Ha Giang farmers engage in community-based tourism

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In the first half of 2019, Ha Giang welcomed more than 660,000 visitors.

When foreign tourists arrive in the H’Mong homestay in Dong Van town, Ha Giang province, Vang Thi Mua, the owner, comes to greet each visitor in English which is pronounced correctly and fluently. Mua learnt about community-based tourism in 2017.

She said, “At first my homestay was sparsely furnished. I didn’t know any English and had to use google translate for communication. Step by step, I remember what foreign tourists said, imitated and could communicate with them. Now we have been supported and received investment from the State, especially in infrastructure.”

An increasing number of tourists have recently visited Ha Giang. In the first half of this year, Ha Giang welcomed more than 660,000 people, 88,000 of them foreigners.

Traditional art performances are held at homestays to serve tourists. (Photo: dulichhagiang.vn)

More community lodges have been built. The whole province has 366 houses of this kind where, in the evenings, visitors are treated with art performances by local ethnic minority groups.

Ha Giang aims to develop tourism and boost local income. In the first 6 months, 59 development projects were financed nearly 150,000 USD. Programs have also been designed to improve the quality of human resources.

Tourists try to do farm work with the locals in Ha Giang province. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

Nguyen Hong Hai, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said, “This year Ha Giang has organized two basic English classes for those working in tourism. All tour guides have been provided with on-the-job training in a more professional way. Their work places are community-based tourist villages, which are being developed into new-style rural areas and medicinal herb villages. We have mobilized more young people to be involved in community-based tourism.”

Apart from State support, local farmers have managed to promote their community lodges on tourism websites to introduce to international visitors. These locals are  storytellers and tour guides, helping visitors better understand Ha Giang’s cultural identity.