Memorable experiences with tourist attractions in Western Nghe An

Dreamy check-in spots

Right after the Lunar New Year holiday ended, on the weekend, we had a trip to some communes and districts on the border of Western Nghe An. About 3 years ago, the Western Nghe An districts had very few homestay experience destinations with full dining, resting and sightseeing services, exploring the regional cultural identity of ethnic minorities, but in 2022 the number of "destinations" has increased significantly.

Tourists visit the ancient plum and peach gardens in Muong Long 2 village. Photo: HT

For example, in Muong Long commune, Ky Son border district, in 2019 there was no homestay, but now there are 3 service points for eating, resting and sightseeing. Each point serves tourist groups of 15-20 people/group.

The pure beauty of Muong Long plum blossoms. Photo: HT

With the tradition of growing peach, plum and apricot trees for hundreds of years, Muong Long has become the "capital" of peach and plum gardens that are decades old. In spring, this place is filled with red peach blossoms and white plum blossoms, surprising visitors and immersing them in the pure beauty of valleys filled with flowers.

Plum gardens in Muong Long during the blooming season are always a favorite place for tourists to admire the flowers and capture beautiful moments. Photo: HT

Ms. Lau Y Denh, owner of Y Denh homestay in Muong Long 1 village, Muong Long commune (Ky Son) said that since the first days of the new year 2023, her family has welcomed 3 groups of guests to eat, rest, visit and experience the beautiful scenery and customs, cultural activities of the people in Muong Long.

In the last month of 2022, Ms. Denh's establishment also welcomed 5 groups of guests. "On January 27, the family received a schedule to serve a group of 15 guests, and had to refuse another group of about 10 guests because they called too late to prepare food in time. Because many dishes need a long time to prepare, such as charcoal-grilled local pork, grilled chicken, pork skin soup with mustard flowers..." - Ms. Y Denh added.

Young tourists capture the early spring moments with children in Muong Long 1 village. Photo: Quoc Son

Mr. Vu Ba Xu - Vice Chairman of Muong Long Commune People's Committee said that in 2022, Muong Long had 3 homestay establishments, the most ever. All establishments met the requirements for facilities serving tourists to sleep, rest, and eat. Therefore, the number of experiential tourists coming to Muong Long also began to increase, especially in the second half of 2022.

Similar to Muong Long, homestays in Hoa Tien community tourism village, Chau Tien commune, Quy Chau district have also been bustling again since 2022. In Hoa Tien 1 village, Chau Tien commune, there are currently 20 households participating in "doing" community tourism. A homestay owner in Hoa Tien 1 village said that since the beginning of 2022, the number of tourists has increased again.

Each homestay in Muong Long can serve groups of 15 to 20 people. Photo: HT

Since April 2022, the facility has welcomed about 30 groups of visitors from inside and outside the province to experience the tourism services here. Products and services that are very popular with tourists include the experience of weaving brocade, soaking and dyeing fabrics with natural materials. In addition, tourists are also very excited to watch and participate in Thai ethnic dances, songs and cuisine performed by the local people.

During the 7-day Lunar New Year holiday of Quy Mao 2023 (from December 29, Nham Dan year to January 5, Quy Mao year, i.e. January 20-26, 2023), the whole province welcomed and served about 260,000 visitors, including about 131,000 overnight guests; more than 1,100 international visitors. Total revenue from tourists reached about 446 billion VND. Tourist attractions with a large number of visitors include: Ong Hoang Muoi Temple (Hung Nguyen), Con Temple (Hoang Mai town), Kim Lien National Special Relic Site, Dai Tue Pagoda (Nam Dan), Emperor Quang Trung Temple (Vinh city), Truong Bon National Relic Site (Do Luong) and Spring flower gardens, eco-tourism spots in Nghia Dan, Con Cuong, Quy Chau, Ky Son districts...

Tourists visit a booth displaying and selling traditional brocade products in Hoa Tien 1 village, Chau Tien commune (Quy Chau). Photo: HT

Care about service quality

The good news for the tourism and service industry in the western districts of Nghe An is not only the increasing number of tourists, but also the change in thinking and awareness of the people and owners of tourism service businesses.

