(VOVWORLD) - The Moc Chau tourism complex spans 206,000 hectares in Moc Chau and Van Ho district in Son La province. Featuring wonderful natural landscapes and the diverse culture of local ethnic minority groups, the site is considered as an engine of tourism growth in Vietnam’s northern mountain region.
Pha Luong peak in Moc Chau is 2,000 meters above sea level. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)
Thanks to unique topographic and geologic conditions, Moc Chau has a rich ecosystem with cool steppe climate, ideal for resort tourism. Vast green grasslands, hills planted with tea, and forests of apricot, plum, and peach are the first things that cross our minds when we talk about Moc Chau. Dai Yem waterfall, the pine forests of Ang village, the five underground caves in On village, the Xuan Nha national nature reserve, and Pha Luong peak are some of the top scenic spots in Moc Chau, which also has historical relics and archaeological sites located along the Da river.
Ethnic culture is a huge attraction of Moc Chau (Photo: congthuong.vn)
Moc Chau is populated by Thai, Muong, Mong, Dao, Xinh Mun, and Kho Mu ethnic people. Each group has its own customs, rituals, literature, costumes, dances, musical instruments, handicrafts, and food. Their combined cultural legacies are a huge attraction, according to Ngo Thanh Dao, a member of the management board of the Moc Chau tourism site.
“Amazing landscapes, a cool climate, and abundant natural resources are Moc Chau’s winning points. Eco-farms in Moc Chau are drawing visitors who are interested in sustainable, green tourism. Getting closer to nature is trending in Vietnam and around the world,” said Dao.
According to decisions issued by the Prime Minister in 2014 and 2019, the core of the Moc Chau national tourism site will encompass a resort, an eco-tourism area, and an amusement park. To gain greater recognition by 2025, the tourism site managers are stepping up promotion activities domestically and internationally.
“We are capitalizing on the overall trend of digital transformation. We have launched virtual tours called ‘Moc Chau 360’ on our website and fairs to attract international tourists. We are cooperating with Key Opinion Leaders and bloggers, who share posts and videos of their experience in Moc Chau on their web pages, as another channel of promotion,” said Dao.
Environmental protection and cultural preservation are being given top priority. Dao said, “On one hand, we encourage local people to continue practicing their culture and restore cultural features that are fading away. On the other hand, we are working on planning to avoid breaking down the overall structure. A planning project was done in 2020 on community-based tourism in Ang village. We also teach local people how to carry out communications activities and how to exploit their resources for tourism.”
The Moc Chau national tourism site welcomed 1.2 million tourists in 2019, one year ahead of schedule. In 2020, despite a lull in tourism as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 850,000 tourists visited Moc Chau.