During discovery trips to the marvelous Northwestern region, one of the attractive points for both domestic and foreign visitors is the special characters of everyday life and customs of ethnic minority people.
To arrive in Chi Village in Nghia Do commune, Quang Binh district Ha Giang province, visitors will have to experience tortuous roads on high mountains which are full of obstacles in the northwestern region. The Chi Village is a village of the Tay ethnic group, with big houses on stilts lying at the foot of the mountains and is covered with green tea gardens and corn fields.
Murmuring brooks along the canyon converge together to form a small pool in front of each house. The path into the village is cool with the shade of hedgerows grown by the Tay men. The hedgerows are neat and cooling in the peaceful atmosphere.
Each house on stilts in the Chi Village obeys the science of winds and waters of Tay ethnic people, which requests that the house on stilts must lean against the mountain and look down at the water pool. The house on stilts has an area of 150-200 square metres, made of Trai wood – a rare forest timber. In Tay ethnic people’s opinion, all doors and windows must open widely to welcome visitors. A kitchen with red flame is in the centre of the house. Corn-made wine is available for invited visitors.
The character which visitors are impressed with most is the lovely smile of Chi Village’s residents. They smile openly and light-heartedly or the Tay girls laugh generously and beautifully. The time seems to slow here, evidenced by the youthfulness of women. Visitors will be surprised to see women who have become grandfathers, grandmothers but remain youthful and charming. They offer visitors with full bowls of wine and while keeping a smile on their face.
The Chi Village is a tourism destination which the tourism departments of Ha Giang province and Quang Binh district have chosen to ask travel companies to add to the list of tours for foreign visitors.
The surprising point is a water conducting system from canyons to the village to serve the people’s every need. The source of water is from the high mountains, which are 2-3 kilometers from the village. The source has also helped rear rice yields, which are now yellow-ripened, creating a nice view.
Meals of Tay ethnic people include specialties of forest and mountains such as five primary colour steamed glutinous rice, fried chicken, stream fish, alga, and palm bud. Dishes are simple, but almost all visitors are pleased because of the legends surrounding them.
Nguyen Ngoc Dzung, Director of the Handihand Travel Company, whose headquarters are located at No. 57 Hang Buom Street, Hanoi, who is also a member of the club of Hanoi travel companies said he is able to register for delegations of visitors to stay at the Chi Village. The specialties of culture, beautiful landscapes and Tay ethnic people’s hospitality are best tourism products.
The tourism model in which visitors stay, have meals and sleep at a local person’s home is still strange in some localities. In order to help farmers feel proud when tourists visit and appreciate their experiences in production and characters of everyday life, the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), which specializes in providing consultant services for local authorities in developing countries, has arrived in Vietnam to help local farmers develop tourism models.
The SNV will promote training at localities, with a focus on two main contents including skills in organization and management and tourism profession.
There are different ways to call “agricultural tourism”. Fore example, it is called “rural tourism” in the U.K., “farm tourism” in the U.S., “green tourism” in Japan and “tourism with grasses and trees” in France. However, it is possible to call generally the tourism model “agricultural tourism”. This is an effective measure to export agricultural products on-site as well as introduce the origin of products particularly in the context of the community’s increasing demand for health protection from risks of pollution in big cities.
Minh Chau
Vietnamese
