Tam Duong district of Lai Chau province is blessed with a cool and fresh climate, mountain ranges, and numerous large and small caves nestled within these mountains, along with stunning waterfalls.
These natural assets provide a favorable foundation for the district to develop both adventure and exploration tourism, while simultaneously preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of its ethnic communities, making it an attractive destination for tourists from near and far.
Apart from making the most of its natural advantages to develop tourism, Tam Duong district is well aware of the need of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of its ethnic minorities, with the local people as the core force. The district has focused on encouraging locals to enhance their self-awareness and responsibilities in actualizing the plan. Annually, traditional festivals and distinctive cultural and artistic activities are organized to promote the cultural values of the ethnic groups and meeting locals and tourists’ needs for culture.
Tourists visit Si Thau Chai hamlet in Ho Thau commune, Tam Duong district.
Si Thau Chai hamlet of Ho Thau commune, Tam Duong district is one of the localities that have effectively carried out tourism development in combination with cultural preservation efforts. In mid-August, despite rain, tourists flock to the area. Si Thau Chai, which is home to over 60 households of the Dao ethnic minority group, lures visitors by the tranquil atmosphere; green, clean, and poetic environment with roses, orchids, and various fruit trees such as peaches, plums, and pears planted along the paths and mountain slopes. The road leading to the village is paved with stones, and both sides are stone walls and typical traditional wooden houses of the Dao people. In addition to the natural beauty, Si Thau Chai preserves many unique customs and traditions of the Dao community. Visitors can immerse themselves in the local festivals and savor the highland cuisine in centuries-old wooden houses. Notably, during the ripening rice season, tourists can participate in exciting adventure sports like paragliding over the Tam Duong Valley.
According to Lu A Giang, owner of the A Giang homestay in Si Thau Chai, in 2023, he received a support of VND 160 million from Tam Duong district to build the homestay. Now on weekends, his accommodation is often fully booked.
Giang said that the district has also invested in upgrading and paving the old paths leading up to Si Thau Chai, making travel much easier. The villagers have been trained to work in tourism and donated money to assist local authorities in building roads. Thanks to that, more and more visitors know about and come to Si Thau Chai.
Nguyen Phu Thiet, a visitor from Lai Chau city, said that since early August, he has already visited Si Thau Chai twice. “The place is incredibly peaceful, with fresh air, and life seems to slow down here" Thiet said.
According to the Standing Deputy Secretary of Tam Duong district's Party Committee Cao Trang Trong, in recent years, tourism in Tam Duong has seen significant growth. According to preliminary statistics for 2023, the number of tourists visiting the locality reached over 380,000, an increase of 220%, with total tourism revenue of VND 142 billion, up 224% compared to 2020. Tam Duong district has identified tourism development as one of the keys in the district’s socio-economic development. The district has issued numerous guiding documents, including resolutions and plans on tourism development.
He said that one of the tasks and solutions effectively carried out by the district is the preservation of traditional cultural values linked with developing tourism products. Through information dissemination, residents in the district's communes and villages have enthusiastically supported and participated in tourism development activities.
To effectively carry out ethnic culture preservation and tourism development, the district’s leader said that in the coming time the locality will continue to enhance leadership and direction to complete the planning system and development strategies for tourist destinations and promote tourism development in a rapid, strong, and sustainable manner.
Translated by Tran Hoai