Currently, in the region of Mong ethnic people, Hang Kia commune (Mai Chau, Hoa Binh) is exploiting the community tourism activities relatively effectively. The tourism economy has been sustainably developing, basing on the potential and advantages of the natural resources and traditional cultural identity. The model is increasingly being replicated, creating changes in awareness, and contributing to the progressive changes in people's lives.
Tourists are checking-in to the rattan hunting spot in Hang Kia commune (Mai Chau) to discover the wonderful nature.
Being the first Hmong person doing community tourism, Ms. Sung Y Mua in Hang Kia hamlet 1, now dozens of the households in the commune have participated in tourism activities, building a chain of tourism products and services. Ms. Giang Thi Sao, a household running May Ly Homestay community house in Hang Kia Village 3, says: There are quite a lot of tourists coming to the area of Mong ethnic people, and there are many foreigners. The households and I have learned from the previous households to deploy the model to both serve the tourists and help the people in the village have more work to do and improve their income.
Being more than 3 hours away from Ha Noi, Hang Kia community tourism site has been attracting tourists because of its majestic landscape, the typical cool weather in the summer, cold in the winter, and the outstanding indigenous culture. In this place, there is a very special rattan hunting spot, a trekking tour program with jungle exploration journeys, and rich cultural experience activities... In the middle of winter, plum and peach blossoms bloom early, and tourists can check-in with plants, flowers, and learn about the people's lives. The lunar New Year is quite close to the traditional New Year of Mong people, the people have stocked up and prepared a lot of food, making rice cakes, and drying pork in the kitchen root... to welcome guests from all over the region, as well as international guests, celebrating Tet with family.
According to Mr. Kha A Lau, the Chairman of Hang Kia People's Committee, the model of tourism economy that is being encouraged and paid attention to by the locality is the community tourism associated with preserving the cultural identity and diversifying the agricultural experience products. In the area, Hang Kia Tourism and Agricultural Service Cooperative has been established and effectively maintained since 2020 with 11 members. Hang Kia Community Tourism has been recognized as a 4-star OCOP product. To exploit the strengths of tourism well, the local party committees and authorities have determined that the cultural identity plays the role of an "attractive force” to attract tourists. At the same time, it is necessary to focus on promoting propaganda and education, mobilizing the people to preserve and promote the unique culture and precious heritage of their nation such as language, costumes, customs and traditions, the traditional festivals...
In particular, not only on the occasion of the traditional Tet, festivals, performances, sports, and cultural competitions... do Hang Kia Mong people wear traditional costumes, which are commonly used in daily activities. The tourist, Kendy (USA) says that costumes are the most distinctive and easily identifiable indigenous cultural feature. During the days staying at Hang Kia, our group was very satisfied with the the experiences, feeling the cultural colors and the outstanding cultural space through regularly wearing the traditional costumes of the people.
In summer, tourists often go to Hang Kia to experience fruit picking, visit craft villages, go to the market, and hunt for clouds, then in winter, most tourists are interested in the tourism product of Pa Co night market. Taking place on Saturday nights. In just less than 1 month, Mong people in Hang Kia and Pa Co communes will enjoy Gau Tao festival and welcome Mong New Year. This is also the peak month for Hang Kia community tourism to welcome visitors. The people are rarely aware of preserving the culture, creating more unique experiential tourism products, and attracting tourists to the festival activities.
