Infrastructure boost awakens tourism and economic potential of Hoa Binh Lake

Photo caption — A corner of Hoa Binh hydroelectric lake. Photo: Trong Dat/VNA

This is one of the largest hydroelectric reservoirs in the North, and has great potential and advantages for tourism development and aquaculture. Over the years, it has been oriented to develop into a national tourist area with types such as eco-tourism, resorts, community, water sports and ethnic cultural experiences. With that advantage, the local government is focusing resources on turning the potential of Hoa Binh Lake into a driving force for development.

Decision to open the way

At the Congress of Party Committees of communes in the Hoa Binh Lake area, the orientation of building a comprehensive economic zone along the lake, combining aquaculture development, tourism and services was emphasized. Cage fish farming models on the lake bed were encouraged to be associated with the brand "Da River fish", creating a value chain combining tourism and culinary experiences. The development is placed in a sustainable, environmentally friendly vision, ensuring ecological landscape, water safety and people's livelihoods.

Phu Tho also focuses on promoting local cultural identity, connecting the cultural heritage of the Ancestral Land with river tourism space, building inter-regional tours between Phu Tho - Hoa Binh - Son La. Traffic infrastructure, wharves, lakeside urban areas and tourism services will be invested synchronously, applying digital transformation in tourism promotion and management.

In addition to its great potential, Phu Tho province has identified the need to strictly control aquaculture activities, protect the water environment and improve service quality, ensuring harmony between economic development, cultural preservation and nature protection. With this direction, Hoa Binh Lake is expected to become an eco-tourism and lakeside economic center of the extended Northwest region.

In addition, the orientation of the communes in the Hoa Binh reservoir area also clearly defines tourism combined with aquaculture growth, with the goal of reaching 10,000 fish cages by 2030, with an output of 16,000 tons/year, worth 500 billion VND, prioritizing specialty fish such as black carp, catfish, and fried fish. Cage fish farming models combined with experiential tourism are being encouraged, with the requirement of protecting the lake environment, rational arrangement and application of high technology for sustainable development and creating livelihoods for local people.

At the Da Bac Commune Congress (Phu Tho), the local government proposed key tasks, solutions and breakthroughs in the coming term. Accordingly, focusing on the general planning of Da Bac urban area until 2045, synchronously building digital government, developing digital economy, digital society associated with green economy; developing ecological agriculture combined with community tourism, typical OCOP products (One Commune One Product Program); effectively exploiting the potential of the Da River lake area and traditional cultural values; prioritizing investment in essential infrastructure, ensuring social security; focusing on training high-quality human resources, building a team of cadres to meet development requirements.

At the Tien Phong Commune Congress (Phu Tho), the commune's tourism industry focused on developing the advantages of Hoa Binh Lake and local traditional culture. The commune has formed service products for tourists such as: Homestay, souvenir products, local cuisine. In 5 years, there were more than 150,000 visitors to the commune, with an estimated revenue of more than 20 billion VND, contributing to creating jobs and improving the lives of local people.

Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Phu Tho province, Nguyen Huy Nhuan, said that currently, in addition to thousands of households raising fish in cages, there are also about 20 enterprises and cooperatives participating in raising fish in cages in the Hoa Binh reservoir area; of which, 18 facilities have been certified by VietGAP, ensuring food safety.

To enhance the brand, since 2017, the former Hoa Binh province (now Phu Tho province) has built the certification trademarks "Da River Fish - Hoa Binh" and "Da River Shrimp - Hoa Binh", granting usage rights to many households, cooperatives and businesses. This is an important step to affirm the position of Da River fish products in the market.

In addition, Phu Tho province aims to combine cage fish farming on Hoa Binh Lake with the development of eco-tourism and community experiences. This model helps tourists visit, experience the process of raising fish, feeding fish, catching fish and enjoying the specialty "Da River fish" right in the lake. Farming households are linked into cooperatives, both producing high-quality goods and creating unique tourism products. The combination not only increases income for people, but also promotes the Phu Tho seafood brand, contributing to the development of a green economy and sustainable tourism in the lake area.

