Tan Son Develops Community-Based Tourism

With Long Coc Tea Hills—considered the most beautiful tea hills in Vietnam, a lush green paradise in the midland region—along with waterfalls, caves in Xuan Son National Park, and the unique cultural heritage of the Muong and Dao ethnic groups, Tan Son District has significant potential for developing community-based tourism.

Visiting Long Coc, tourists can admire a breathtaking natural landscape where hundreds of rolling hills, shaped like inverted bowls, are interwoven with mist, creating a distinctive and picturesque setting. This location is an ideal spot for cloud-hunting and capturing stunning natural photographs, attracting numerous photographers from Vietnam and abroad. Photo collections of Long Coc Tea Hills have won multiple domestic and international awards, further enhancing its appeal to visitors.

As the core area of Xuan Son National Park, Xuan Son Commune features three provincial-level tourist attractions that draw visitors: Ban Du Community-Based Tourism Site, Ban Coi Ecotourism Community, and Thac Ngoc Ecotourism Site. Additionally, the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Muong and Dao people is being well-preserved and promoted, including traditional clothing, folk performing arts, and cuisine. Visitors can experience local specialties such as five-colored sticky rice, many-toed chickens, free-range chickens, stream ducks, wild boar hybrids, fern vegetables, bamboo shoots, and herbal remedies of the Dao ethnic group, all of which contribute to the distinct charm of Xuan Son’s tourism.

To maximize the potential of its tourism resources, Tan Son District has collaborated with the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to implement the Community-Based Ecotourism Development Project for Xuan Son National Park through 2025. The district is focusing on mobilizing resources to invest in eco-tourism infrastructure in Ban Du Hamlet, creating key attractions such as the “Xuan Son Tourism Flower Road,” and supporting households in Long Coc and Xuan Son Communes to develop community-based homestays integrated with eco-tourism.Efforts are being made to closely link tourism development with the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values, as well as to establish cultural, agricultural, and handicraft products tailored for tourism. Additionally, local residents are being guided and supported in developing tourism following a sustainable model. Training programs have been organized to enhance the quality of human resources, including workshops and professional guidance for members of homestays.

A total of 17 homestays owned by Muong and Dao ethnic households in Long Coc and Xuan Son have been equipped with hospitality training, covering guest reception, table service, housekeeping, beverage preparation, and food processing, as well as tour guide skills for Long Coc. Locals have also received training in photography, videography, and promotional content creation to effectively market tourism destinations. Additionally, English communication classes have been held for those involved in tourist services. To further enrich visitor experiences, homestays in the area have expanded interactive activities, connecting guests with local residents to participate in tea picking, tea processing, and traditional folk performances of the Muong and Dao ethnic groups.

Phuong Thanh