chain of mountains that stretch to the horizon. The region also features fanciful grottoes, rocky streams and impressive waterfalls that look like a fairyland on earth.
The first must-see attraction is the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant. Located on the gigantic Da River, this hydro-electric power plant is the largest in Vietnam. The plant has eight generators, each with capacity of 240,000 kilowatts.
Built between 1979 and 1994 with assistance from the former Soviet Union, the power plant has made an enormous contribution to Vietnam’s economic development. Standing in front of such an admirable man-made structure makes one feel very small.
A boat tour on Hoa Binh Lake, formed when the river was dammed for the power plant, is also a wonderful experience. An expedition on the lake offers a first-hand view of Muong and Dao villages on the bank.
The local specialty dish is com lam, sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, and grilled meat. Visitors can enjoy such a meal, served on a large banana leaf, while admiring the wild natural beauty around the lake.
Hoa Binh is a multicultural region. Apart from the Kinh (Viet) group, there are five major ethnic minorities: Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao and H'Mong living together across the region.
The trip to the northwest highlands of Mai Chau offers a balance of culture and adventure, amid some of northern Vietnam's most stunning scenery. Locate about 135 kilometers from Hanoi and 60 kilometers from Hoa Binh Town, Mai Chau Valley is home to many ethnic minorities, including the white Thai. From the top of Cun Mountain, you can view a beautiful panorama of the lush green valley peopled with stilt houses.
At Lac Village, you will see stilt houses on both sides of the roads. The houses are quite large with palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo-slat floors. The kitchen is located in the center of the house, where food is cooked and the colorful tho cam (ethnic fabric) is made.
The Sunday market brings a lot of people into town. People from different minorities living in the mountains come to Mai Chau market to sell honey, bananas, corn and tho cam. The Sunday market is also an occasion to enjoy traditional Thai dishes and to participate in traditional dances.
For an overnight stay in Mai Chau, do not miss the nightly performances which display the region’s cultural diversity and recreation activities. Performances usually include dances and songs that portray the lives of farmers and the phases of a rice growing year - sowing rice seeds, harvesting, a farmer’s celebration of a productive season. Audience members are often invited to join the bamboo dance, and then try some traditional cereal wine, a light and sweet wine.
About 70 kilometers from Hanoi and 30 kilometers from Hoa Binh Town, Kim Boi Hot Spring is a simple, peaceful and leafy tourist site. Visitors can stay at an 83-room guesthouse or houses modeled on Muong houses.
Visitors can enjoy northwest mountainous specialties at the local restaurant such as: scorched pig; chicken broth with bamboo shoots; goat milk; and special com lam. All will give visitors an appetite they have never had before.
When night falls, visitors can catch a glimpse of the Muong gong culture, try the bamboo pole dance (mua sap) and drink local wine (ruou can) by the campfire.
Long famous for its diverse cultures and breathtaking natural views, Hoa Binh Province is a worthwhile tourist spot in the north of Vietnam. Just 75 kilometers from Hanoi, the region opens a window on a world where modern and traditional features go hand in hand.
And when you return to Hoa Binh to find a little “peace” in your soul, take a motorcycle tour to discover what you had missed in this wonderland on your first visit.
Reported by Phan Huy Tram |
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