Mai Ha Awakens Community Tourism Potential

Capitalizing on the advantages of beautiful natural landscapes alongside a rich treasure trove of Thai ethnic culture, Mai Ha commune affirms its status as a bright spot in community-based tourism development. The recent tourism stimulation event series organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Lac village attracted a large number of visitors, creating leverage to drive sustainable local economic development.

Mai Ha commune focuses on preserving Thai ethnic culture to develop tourism.

During 3 days from October 9–11, in Lac village, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized the Stimulation Launching Program “Phu Tho Tourism — Multi-Color Experiences” combined with displays promoting culture, tourism, OCOP products, and a Vietnamese goods fair. The program featured 55 booths, introducing a chain of representative tourism and agricultural service products alongside distinct craft village items.

Among these, Mai Ha commune’s display space stood out with brocade weaving products tied to Thai ethnic identity from Chieng Chau Brocade Weaving and Tourism Cooperative, Hoa Ban Cooperative, BWG Mai Chau JSC, alongside dynamic startup products from the Commune Youth Union. Beside the shopping space, the program also organized many meaningful activities, such as: Launching “Building a Green - Clean - Beautiful Tourism Environment” aimed at minimizing plastic waste; a seminar responding to National Digital Transformation Day in tourism; and the program “Vietnam Thai Cultural Exchange 2026” performed by the Mai Chau Thai Culture Lovers Group in coordination with clubs from Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Son La, Phu Tho, and Hanoi.

Visiting and experiencing the activity series, Ms. Bui Thi Hoa from Hoa Binh ward shared: “I am truly impressed by the cultural space here. Not only did I get to admire exquisite brocade products and savor distinct cuisine, but I also received the affection, friendliness, and hospitality of Lac village residents. The Xoe dance steps, drum beats, and lush green space of Mai Ha land bring a relaxing, warm feeling.”

Nestled in a valley with a history spanning over 700 years, Lac village is an ancient village of the Thai ethnic minority that still preserves its full beauty and traditional living habits. Arriving at Lac village, tourists are impressed by elevated wooden stilt houses, roofed simply yet neatly with fan-palm or rattan leaves creating an airy feel. Services ranging from dining and accommodation to selling brocade souvenirs and handicrafts are served by local residents with a friendly, open attitude.

Visitors can leisurely stroll or cycle to explore every small alley, or gather around hearth fires to enjoy ruou can (pipe wine) and listen to vibrant bamboo dancing beats as night falls. Established on the basis of merging 3 communes—Chieng Chau, Mai Ha, and Van Mai—Mai Ha commune possesses a natural area of over 71 km2 with a population exceeding 10,100 people, in which the Thai ethnic group accounts for 77.95%. This land preserves many valuable intangible cultural heritages such as Keng Loong art, Xen Muong Festival, alongside national-level historical sites like Lang Cave and Pieng Kem Cave. With forest coverage reaching 87%, the locality converges conditions to develop eco-tourism, resort, and community experience models. Concurrently, distinct OCOP products such as brocade clothing (4-star rating), Mai Ha pipe wine, and Lau Sieu wine (3-star rating) have become signature gifts, contributing to elevating citizens' incomes.

By effectively exploiting its strengths, through the end of Q3/2026, Mai Ha commune welcomed nearly 18,400 overnight tourist arrivals, including over 13,800 domestic arrivals and more than 4,500 international arrivals. The entire commune currently features 86 community homestays, 9 guesthouses, and 2 hotels, generating total tourism revenue of over 20.7 billion VND.

Notably, at the 2026 Ancestral Land Tourism Week, the commune’s presentation delegation excellently won the award for “Best and Most Engaging Presentation,” contributing to affirming the strength of Mai Ha tourism. Comrade Le Duc Hung — Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee — emphasized: Local tourism development is always closely linked with preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity. In the coming time, the commune will continue to elevate service quality, strengthen management over accommodation establishments, train citizens in professional tourism skills, and step up linkages between government, enterprises, and localities to promote the destination’s image more widely.

Huong Lan