Unlocking the tourism potential of Tan Ky district on Ho Chi Minh road

(Baonghean) - Located in the West of Nghe An, Tan Ky district is blessed with many beautiful and unique landscapes associated with a land with a rich cultural history. In particular, the people here are simple, sincere, warm and hospitable. These are favorable factors for the locality to develop eco-tourism associated with community tourism.

Following the Ho Chi Minh trail connecting the North and South of the country, visitors can easily and conveniently reach the countryside of Tan Ky. The first stop is Km 0, the starting point of the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail.

Here, more than 40 years ago, the main divisions along with millions of tons of weapons, oil, and food were gathered and transported to support the Southern battlefield to defeat the American invaders. That miracle has entered the nation's history as a brilliant milestone, and today, many tourists have returned, respectfully and admiringly, the resounding victory of a time when people split the Truong Son mountain range to save the country.

In the summer, many tourists come to Hong Son waterfall (Tan Hop commune, Tan Ky district). Photo: Trong Hung

From here, visitors continue their journey to explore Tan Ky with an eco-tourism tour associated with community tourism. About 30km from Km 0 in the center of Tan Ky town, visitors will come to the pristine, majestic beauty of Hong Son waterfall in Tan Hop commune. The waterfall is 150m high, with 4 gently sloping stone floors overlapping each other, the water flows softly like a white silk strip hanging down the foot of the mountain.

When the sunlight shines through each stream of water, spreading on the granite rocks, the waterfall is like a painting decorated with shimmering, magical colors. Coming here, visitors can soak in the cool, pure water flowing from the heart of the mountain, immersing themselves in the nature of the clouds and sky, all the fatigue and worries of everyday life will be dispelled.

Nguyen Thi Van in Yen Hoa hamlet, Tan Hop commune (Tan Ky) said: "Hong Son waterfall has water flowing all year round, especially in the summer, we and many people often come here to bathe, it's very cool and interesting."

In addition to the waterfall, when coming to Tan Hop commune, visitors can also explore the unique and fascinating beauty of Thung Khien cave cluster. Slipping through the undulating stone caves with many steps, inside the cave are colorful stalactites, sparkling with gold particles. Without human hands, there is only earth, stone and water, but nature has created a space that is both virtual and real.

Along the road to Tan Hop, visitors can stop by Giai Xuan commune to admire the unique beauty of the thousand-year-old Sanh tree. Located on Nang hill for generations, fighting against the harsh weather of nature, the Sanh tree still exists with a strong vitality; the roots and trunk cling tightly to the giant rock, the canopy stretches up to form an arch, with rich shapes according to the imagination of visitors.

The tree hugs the rock, the rock supports the tree trunk, a harmonious connection creating a sturdy and towering position in the mountains and forests of Western Nghe An.

Mr. Lai Van Toi - Deputy Director of the Hanoi Imperial Citadel Research Center, came to explore the beautiful scenery in Tan Ky and said: "Nature has bestowed Tan Ky with very beautiful relics, stalactites, caves, valleys and pristine landscapes and I think that if we know how to exploit and organize, this will not only be a potential for cultural tourism and eco-tourism but also an attractive historical tourist destination."

Dancing together to the gong sounds of the Thai Minh villagers, Tien Ky commune (Tan Ky) at the Thunder Festival. Photo: Trong Hung

Tan Ky is not only a land associated with a long history, many beautiful and attractive landscapes, but also has a unique culture, rich in national identity, and traditional craft villages. Thai Minh village of Tien Ky commune has 100% Thai ethnic people living, is the only village in Tan Ky district recognized as a brocade weaving village. Coming here, visitors will live in the atmosphere of hard work of Thai girls.

They work together at the loom, diligently and skillfully to create brocade products with beautiful designs and patterns, rich in style for visitors to learn, experience and choose for themselves a meaningful gift.

Ms. Vi Thi Thuy, who has been involved in brocade weaving for a long time, shared: “We create brocade products such as scarves, dresses, which are indispensable outfits for any Thai girl before getting married. Women often make them in their free time, the products not only serve their families but are also widely sold in the market.”

Coming to Thai Minh village, visitors can also admire the stilt houses located at the foot of the mountain with unique architecture, high, spacious, airy to serve the accommodation needs well. Moreover, they can enjoy typical dishes of the Thai people with the rich flavor of the nature of the mountains and forests such as bamboo rice, grilled fish, soup...; and also immerse themselves in the traditional festivals of the village such as the Thunder Festival, gongs, bamboo dancing, drinking rice wine.

In particular, exploring Mo Cave still retains the natural ecosystem intact. Inside are stone caves located deep in the heart of the mountain with unique and strange structures. In the summer, visitors coming here will feel the cool water, immersing themselves in the immense space of the mountains and forests. After exploring the cave, visitors can also enjoy rustic dishes made from forest leaves growing next to Mo Cave, and eat stream fish that are both delicious, strange, and healthy with unforgettable flavors.

It can be said that developing ecotourism associated with community tourism is the right direction to effectively exploit available natural resources, creating opportunities for people to participate in tourism to develop the economy, improve material and spiritual life, and also contribute to preserving and promoting the unique traditional values ​​of ethnic minorities in Tan Ky district.

With that goal, Tan Ky District People's Committee has set out a roadmap for tourism development from now until 2020 and the following years. In 2017 and 2018, Tan Ky District focused on directing the development of community tourism in Thai Minh village, Tien Ky commune.

In the immediate future, establish a steering group from district to commune, create conditions for localities to attract businesses to invest in development, take advantage of capital sources to upgrade and repair main roads to tourist destinations and focus on promoting propaganda work so that all people understand the meaning of developing community tourism to participate in preserving and promoting cultural, historical and natural landscape values.

Mr. Trinh Huu Thanh - Vice Chairman of Tan Ky District People's Committee said: "Tan Ky has historical relics and many beautiful landscapes that can develop tourism, so after the master plan, we will complete the organization and investment in building a traffic system to the main points."

Inside Mo cave in Thai Minh village, Tien Ky commune. Photo: Trong Hung

To promote the local tourism potential, all levels and sectors need to raise the awareness of each local resident in protecting the landscape, caves, and historical relics to ensure they remain pristine and attract tourists. Tan Ky district follows the roadmap and strives to build a tour connecting points in the district and after arriving in Tan Ky, tourists can go to Con Cuong district and other districts in the province.

Tan Ky today is on the way of development and integration. Therefore, focusing on developing eco-tourism associated with community tourism not only promotes local economic development but also introduces and promotes the image of Tan Ky to friends and tourists from all over the world.

With the proposed roadmap and strategy, Tan Ky is making efforts to implement connecting tourist routes and destinations in the district, aiming to awaken the tourism potential. From there, attracting many tourists to come here to learn, explore and admire the unique, new and interesting beauty of the natural landscape, to better understand the people and land of Tan Ky.

PV Group