Boat trip to visit Son La lake (Quynh Nhai district) is one of the experiences when visiting Quynh Nhai eco-tourism area. Cruise on Son La Lake About 60 km from the center of Son La city, Quynh Nhai eco-tourism area emerges as an attractive tourist destination in the Northwest region with beautiful natural landscapes. In operation since March 2019, the resort includes a complex of works: tourist boat dock, Pa Uon bridgehead general service area, heart island, community tourism combined with Bon mineral bath. (Muong Chien commune)… Exploring Quynh Nhai eco-tourism area, visitors will be able to travel on a boat to visit Son La lake (actually the bed of Son La hydroelectric lake), admire the beautiful natural landscape with clear blue water. The two sides are limestone mountains and small islands. Perhaps that is why tourists compare this place to the “Ha Long Bay” of the Northwest. The highlight of the experience journey is discovering Heart Island – more than 10 km upstream from Pa Uon Bridge (the highest pillared bridge in Vietnam). Coming here, in addition to admiring the majestic beauty of the Da River, visitors can experience activities of swimming on the river, water bicycle, boating, taking photos on the island… From here, travel by boat to the top. From the source of the Da River for more than 1 hour, visitors will come to visit and experience the community tourism area combined with hot mineral bath in Bon village, enjoy the unique ethnic cuisine. Panoramic view of Son La lake when standing from Nang Han temple. In addition to discovering the beautiful scenery on Son La lake, tourists can also visit Linh Son Thuy Tu relic, Nang Han temple on Pu Nghiu hill (Muong Giang commune). Linh Son Thuy Tu is a temple to worship mountain gods, river gods, then rulers of heaven and earth, and all things… And Nang Han temple is a place to worship the Thai national hero female general – who had merit in defeating the enemy. northern. Head of Tourism Management Department (Son La Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism) Bui Khac Bao said that Son La province has its own plan to develop Quynh Nhai eco-tourism area into a key tourist destination of Vietnam. the provincial. Introducing more about Quynh Nhai eco-tourism area, Mr. Dang Quang Giau, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Quynh Nhai Fisheries and Ecotourism Cooperative said that the unit has invested in a system of motels, homestays and services on left island. heart, a model of community tourism combined with Bon mineral spring bathing service. Currently, these services are ready to welcome guests. Wake up potential Despite the advantages of nature and landscape, until now Quynh Nhai eco-tourism area still faces many difficulties in attracting tourists. Chairman of Quynh Nhai District People’s Committee Hoang Tien Cuong said that because it was recently put into operation, it was affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, so in 2020 and 2021, this eco-tourism area will not receive the expected number of visitors. Assessing the potential of tourism exploitation in Quynh Nhai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of APT Group Nguyen Hong Dai said that Quynh Nhai eco-tourism area has a lot of potential to develop resort tourism. However, to really attract tourists going long distances to experience, Quynh Nhai needs to invest more in infrastructure, services, many attractive entertainment experiences, modern and comfortable resorts. According to Director of Tam Phuong Travel Company Le Thu Phuong, in order to develop resort advantages, Quynh Nhai district should focus on developing tourism and services in parallel with protecting the ecological environment and landscape. . Son La Tourism Association, Quynh Nhai District People’s Committee and Hanoi Tourism Association signed a contract to deploy new tourism products linking Hanoi and Quynh Nhai (Son La) in April 2021. In this regard, Chairman of Quynh Nhai District People’s Committee Hoang Tien Cuong informed that the District People’s Committee has just sent a written request to Son La Provincial People’s Committee to consider and allow enterprises to research and set up investment projects to develop tourism in the lake. hydroelectricity in the district. The scope of the proposed investment project includes an area of ​​3,000 hectares of water surface (out of a total of 10,520 hectares of water surface in Quynh Nhai district) and 500 hectares of land which is the area surrounding the lake bed, including islands and peninsulas. from Pa Ma Pha Khinh commune to Muong Chien commune. “It is expected that in the area of ​​​​Quynh Nhai hydropower reservoir, a high-class resort tourism will be developed, focusing on exploiting the typical space, long-standing cultural and historical values ​​with items such as amusement parks, resort services, film studios, hot mineral water baths … “, said Mr. Hoang Tien Cuong. The charming beauty of Quynh Nhai is currently a bright spot in the tourism development strategy of Son La province, in order to awaken the tourism potential here, besides investing in services and utilities, present Currently, Quynh Nhai district in particular and Son La province in general are implementing tourism links with other provinces and cities, including Hanoi capital to form a new tourist route to attract tourists.

