YBO - Since 2018, four homestays namely Quan Pom, Kien Panh, Quyet Doan, and Khau Pha House of Thai families in Cao Pha commune, Mu Cang Chai district, have been guided by KPF - Khau Pha Friends to build and provide tourism services in a polite and thoughtful manner, towards the goal of sustainable tourism development in the area.
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Cao Pha people guide campers to participate in indigo fabric dyeing summer camp
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Homestays are financially supported with interest-free loans to repair houses and improve their living environment.
Many architects have come here to assist in designing and rebuilding stilt houses in a nature-friendly way, in which traditional cultural features are preserved. As a result, simple houses have been turned into beautiful homestays with amenities in harmony with the nature.
Lu Van Quyet, Quyet Doan homestay owner, said that his family’s living conditions have been improved after more than three years of providing tourism services. Particularly in last year’s tourist season, his family welcomed about 300 visitors, with an average cost of 150,000 VND per person per night.
The KPF has also guided children, homestay owners and local people to practice English language to meet basic communication needs with foreign visitors; while helping train local guides with skills to accompany tourists and build products and services imbued with local cultural identity. It has also organised summer camps with many interesting experiences to attract off-season travellers to Cao Pha, thus creating income for local people.
Recently, the KPF put into operation KongHill camping site in Ta Dong hamlet with 13 camps. The local Mong people have also been guided and trained to operate this campsite.
In addition, the organisation has also supported local residents in trading indigenous agricultural products; preserving, restoring and developing indigo dyeing profession; selling indigo-dyed towels and fabrics; planting trees; treating waste; and building a community library, thus helping create a well-organised appearance for tourism.
At present, every time the paragliding festival takes place in Khau Pha, Mong and Thai motorbike drivers in Cao Pha commune are busy picking up pilots and tourists from the landing area back to the top of Khau Pha pass; while homestays are always full of visitors, and local guides are busy taking them to experience tourism products. Tourism in Cao Pha has been developing in a proper way./.
** "Khau Pha Friends" was established on January 20, 2018 as a group conducting social activities. After more than three years of operation, KPF established a social enterprise as a legal entity named Khau Pha Friends joint Stock Company – KPF JSC.
At present, KPF is still on its journey to support and spread the sustainable development of ethnic minority communities throughout the northwest region through sustainable tourism development activities.
Hoai Anh
As of now, Nghia Lo Town boasts 40 homestay tourism businesses, primarily located in the communes of Nghia An, Nghia Loi, and Son A. Among these, two community-based tourism products from Nghia An and Nghia Loi have achieved 4-star OCOP certification at the provincial level.
The preservation and promotion of ethnic cultural heritage have become key strategies in diversifying Mu Cang Chai’s unique tourism offerings and attracting visitors.
As one of 10 provinces selected to pilot a rural tourism development model, Yen Bai aims for each locality to establish at least one recognized rural tourism site, integrating agriculture, culture, handicrafts, or ecological environment based on its specific strengths.
Travel site Wanderlust Storytellers recently listed Mu Cang Chai of Vietnam among 25 places with surreal beauty worldwide.