In Muong Long commune, not only has the number of homestays increased, but families running service businesses are also increasingly aware of improving service quality to create prestige and attract more visitors. “The family does not follow the number of guests, but once they accept to serve a group of guests, they will focus on taking good care of the tourists to satisfy them. Especially, the food is always fresh and delicious, most of which are raised and produced by family members, such as black chicken, black pig, rice, sticky rice, vegetables... Even the food for chickens and pigs is grown by the family itself” - Ms. Y Denh said.

Ms. Lau Y Denh (far left) introduces typical Mong ethnic culinary products that her family prepares themselves. Photo: Quoc Son

When we experienced the service at Y Denh homestay, not only Ms. Denh and her husband, but also Y Denh's sons, daughters, brothers and sisters all participated in supporting each other to welcome guests. They prepared food, rooms, and assigned to take visitors to peach and plum gardens for sightseeing and taking souvenir photos. In particular, they welcomed visitors like long-lost relatives returning home, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere for visitors from far away to the village on the border of Nghe An.

“To build a homestay, my family received 100 million VND from the province's tourism development project. My husband and I invested in building a sturdy wooden house worth about 2 billion VND to provide tourists with a clean and beautiful place to rest,” said Mr. Vu Ba Va, Ms. Y Denh's husband.

According to the leaders of Muong Long commune, hospitality has been a long-standing tradition of the Mong ethnic people here. All homestay establishments in Muong Long, when established and registered for services, will not only receive financial support according to the Resolution regulating a number of policies to support the development of community tourism in Nghe An province in the period of 2021 - 2025, but will also always be thoroughly informed about ensuring service quality to create prestige and trust for tourists, thereby helping this special industry that has never existed in Muong Long to develop day by day, helping many households gradually become prosperous.

Muong Long in winter has also become a subject of composition for many professional and amateur photographers. Photo courtesy of Ho Nhat Thanh

Like Ms. Y Denh and her husband, at the Nhat Minh farmstay tourism experience facility in Chau Thon commune, Que Phong district, the owner of the facility, Mr. Dinh Ba Cuong, said that Nhat Minh farmstay participates in the tourism - service chain of Western Nghe An, from around June 2022 until now, the number of tourists experiencing Nhat Minh farm as well as other facilities has tended to increase. This is a good sign for those who "work" in tourism, but it is also a challenge in creating attraction and meeting the needs of customers, especially in terms of service quality.

An experience corner at Nhat Minh Farm, Chau Thon Commune, Que Phong District. Photo: PV

In recent years, the number of tourists visiting and traveling has increased by an average of 10-12% per year, tourism revenue has continuously increased, and a number of tourism products have been initially formed and built. Ethnic minority people have had income and benefited from the values, natural resources, and culture of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.

Some new tours have been initially exploited, such as the Giang River - Co Phat Village - Bung Village discovery tour; eco-tour to visit Pu Mat National Park; eco-tour and community culture tour in Con Cuong, Quy Chau, Que Phong; international tour along route 7 to the Plain of Jars (Xieng Khouang), Luang Prabang (Laos)...

Western Nghe An has great potential for developing eco-tourism services. Photo: Document

Regarding economic development orientations in Nghe An, tourism is identified as one of the key sectors according to the orientation of Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW dated January 16, 2017 of the Politburo on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector. To specify Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW, Nghe An has issued many action programs, implementation plans and resolutions of the Provincial People's Council to support the development of community tourism in Nghe An province in the period of 2021-2025.

A community tourism spot in Yen Hoa village, My Ly commune was just established at the end of 2022, associated with historical and cultural works imbued with the national identity of the Nghe An border region. Photo: Quoc Son

It clearly states that the tourism development process needs to preserve, consolidate, build and promote resources in an optimal way; develop transport and information infrastructure to serve and support tourism and the tourism economy. Strengthen promotion and investment from businesses, people and the State. In addition, it is necessary to train human resources, focusing on forming a tourism culture. For people and businesses, it is necessary to comprehensively renew their awareness of how to do tourism, change their mindset on how to serve customers and how to guide and orient tourists' tastes; strengthen the connection of information and tourism markets with each other not only domestically but also internationally./.