And when you come to the sunny and windy land of the Central Highlands, do not miss the opportunity to discover the name that sounds scary but shows the cultural identity here, which is the deep pupa. Illustration At the beginning of summer, when the rains begin to fall, the Central Highlands region eagerly awaits this food. The caterpillars clinging to green leaves in the upland fields are considered an attractive specialty, they are processed into many unique dishes by the people here. Illustration This type of worm has a dark green color, a smooth stem that often clings to the leaves of the cassava plant. When the large round worms gradually pull the cocoons into pupae, it is also time for people to catch them to enjoy their unique flavor. It is not difficult to harvest deep pupae, just bring a plastic bag or bamboo mat and shake the branches, the worms will fall, sometimes full again. Illustration In the Central Highlands, people enjoy this dish in three ways: stir-fried, boiled and eaten raw. Those who like the thrill of biting into their round, plump pupa with their fleshy, greasy taste will often eat them raw. More sophisticated, then lightly fried and then sautéed with fish sauce and spices to add a different fatty crunch. Boiled deep pupa creates a highlight with a sweet, fatty and attractive taste. Illustration Illustration Although the pupa is rustic, it is loved by many diners. Even city people are not afraid to buy this highland specialty with the price 2-3 times more expensive than usual. Illustration Each year, the season of deep pupa appears very short, so whenever there is an opportunity, the Central Highlands people take advantage of this delicious and unique flavor. Gradually, the dish has become part of the culinary culture here.

Spices in our country are mainly used fresh and abundant in nature, easy to find, convenient but not for long storage. Vietnamese chefs often like to mix spices in their own style, sometimes even the improvisation to give a new taste and is also very unique. In addition to the common types that each region has such as, pepper, garlic, onion, coriander, ginger, chili, fish sauce, the typical spices of the regions are as follows: Northwest region The Northwest is the land of ethnic minorities with the characteristics of the Thai, Mong … creating a very different culinary culture that no other place can have. If anyone has ever set foot in this land, they will enjoy dishes with famous spices in the Northwest such as: cocoon, diagonal with more popular varieties such as pepper, cinnamon, chili ,. .. All create a color, a very unique culinary flavor. Northeast With the view of eating combining vegetables, roots and fruits available in nature, the dishes of this place give diners a common feeling that is very unique and interesting. In the Northeast, guava seeds are a typical spice with a very attractive and attractive aroma. There is also a leaf that is molasses – a leaf used in casseroles or steaks. The North Plain The culinary feature of the Northern Delta region is the dish that has a moderate, frugal and mild taste with a slight sour taste for hot summer days, not very spicy, sweet, and fatty. The spices used in many Northern dishes are galangal, batch, lemon, vinegar, crocodile, pepper, chili, ginger, onion, garlic, basil, … Favorite ingredients of the region The North is easy to find vegetables or seafood such as shrimp, crab, fish, clams, and mussels … North Central Region North Central food with all its unique properties is reflected in its distinct flavor, more spicy, sour and salty dishes than northern and southern foods, with a rich, vibrant color blend. favors red and dark brown. The peculiarity of this regional culinary culture stands out in its very unusual spice style. You can see people stocking chicken with a handful of onion, some lemon leaves; or braised fish for turmeric or even dried mandarin shells. Highland Liberal lifestyle, close to nature, the cuisine of the community of ethnic groups in the Central Highlands is very rich and diverse. Especially, the way of combining spices together to create unique, delicious and exotic dishes is nowhere to be found. In addition to the é leaves, which are already so famous in chicken hot pot, chili is the most popular spice here. Any dish of the Central Highlands people, chili is always present, from grilled dishes, fried dishes, stir-fried dishes to boiled dishes, soup dishes. Chili helps the dish become more delicious, more flavorful and … makes rice easier. Southeast region Southeast cuisine is very diverse and plentiful, not picky in decoration but still very attractive because of the freshness and abundance of processed ingredients and has a very unique character that does not mix. The main spices that are seasoned in everyday dishes include green onion, diluted fish sauce, sour tamarind and sugar. South West The dishes of the Southeast are simple, not as picky as the people here. The dishes are diverse, unpredictable with sweet, spicy and fatty flavors due to the use of coconut water. Typical dishes that use a lot of sweet: cakes (in cakes, glazes, small cakes, beef cakes …), tea (sword tea, banana tea), sticky rice, baked rolls, chicken porridge, roasted chicken … are all used. Coconut water or coconut nuggets to increase fat, sweet taste. The specialties from the specialties to the popular, traditional or modern Vietnamese are indispensable to accompanying spices. The art of using spices also makes an impressive breakthrough in regional culinary culture.