Development motivation

In recent times, the local Party Committee and government of Phu Tho province have focused on researching and promulgating policies linking fisheries and tourism. Hoa Binh Lake is known as "Ha Long Bay on land", with 47 large and small islands, scenic spots such as Bo Waterfall, Ret Cave, Hoa Tien Cave... and the diverse culture of the Muong, Thai, and Dao ethnic groups. Ecotourism, resort, and water sports tours are increasingly attractive to tourists, and Da River fish has become a typical product that is introduced and promoted.

Chairman of Tien Phong Commune People's Committee (Phu Tho) Ban Kim Quy emphasized that the locality has advantages in the lake area, the local Party Committee and government have focused on investing in developing cage fish farming. According to statistics, the whole commune currently has a total of 1,544 fish cages; of which households own 1,301 cages, businesses 243 cages. Investing in developing cage fish farming has brought many changes to people's lives. The locality has oriented development, encouraged households to invest in modern cages, and organized cultural events, introduced OCOP products, kayaked, and lakeside tourism to attract tourists. Da River fish is not only a source of clean food, but also a valuable tourism product.

Mr. Doan Viet Thanh, Sang Bo hamlet, Tien Phong commune, said that his family had access to loans from the State's development support policy programs and had invested in building 4 fish cages. By combining breeds and crops, combining many types of fish such as: Black carp, black catfish, monosex tilapia... Up to now, each crop, Mr. Thanh's family earns tens of millions of VND/cage. Thanks to that, the family no longer has to drift on the river like decades ago.

Many families in the area have changed their way of thinking and working, from relying only on fishing, they boldly borrowed capital, investing in 5-6 fish cages per household. After the first fishing season, many families applied to escape poverty. According to statistics in Sang Bo hamlet, there are currently 100/162 households engaged in fishing and aquaculture with about 140 fish cages, making cage fish farming the main livelihood of the community.

As one of the typical community accommodation spots in the Hoa Binh lake area, Sanh Thuan homestay is directly managed and operated by Mr. Dinh Van Sanh, a Muong ethnic person, imbued with indigenous culture. The homestay is built in the traditional stilt house architecture, located between the cool green space of the mountains and forests and the lake surface, creating a peaceful feeling, close to nature. Mr. Sanh said that visitors coming here not only get to rest in a rustic, airy space but also get to participate in many experiential activities such as kayaking, fishing, cycling around the village, enjoying Muong cuisine and ethnic cultural exchange. At the same time, each local person is a tour guide, who will enthusiastically introduce the customs and life of the Muong people, helping visitors better understand the local culture.

Thanks to the combination of eco-tourism - community - indigenous culture, Sanh Thuan Homestay has become an attractive destination in the journey to explore Hoa Binh Lake, chosen by many domestic and foreign tourists. This is a typical model of Da Bac in developing community tourism associated with cultural conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Son (a tourist from Ha Nam province) shared that Hoa Binh Lake is attractive in every season, especially in autumn. When the mist covers the lake, the image of light boats gliding, leaving silver streaks on the water, paints a poetic and peaceful ink painting. Hoa Binh Lake is also a diverse ecosystem with many rare freshwater fish species and rich vegetation. Surrounding the lake are villages of Muong, Dao, Thai people... where the ancient stilt houses, gong sounds, Mo melodies and afternoon kitchen smoke are still preserved through many generations, creating a dense, pristine cultural space. The attraction of Hoa Binh Lake lies in the experience of living with indigenous culture, community tourism spots formed from peaceful villages become attractive destinations, where tourists can immerse themselves in the lives of local people.

The invaluable potential of Hoa Binh Lake is gradually being "awakened" by a strong push from infrastructure investment and large-scale projects. The Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh expressway shortens travel time from Hanoi, route 435 connecting the city with Thung Nai port - Ngoi Hoa Bay (Muong Hoa) has been upgraded, especially the Hoa Binh - Moc Chau expressway project is being expanded, the roads along the lake are being invested... It promises to create an attraction for tourism development of Hoa Binh Lake in the coming time, turning potential and advantages into a driving force for economic breakthrough development for the locality.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/cu-hich-ha-tang-danh-thuc-tiem-nang-du-lich-kinh-te-ho-hoa-binh-20251020094516441.htm