Chieng Xom became the first commune in Son La city to fulfill the criteria for new rural development in 2015. It now has a new look with clean, beautiful hamlets, and the locals’ lives have improved. Locals are promoting community-based tourism to increase incomes and adhere to national norms for new rural areas.
Chieng Xom, 300 km from Hanoi, is home to six ethnic minority groups. The Thai account for 90% of the commune’s population.
They live mainly by farming and raising animals. Expansive rice fields, gently rolling hills, and hospitable ethnic people are a promising formula for community tourism.
Leo Van Huong, Deputy Chairman of the Chieng Xom People’s Committee, said “In the future, commune authorities will continue encouraging Hum, Phieng Ngua, Tong, and Tong Noi hamlet to fully tap their potential to attract tourists. We’ll restore traditional crafts like knitting and brocade weaving, traditional festivals such as Xoe dancing, and folk games.”
Hum hamlet used to be very poor. The locals lived mainly by growing corn and rice. Since the hamlet piloted the community-based tourism model in 2012, locals’ living standard has improved.
Last year, per capita income in Hum hamlet reached US$107 a month. Receiving a preferential loan from Son La city, Quang Van Phong’s family upgraded their house for community tourism and converted unprofitable farmland to fruit orchards. Last year the family earned a profit of US$4,300.
Phong, who owns Long Trang Homestay in Hum hamlet, says offering homestay services is easier than farming and more profitable. Moreover, community tourism has forced local households to keep their houses and alleys clean, thereby fulfilling the environment criteria of the new rural norms.
Phong said “Since I started doing community-based tourism, my family’s income has grown. It makes our life better off and happier.”
Leo Minh Chau’s family has been engaged in community-based tourism for a couple of years. The Minh Chau homestay has become more beautiful and spacious thanks to an investment from Son La city.
“My family wants to build a community-based tourism hamlet by getting people to plant trees and flowers in their yards, for example. Improving our infrastructure and service will attract more visitors and get them to stay longer,” said Chau.