Tourists make bonfires and experience a hot dance at Surf village. Strength of community tourism Lao Chai 1 Community Tourism Village (Khum Ha Commune, Tam Duong District, Lai Chau Province) is located in the middle of the mountain, a great challenge for first-time visitors because of the “crab-sleeve” slopes. But arriving, the close and friendly natural space, especially the orchid flower, makes visitors quickly forget the feeling of “suffocating” of the way up the mountain. Perhaps that is why, for a long time, Lao Chai 1 village has been named quite nicely by many tourists – “Garden of Eden”. The head of Cu A Chu village enthusiastically introduced, the whole village has 39 households of H’Mong ethnicity, of which 5 households are homestay households, more than 10 households raise livestock, the rest grow vegetables, trees, and orchids to serving tourists and beautifying the landscape and environment in the village. “All streets in the village, flower miniatures are contributed by the people to do. We divide into 4 groups, take turns cleaning every day. The fresh environment makes not only visitors like it, but also them. I also find my life happier, “said Mr. Xu A Chu. Not far from Lao Chai 1 village is Si Thau Chai village of the Dao ethnic group. Si Thau Chai is only 6km from Tam Duong town (Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province) but located on a mountain at an altitude of 1,400m above sea level. Here, visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of the vast and majestic mountains. With this charming beauty, Si Thau Chai village is the destination that attracts many groups of traveling tourists, caravan tour groups to experience. The village head, Si Thau Chai – Lu A Nghi, said that the village started to work in community tourism in 2017, in the village, there are currently 10 households working as a homestay. Since welcoming tourists, the Dao people in the village are very conscious of preserving the landscape. Besides planting perennial crops such as peaches, pears, and plums, households also plant roses around the house. “We have had a better life when doing tourism. Dao people still try to keep their identity, wear traditional costumes to welcome guests,” said Mr. Lu A Nghi. Si Thau Chai Community-Tourism Village (Lai Chau) planted many trees and roses. Not only in Lai Chau, many Northwest provinces also consider the community based tourism a tourism strength that needs to be developed. Surf village (Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district, Son La province) is one of the community based tourism villages in the Northwest attracting many tourists. The feature here is that the white Thai community knows how to take advantage of the natural hot springs and culinary quintessence to draw visitors to experience. Mr. Lo Van Phang, the owner of a homestay facility in Surf village, shared that his establishment welcomes tourists from August 2020, in the first stage of difficulties due to the influence of Covid-19, but at the end of the year. , the number of arrivals is large, must book in advance to have a place to stay. “Everything to us was a surprise, but people understand very well, when doing tourism, you need to learn how to do services, work more disciplined”, Mr. Lo Van Phang said. The scenery in Si Thau Chai village is quite charming, the environment is clean and beautiful. Keep identity, increase travel route connection Currently, one of the raised issues is how to keep people cultural identity as well as increase connectivity between destinations in order to develop community tourism in the Northwest in a long term. Tam Duong Tan Thi Que District Party Secretary admitted that there are many ethnic groups living in the district such as Thai, Dao, Mong, Lu …, in which, many villages have lost their own culture. “We always send officers to each propaganda to preserve identity, regularly wear national costumes, promote culinary quintessence and folk dance, folk dance”, said Ms. Tan Thi Que. Lao Chai 1 village (Lai Chau) of the H’Mong people also attracts tourists because of its fresh environment and many green trees. To promote tourism development, the Northwest provinces have links with many Hanoi travel agencies to conduct product survey and construction trips. Chairman of the Hanoi Travel Association, Director of Hanoitourist Travel Company Phung Quang Thang, said that when translating Covid-19 affects the tourism industry, Hanoi visitors experience Northwest tourism quite a lot, contributing to the market. The tourist school has a certain bustle. “However, the development of tourism in the highlands still needs a methodical orientation and a closer connection with the travel agencies to introduce visitors to the experience,” said Mr. Phung Quang Thang. Over the years, Hanoi and the Northwest provinces have closely linked to making tourism products, in which the community based tourism is a highlight. Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Tran Trung Hieu said that the connection between tourist regions, including Hanoi and the Northwest, creates a vibrant tourist market, but localities need a tourism strategy. in the long term, guide and train people in upland areas to become a sustainable product for community based tourism.

