Awakening the tourism potential of Loc Binh

FAVORABLE CONDITIONS

With the title of “Roof of the Northeast” of Mau Son peak and the legend of the mysterious Father Mountain and Mother Mountain, coming to Loc Binh, visitors will be overwhelmed by the challenge of “riding a dinosaur” in the clouds of Lang Son. From the gentle hillside at the foot of Mau Son mountain, following the path full of ancient trees and layers of soft, thick rotten leaves, after about two hours of walking, opening before visitors’ eyes will be the “Phia Po dinosaur spine” in its majestic, pristine form.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Bich Hanh, Deputy Director of the Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion of Lang Son province, the idea was conceived and developed in 2019. Up to now, trekking (exploration) has become a unique form of tourism, attracting thousands of visitors each year. At an altitude of 800-1,000m above sea level, around the third lunar month, the slopes of Mau Son mountain range are lit up by more than 20 species of rhododendrons competing to bloom, creating vibrant and attractive color patches.

As a home to six ethnic groups such as Tay, Nung, Dao, San Chi, etc., developing tourism associated with preserving cultural heritage values has been identified by the locality as an important direction. “From 2019 to now, the authorities of Loc Binh district at all levels have coordinated with agencies and units of Lang Son province to organize many classes to teach and perform folk songs. In addition, many customs and folk performances at traditional festivals have been restored, such as lion dance, then singing, sli singing, xang co singing, cap sac ceremony, traditional Dao wedding, etc. These are all fundamental materials to help develop indigenous cultural experience tourism”, said Vice Chairwoman of Loc Binh District People's Committee Hoang Thi Thuy.

REQUIRES HIGH DETERMINATION

However, for Loc Binh tourism to truly become a spearhead economic sector with sustainable development requires high determination not only from authorities at all levels but also from local people in resolving existing limitations.

By the end of 2024, the entire Loc Binh district had only more than 20 accommodation establishments, ranked below 3 stars. This disproportionate number has limited the number of visitors to the locality, especially when accommodation is a basic need, bringing a stable source of income to the budget.

Despite possessing cultural features imbued with identity, the reality shows that the construction of a community tourism model in Loc Binh district has not lived up to its potential. One of the main reasons is the awareness of tourism, especially the people do not fully understand the community tourism model. In many villages, the rammed earth houses, a special heritage of the Nung people, are gradually being replaced by concrete houses with corrugated iron roofs, unintentionally destroying the traditional space. In addition, the work of preserving historical and cultural relics of the district also faces many difficulties. Typically, the national historical relic, the Governor General's Palace Vi Van Dinh in Chu village, Khuat Xa commune, now only has a mossy gate showing signs of collapse, walls eroded by time, concrete houses, corrugated iron roofs and iron doors growing up close together, surrounding the old gate arch...

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, Loc Binh and many other localities in Lang Son province have great potential for tourism development thanks to beautiful natural landscapes and rich indigenous cultural values. To overcome the remaining challenges, there needs to be drastic participation in many important stages such as improving infrastructure, enhancing management capacity, protecting the environment and cultural heritage, training human resources and attracting investment.

Article and photos: QUOC DAT

Source: https://nhandan.vn/danh-thuc-tiem-nang-du-lich-loc-binh-post888481.html