishes of the mountainous region, participating in cultural activities such as rice pounding, Xoe dancing, cheraw dance, etc., bringing the most interesting experiences to visitors. Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang, a tourist from Hanoi said: “Almost every year, my family come to Xuan Son National Park and often choose “homestay” as our accommodation. Visiting and traveling here, my children had many experiences such as eating, staying with indigenous people, learning about their culture and participating in the community activities.
Mr. Ha Duc Minh - Chairman of Xuan Son Commune People"s Committee said: Developing eco-tourism associated with community cultural tourism of Muong and Dao ethnic groups in Xuan Son National Park has contributed to improving the economic life of the local people, protecting forests in a sustainable way, and at the same time exploiting the potentials and strengths of this land. Since the beginning of the year until now, when all activities were recovered to the new normal conditions, especially during the public holiday period of April 30 to May 1, Xuan Son National Park has received over 2,000 visitors.
In the coming time, Tan Son District People"s Committee will continue to invest in infrastructure and coordinate with investors to promote sustainable development of the community eco-tourism in Xuan Son National Park.
Hoang Quy