Changing the mindset of tourism in Lao Chai

Lao Chai 1 village is clean, beautiful, peaceful and poetic.

Early morning, white mist covers the Khun Ha mountains and forests, the road to Lao Chai 1 village is like a soft wet silk strip across the golden mountainside of ripe rice season. The village is located on the mountainside, hidden in the forest canopy and giant rocks.

Seven years ago, the village still maintained the old way of life: livestock roamed freely, barns were close to houses, gardens were messy, and roads were muddy. The turning point came from village meetings. The villagers recounted that at that time, comrades in the Lao Chai 1 village Party Cell recognized the shortcomings in the living space, and at the same time saw the potential and future of this small village, so they went with prestigious people to each house to persuade people to move their barns to concentrated livestock areas, clean their houses, plant flowers, and keep the environment clean... With perseverance, slow and steady wins the race, and concrete actions, people gradually realized this, especially when implementing the new rural construction program with the policy that the State and people work together. The gradually formed concrete roads brought great convenience, making people more confident in the proposed direction. From there, the awareness of doing community tourism gradually became a reality.

Currently, Lao Chai 1 has 47 households, most of whom directly or indirectly participate in community tourism. Thanks to that, the poverty rate in the village has been reduced to 11%. With the sincerity and the mindset of "serving whatever customers like", the village has become a model community tourism destination. Spacious traditional wooden houses, flower gardens in front of the alley, trash bins made of tree trunks, sword trees, wooden swings... Plowing tools, harrows, brocade pieces, bunches of bitter vegetables, hawthorn fruits, forges, corn mills, looms... are all displayed, carrying historical stories and pride of the H'Mong people. The village has seven households running homestays, with a stay price of 120,000 VND/person/night; of which 20,000 VND/guest is put into the common fund to maintain the landscape and solve village work, creating consensus and self-conscious preservation of everyone.

Ms. Chang Thi Hang, the owner of the orchid garden, said: “Since starting tourism, the village has become more lively, and there are a lot of tourists coming here. Every house is cleaned, and children know how to throw trash in the right place. Not only do visitors praise us, but we also love the village more.” While chatting, she and the villagers swept the streets around the village, while the 8th grade boy Cu A Thanh Cong carefully picked up nylon and bottles and put them in the trash, keeping leaves separate. That small action shows that tourism here not only changes economic thinking but also sows new seeds of consciousness for the younger generation.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, a tourist from Hai Phong, said: “The first time I came to Lao Chai 1 village, I saw the wonderful landscape, wide view and very clean environment. What impressed me the most was that the people were very enthusiastic and kind.” Mr. Chang A Chia, another tourist, shared: “I have been here several times, it is very special here, the daily living items are also incredibly beautiful. During the trip, I saw many families decorating the two-stringed fiddle and Mong flute very beautifully, so I bought one as a souvenir.”

Every year, the village welcomes thousands of domestic and foreign tourists to stay at homestays, enjoy traditional dishes, join spring festivals, throw pao, play badminton, dance with panpipes... The "Huong sac ban Mong" festival is a highlight with rice cake pounding contests, playing panpipes, listening to village elders tell family stories, and laughter as cheerful as a festival.

Mr. Cu A Sinh, the owner of a homestay, said: "I opened more rooms and added traditional dishes. The village also made a foot massage path for guests to walk around and then come back for dinner, which is very interesting." Thanks to tourism, the lives of the villagers have changed a lot. Although income from tourism is not the main source of income, it has contributed to increasing the average income for the villagers to 38 million VND/person/year as it is now, something that people never thought of before. Mr. Cu A Do, while selling water, said: "Tourism helps the village develop both the economy and environmental protection awareness. When the Party's will is in line with the people's will, good things will come."

Tourism here also faces many challenges such as the long distance to the center, limited promotion, spontaneous products, and limited skills and foreign languages of the people. However, Mr. Cu A Do believes: "The problem is changing awareness. When there is a direction, determination, knowing how to do it, and especially the solidarity of the whole village with the local government, no matter how difficult it is, it can be done."

Article and photos: TRAN TUAN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thay-doi-tu-duy-lam-du-lich-o-lao-chai-post912803.html