Son La forms new rural areas accompanying tourism development

The development of community tourism in recent years has received great attention from Son La province. Since the end of 2016, Son La has implemented Resolution No. 22/2016/NQ-HDND dated December 14, 2016, of the Provincial People’s Council on policies to support community tourism development in the province until 2020.

To better manage and build orientations for tourism development, in the period 2016 – 2020, the province has surveyed and evaluated 20 villages with potential for community tourism development and implemented construction in 06 villages. These villages are: Bo Village (Son La City), Ang Village (Moc Chau district), Luot Village, Na Tau Village (Muong La district), Bon Village (Quynh Nhai district), and Hua Tat Village (Van Ho district).

Implementing the funding agreement between the Government of Vietnam and Australia, the Son La Provincial People’s Committee and Australian Ambassador in Vietnam deployed the Project to support ethnic minority women start-up businesses in Doi village (Tan Lap commune), Vat village (Muong Sang commune) and Ang village (Dong Sang commune).

Preserve and develop craft villages, develop tourism associated with agriculture, community tourism, and eco-tourism to create on-site jobs for rural workers. In Son La province, 2 craft villages have been recognized in Decision No. 1474/QD-UBND dated July 21, 2022, of the Provincial People’s Committee. They are: Longan processing village in Hong Nam village and Longan processing village in Hai Son village, Chieng Khoong commune, Song Ma district. The revenue of the two craft villages in 2022 reached over VND 13.2 billion. The average income of workers reaches VND 7 million/worker/month. The province has supported the development of craft villages with over VND 1.8 billion, including supporting the construction of longan drying ovens with over VND 1.7 billion and support for purchasing refrigerated containers valued at VND 100 million.

Son La province focuses on implementing the National Target Program on building new rural areas, associated with tourism development: Moc Chau National Tourist Area, Son La Hydropower Lakebed Tourist Area, Son La City Tourist Area, Bac Yen Tourist Area, Ang Village Pine Forest Tour; Ngoc Chien tourist area – Muong La… Developed tourism products associated with rural agriculture such as Farmstay tourism (farm resort tourism): Ngo Gia Trang, Ang village pine forest tourist area; Moc Suong eco-tourism area; Amifarm Farm… of Moc Chau district; Pha Din Top eco-tourism area (Thuan Chau); Bao Lam Farm (Bac Yen)…

The province has provided loans for construction, repair, and upgrading of homestays, and provided training to improve capacity for households doing community tourism. The province also develops tourism products; and supports communication, marketing, and market connection. Organize training on making a living and controlling daily expenses; communication skills and receptionist and guest service skills for women. Guide households with potential and advantages in housing architecture and natural landscape to build Homestay, serving domestic and international tourists with indigenous cultural experience services and enjoy ethnic cuisine, community holidays, experience agricultural activities…

Up to now, the whole province has more than 30 homestays in districts and cities, such as Homestay A Chu, Van Ho district; Homestay Tien Quan, Son Khe, Son La city; Homestay Nha Toi Moc Chau district; Homestay Hoan Hau, Huong Rung – Muong La district…

Building new rural areas by developing tourist areas and destinations and community tourism accompanying vocational training creates on-site jobs for rural workers to convert a part of rural workers into services. These incentives bring positive and clearer changes in career transformation, job creation, and increased income for people.

​According to Doctor Do Tan Khoa, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Medicine Hospital, building health tourism products in agricultural and rural tourism development met the orientation of developing agricultural and rural tourism associated with the consumption of agricultural specialities and OCOP products. It is also an important part of building various types of medical tourism services and products, serving the needs of domestic and foreign tourists.Health tourism in agricultural and rural tourism will be associated with developing local strengths in the following contents: promote indigenous traditional culture, develop specific products suitable to the local economic model and human development (in terms of management – operating capacity and professional skills).