Hoa Quy: Turning cultural resources into development driving force

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Hoa Quy commune was established on the basis of merging the entire area and population of Hoa Quy and Binh Luong communes with a natural area of 116.64km2, a population of nearly 12,000 people including 4 ethnic groups: Thai, Tho, Kinh, Muong, of which Thai people account for more than 60%, Tho people account for 20%.

Hoa Quy residents participate in the opening ceremony of Dong Quan waterfall eco-tourism in 2024.

The rich historical and cultural traditions and unique ecological landscapes are favorable conditions for the commune to exploit and develop community tourism and eco-tourism; at the same time, they are the spiritual foundation for building national solidarity and creating consensus in implementing development goals.

Aiming at the goal of building and developing an advanced culture imbued with national identity, making culture permeate all areas of social life, the Party Committee, the government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, socio -political organizations and local people have paid attention to preserving and promoting traditional cultural identity, especially the Thai ethnic culture. Many tangible and intangible cultural values have been preserved, taught and effectively exploited in people's lives such as traditional costumes, folk performances, games, performances... Many cultural activities have become tourism products, creating attractiveness for local community tourism.

Cultural, folk arts and sports clubs in villages and hamlets operate regularly, becoming places to preserve and develop cultural values and nurture souls, spreading civilized lifestyles. Currently, the commune has 20 traditional arts clubs and 20 sports clubs. Cultural and sports activities are maintained regularly on holidays, New Year, village festivals, and national solidarity days. In parallel, cultural and sports institutions in the commune are invested in relatively synchronously. Currently, the whole commune has 3 communal cultural houses, 2 communal stadiums, 20/20 villages and hamlets have their own cultural houses and sports areas. The institutions are invested in spaciously to become centers for political, cultural and sports activities of the people, contributing to building a new, civilized lifestyle, and connecting the community.

The commune currently has 3 provincial-level relics: Dong Quan Waterfall Scenic Relic, Cong Troi Waterfall Scenic Relic and the place where the Nhu Xuan District Party Committee was established. Along with that, the system of pristine mountain and forest landscapes in the buffer zone of Ben En National Park has turned Hoa Quy commune into a potential destination for developing eco-tourism and community tourism. The commune's destinations have attracted a significant number of tourists, especially on weekends and holidays. In the first 6 months of 2025, the commune welcomed about 7,000 visitors to experience and explore. This result shows the initial effectiveness of projects and programs to develop community tourism associated with experiential agriculture, recreating the cultural living space of ethnic minorities, and organizing indigenous cultural events. At the same time, it is affirmed that cultural activities, if exploited properly, will become unique and attractive tourism products, contributing to promoting local identity, creating livelihoods for people, and forming a sustainable direction for rural tourism.

In addition to the advantages to improve the quality of culture, in reality, the locality still has some difficulties. Many traditional cultural values of the Thai and Tho ethnic groups are at risk of being lost. Local youth are less interested in traditional values, so there is a lack of successors to practice traditional culture; labor resources in the tourism sector are still lacking and not really professional. Indigenous cultural products are still limited...

To improve the quality of culture associated with tourism development in the new development conditions, Vice Chairman of Hoa Quy Commune People's Committee Le Anh Tuan said that the commune will focus on researching and preserving the typical cultural values of the Thai and Tho ethnic groups. Forming and building traditional cultural spaces, healthy and civilized cultural environments. Investing in improving the quality of grassroots cultural institutions to create playgrounds and places for traditional cultural forms.

At the same time, build and replicate community tourism models at potential locations; coordinate with specialized units to plan and invest in typical tourism products such as bee forest experience tours, waterfall tours, enjoying ethnic cuisine... Promote digital communication, connect tours with neighboring localities to attract tourists. Strengthen training and coaching for people in community tourism skills, working as tour guides, organizing homestay services. The commune will also promote coordination with departments, branches, and units to integrate cultural - tourism - economic development programs in a harmonious and sustainable manner. Mobilize resources for investment, management, protection, exploitation and promotion of traditional cultural values associated with the development of community ecotourism.

Article and photos: Thuy Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hoa-quy-dua-nguon-luc-van-hoa-thanh-dong-luc-phat-trien-257569.htm