Ha Giang presents tourism credentials to central region

Daybreak: Morning sunlight parts the clouds above Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang, which offers some of northern Vietnam’s most breathtaking mountain views. - Photo nationalgeographic.com

The country’s northernmost province is home to the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark – the first Global UNESCO Geopark in Vietnam.

Ha Giang’s tourism potential was introduced to participants at a conference on Monday in the resort city of Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa. The event aimed to promote Ha Giang as an interesting place for tourists from the central region.

Organised by Ha Giang’s People’s Committee and the Viet Nam Tourism Association, the event drew more than 100 participants, including representatives of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and tourism companies operating in central provinces.

Speaking at the conference, Chairman of Ha Giang’s People’s Committee Nguyen Van Son said the event was an opportunity to present the diversified images of his homeland and its people, the rich ethnic culture and stunning landscapes, as well as other tourist products.

High notes: A young Mong boy plays a traditional instrument along a scenic, winding mountain road. - Photo nationalgeographic.com

“In addition, the event will also strengthen co-operation to promote tourism between the northernmost province and Khanh Hoa as well as with other central provinces such as Da Nang, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Quang Ngai and Phu Yen,” he said.

In 2016, the province released a resolution on policies to promote tourism development. These policies support individuals and enterprises who invest into hotels, resorts, restaurants, community tourism and cave tourism.

At present, there are 20 tourist companies with representative offices in the province. In addition, more than 200 restaurants, 618 hotels with nearly 6,000 rooms, and 37 cultural villages offering community tourism have contributed significantly to provincial tourism development.

In 2018, among the 1,150,000 tourists to visit Ha Giang, 250,000 were foreigners. Total revenue from tourism reached more than VND1 trillion (more than US$43 million).

This has helped Ha Giang stamp itself on the country’s tourism map. It is one of 24 national key tourism spots and has been selected by the international press as one of the most interesting destinations in Vietnam.

Ha Giang presents tourism credentials to central region Dong Van Karst Plateau, a UNESCO-recognized Global Geopark. New destinations await in Ha Giang

However, receiving an increasing number of tourists each year, there are many remaining matters that could harm further tourism development. While a limited traffic network some places are inaccessible, and poor tourism infrastructure is sometimes unable to satisfy tourists’ demands.

Most conference participants agreed that Ha Giang should preserve and promote its unique ethnic cultural values.

Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said that Ha Giang could also create other unique tourism products by taking advantage of its local ethnic cuisine and traditional medicine.

Several Memorandum of Understandings on tourism co-operation between Ha Giang and central provinces such as Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Lam Dong and Ninh Thuan were signed at the conference.