Phu Tho Shaping Its Green Tourism Brand

Beyond its historical depth and spiritual culture, Phu Tho today is offering fresh experiences: trekking through Xuan Son National Park, relaxing in Thanh Thuy hot springs, sleeping in Muong ethnic stilt houses, or savoring tea on the Long Coc hills. The synergy of nature, heritage, and community life is helping the province gradually define its brand as "Green – Clean – Friendly Tourism."

Wyndham Lynn Times Thanh Thuy Hot Spring Resort is invested with an ecological and modern approach, contributing to the infrastructure upgrade and shaping the identity of green and retreat tourism in Phu Tho.

The “Dual Advantage” of the Ancestral Land

While many regions struggle to find a unique tourism identity, Phu Tho has been gifted a rare “dual asset” by nature and history. Following the integration of regional cultural and ecological spaces, the province now possesses one of the richest tourism ecosystems in the Northern Midland and Mountainous region—where natural landscapes harmonize with thousands of years of spiritual depth.

From the mist-shrouded peaks of Tam Dao and the pristine Xuan Son National Park to the deep blue waters of Hoa Binh Lake and the undulating tea hills of Long Coc, each land offers a distinct beauty. Beyond ecology, Phu Tho is a cradle of heritage with 2,778 historical sites, nearly 1,000 ranked monuments, and five UNESCO-recognized heritages. Notably, the Hung King Worship Rituals and Phu Tho Xoan Singing have become “magnets” attracting cultural tourists from around the globe.

A dense system of festivals such as the Hung Temple Festival, Tay Thien Festival, and Muong Bi Khai Ha Festival creates a vibrant cultural space where visitors can immerse themselves in indigenous life. This resonance between nature, heritage, and the community forms the cornerstone for Phu Tho’s unique “green tourism” brand.

Green Hues in Every Tourism Product

Phu Tho is shifting from exploiting isolated landscapes or monuments to a green development model. In the lush greenery of Xuan Son National Park, many tourists now opt for forest trekking and cave exploration while experiencing the lives of the Dao and Muong people instead of closed-resort vacations. In Long Coc, tea hills are transforming into spaces for agricultural experiences and "healing tourism." Meanwhile, in Thanh Thuy and Hoa Binh Lake, eco-resorts linked to hot springs and natural water bodies are attracting urban dwellers seeking a green retreat.

Significantly, local residents are becoming the primary stakeholders in this journey. In community tourism villages across Mai Chau, Thanh Son, and Tam Dao, stilt-house homestays, indigenous cuisine, and folk performances provide sustainable livelihoods for highlanders. The cultural values of the Muong, Dao, Thai, Tay, and San Diu ethnic groups are being preserved within their daily rhythms.

Tourists experience kayaking amidst the lush green ecological space of Hoa Binh Lake—one of the nature-based tourism products shaping Phu Tho’s green tourism brand.

Coupled with community tourism, the model of agricultural tourism and craft villages linked to OCOP (One Commune One Product) is opening new avenues. Traditional villages like Mai Chau brocade weaving, Huong Canh pottery, and Gia Thanh conical hat making allow tourists to participate directly in the crafting process and purchase local products on-site.

According to Mr. Dang Tuan Hung, Head of the Tourism Management Division (Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism), the province’s green tourism orientation focuses on sustainable growth rather than just increasing visitor numbers. Phu Tho prioritizes eco-tourism and community-based products that protect natural resources and preserve local identity. The ultimate goal is to build a green, friendly destination where locals benefit directly and visitors enjoy distinct, sustainable experiences.

In the coming time, the tourism sector will encourage accommodation providers to apply green criteria, reduce plastic waste, and save energy, while accelerating digital transformation to enhance the visitor experience.

From homestays nestled at the foot of mountains to mist-covered tea hills and emerging eco-resorts, green tourism in Phu Tho is no longer just a concept. These “green seeds” are gradually shaping a new face for the tourism of the Ancestral Land—a destination attractive not only for its landscapes but for its cultural depth and harmony with nature.

Nguyen Yen