Quy Chau - an ideal destination for community tourism.

(Baonghean) - Possessing many scenic spots and historical and cultural relics, Quy Chau region has been, is, and will continue to be an ideal destination for tourists who enjoy learning about and exploring the cultural values ​​of ethnic groups, as well as admiring and immersing themselves in nature.

Sediment attraction

Located about 140 km northwest of Vinh City, Quy Chau – the former central region of Phu Quy – still retains many pristine and peaceful features. The pace of life here is gentle, with a diligent spirit reminiscent of the waterwheels turning along the picturesque Hieu River...

From Tan Lac town, heading west along National Highway 48, visitors arrive at the ancient Thai village of Hoa Tien (now Hoa Tien 1 and Hoa Tien 2 hamlets, Chau Tien commune). Looking from Chau Tien bridge across the Ta Chum rice fields (the border area between Quy Chau and Que Phong districts), you will see the tranquil stilt houses, nestled close together in a checkerboard pattern.

The stilt houses in Hoa Tien are typically located halfway up the mountain, facing the Nam Quang River. They are designed with 3 to 5 rooms, with the outermost room, next to the main staircase, used for receiving guests and drinking rice wine; the inner rooms are where the family lives. The lower level is for storing farming tools, wood, firewood, etc., and of course, the most spacious and airy area is dedicated to the loom and weaving of brocade, a traditional craft of the local people.

The Quy Chau melody (Waterwheel of the people of Hoa Tien village, Chau Tien commune).

Next to each loom is a display area showcasing the family's brocade products. The women of Hoa Tien village are incredibly skillful. The skirts, scarves, rugs, handbags, and belts, embroidered and woven with exquisite patterns, are entirely handcrafted, from growing mulberry trees and raising silkworms to spinning and dyeing the threads. It is known that Hoa Tien brocade has long been highly sought after.

Ms. Sam Thi Huong, head of the brocade weaving cooperative, revealed that the cooperative's brocade has reached markets in Hanoi, Laos, and even Thailand. The brocade weaving craft has provided stable income for hundreds of local workers. Hoa Tien clearly and fully embodies the rich cultural identity of the Thai people and is one of the prides of Quy Chau – a land steeped in legends and traces of the origins of ancient Vietnamese people.

At Tham Om cave (Chau Thuan commune), archaeologists found 10 tools, including one made of quartz stone, considered the first production tool made by prehistoric humans, as well as discovering many human remains and teeth of Homo sapiens; at Co Ngun cave (Chau Binh commune), many stone tools about 7-8 thousand years old and many pottery fragments from the Metal Age about 4,000 years ago were also found...

A part of the ancient people's lives is reflected in the cultural colors that are still preserved intact at the Hang Bua Festival, held annually in the spring. Before the festival begins, the local people often make a pilgrimage to the sacred temple of Muong Chieng Ngam - the place of worship for the three patron deities Xieu Bo, Xieu Ke, and Xieu Luong, who were instrumental in establishing the village.

Hang Bua, Chau Tien commune (Quy Chau).

Attending the Hang Bua festival is a chance to experience age-old cultural values. And rightly so, because a series of cultural and sporting activities such as: archery, throwing the ball, stick pushing; writing Thai script; spinning yarn, weaving brocade; making incense; and performing folk songs and dances like nhuon, xuoi, lam, khap, khac luong… all demonstrate this.

Realizing potential

In 2014, the People's Committee of Quy Chau district initiated a plan to develop community tourism in Hoa Tien village. The district selected and supported 10 families to participate in study tours to Lac village, Mai Chau district (Hoa Binh province) and Nua village, Yen Khe commune (Con Cuong district) to develop a community tourism model. The 25th District Party Congress (2015-2020 term) adopted Resolution No. 13 and Program No. 10-CTr/HU on developing community tourism linked to the preservation of cultural and historical values.

In implementing the aforementioned Resolution and Program, Quy Chau district has taken concrete actions such as upgrading 10 selected surveyed households into community guesthouses; opening several accompanying tourism services such as: mountain biking, ox cart pulling, rafting on streams; expanding stalls selling traditional products such as: brocade, rattan trays, chairs, blankets, sheets, pillows, and Thai mattresses; exploiting local culinary culture associated with Quy Chau district's specialties such as: hill chicken, Muscovy duck, fermented pork, ho moc (a type of noodle dish), pickled bamboo shoots, canh ot (a type of soup), grilled fish, sour meat, taro soup, sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, and various cheo (a type of dipping sauce); developing tours guiding the preparation of dishes with strong traditional cultural characteristics, creating novelty for tourists, especially international visitors...

Visiting Om - Chau Binh, Quy Chau.

Thanks to the efforts of the Party committees and local authorities, community-based tourism in Hoa Tien village has initially yielded encouraging results. In 2016, Hoa Tien village welcomed 20 tourist groups, including 4 foreign groups, with typical stays of 1-2 days, but some groups stayed for up to a week. Mr. Nguyen Hai Anh, a tourist from Hanoi, shared his feelings: "As a travel enthusiast, I've been to many places, but truly few places are as interesting as here."

"When I visited Hoa Tien village, I was particularly impressed by the hospitality of the villagers. I felt like a customer, not a customer, but a family member and a valued guest. The traditional dishes here are also delicious, especially the 'canh ot' soup, grilled fish, and duck... I will definitely come back and recommend it to many more friends."

We believe that, with a land that still retains much of its pristine beauty and countless scenic spots associated with rich cultural and historical values ​​of the nation, along with the efforts of the Party committee and the government in developing community tourism, Quy Chau will soon be one of the ideal destinations for tourists.

Canh Nam