Tourists experience culture at Trai Hamlet, Hoa Binh. (Photo: Phung Thang) Self-holding the steering wheel Covid-19 season Starting from the National Museum of History, which holds many cultural and historical heritages of the country, early in the morning, we eagerly embark on a five-day, four-night journey to explore many different landmarks on Northwest road in the blooming season like Ngoc Chien (Son La) – Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai) – Tam Duong (Lai Chau) – Dien Bien – Hoa Binh … For veteran Luu Van Thanh living in Hanoi, this was his couple’s first trip since the Covid-19 epidemic. Therefore, when participating in this exciting experiential activity in the Northwest, he hopes to relive his youth on the battlefield. Caravan travel is not a new concept, but it is not yet popular in Vietnam with self-driving car travel or group of two or more individuals traveling by road. many different regions. Self-driving means that visitors can own the journey, can stop hunting, rest or camp at their favorite destinations, participate in festivals or learn about people’s cultural life, the land I passed through, creating a lasting impression. According to Mr. Phung Quang Thang, Chairman of the Hanoi Travel Association, Chairman of the Hanoi Sustainable Tourism Club, due to its many advantages, caravan tourism in recent years has been favored by many tourists. favorite translation. With the impact of Covid-19, when the trend of traveling in small groups of family and friends becomes a popular choice, the caravan proves its strength because it is limited to crowds of people on the same means of transportation. . In addition, the rise of private car vehicles, the recent development of Vietnamese traffic, and the stretch of natural, cultural and historical sites in the country are also These are favorable factors for this type of tourism to become a growing trend in the coming time, especially when there is a strong entry of travel agencies. The instructions given in the tour itinerary such as ensuring safety, preventing epidemics, protecting monuments, limiting plastic waste, protecting nature, supporting communities doing tourism, volunteering … will helps stimulate sustainable and socially responsible tourism development. In particular, when combined with travel agents, safety factors in the trip will also be more guaranteed because you always have medical staff, logistics team and navigation department, key car. the first, the last post of the group. The tour operators also arrange experienced drivers who are proficient in the terrain to be able to drive instead when tourists need to rest, along with the equipment for each vehicle to facilitate communication and repair. trouble. Tourists at Ban Tham, Tam Duong, Lai Chau. (Photo: Phan Chau) Every day opens a door of history Not only is the experience tour not just an ordinary tour, the Northwest Vgreen caravan program – the recent blooming season is also a story of history. Here, visitors not only drive by themselves – ensuring safety during the season, but also experience the majestic conquest of the beautiful Northwest Pass, with a different tour program, bold nature exploration, with depth. cultural history. Along with conquering the most beautiful winding pass roads such as Khau Pha Pass, Pha Din Pass, cloud hunting in Nam Nghiep and Pu Ta Leng, or experience the feeling of flying in the air at Tam Duong; yacht on the lake of Da river (Quynh Nhai), we discover the historical story throughout the journey of human life, from the National Museum of History to the Dien Bien Museum and the Muong Culture Museum. Peace. Unlike the traditional Northwest discovery tours, this caravan tour brings us to explore many new lands, many destinations are also potential in building tourism products in the future. It was interesting that we also had the experience of being a citizen transporting food and food to the front lines at Pha Din pass. Sometimes, the uphill road with many sharp curves makes many drivers sweat, but the result is to experience a very beautiful and civilized community-based tourism version of the ethnic people. Notably, in the last activity of the journey, the convoy stopped at Xom Trai cave (Hoa Binh) – a national-level archaeological relic, with many relics about the life of ancient Vietnamese people two thousand years ago. For the first time, the tour operators, tourists and people of the Muong ethnic group here experience a return to prehistoric times by making their own costumes out of leaves and wearing masks that simulate the human face in the cave Dong Noi in Hoa Binh was excavated by the French (now this cave has lost track, all images are only in documents stored at the National Museum of History). Coming from Tien Giang, Mr. Nguyen Hien Hau was really fascinated by the beauty of the Northwest mountains and experiences bearing cultural and historical elements. After this trip, he said he would introduce his friends to join the caravan trips in a similar form. Caravan travel is not a new concept, but it is not yet popular in Vietnam with self-driving car travel or group of two or more individuals traveling by road. many different regions. Self-driving means visitors are in control of the journey Revitalize tourism activities As a tourism association product of the Hanoi Travel Association, VGreen Sustainable Tourism Club and the National History Museum, the caravan tour recently aims to build new tourism products for Hanoi and other Northwest province. This is also one of the newly selected directions of responsible tourism, sustainable tourism development, with the aim of bringing a differentiated tourism product, preserving and promoting cultural values ​​and protection. environment. According to Mr. Phung Quang Thang, the development of sustainable tourism products based on historical and cultural values ​​will give businesses an advantage to boost tourism demand when economy and life. The people’s spirit has been improved day by day. Thus, the role of the partners of tourism businesses is very important in developing and making different products, so that tourism businesses can easily convey historical and cultural values. to visitors in a gentle, attractive and diffuse way. “At a time living with the pandemic, caravan tours are being seen as a sustainable path opening opportunities for tourism recovery. The program is both finding a new way, operating and developing tourism in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic, and at the same time, hit visitors’ mentality when they are guaranteed safety in the journey ”, Mr. Vu The Share Binh – Standing Vice Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association.