Mu Cang Chai: Mobilizing local human resources to develop the tourism economy

The young man dares to think and do things

Coming from Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province, Hmong man Giang A De - Director of Hello Mu Cang Chai Homestay - has gradually exploited the potential of local tourism, helping many people in the region develop their economy and improving life.

"I understand that my hometown has a lot of potential for tourism with natural landscapes, terraced fields, and diverse flora and fauna," Giang A De shared, adding that from these potentials, much can be developed products such as community tourism, discovery tourism, and ecotourism.

In addition, the 34-year-old director also emphasized the appeal of the native culture of the Mong people with many unique and potential traditions.

Tinkering from the early days, A De researched online to build her first homestay and then went to learn from experience in places with strongly developed community tourism such as Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province, Van Ho district, Son La province, etc.

"When I arrived to learn about these models, I realized I couldn't apply them all to Mu Cang Chai. Instead, I had to filter out the appropriate elements to bring to my homestay," the Mong man shared and emphasized that the most significant thing he learned was how to serve and provide services to tourists.

He trained tour bus team members to work methodically and professionally to serve tourists. In addition, A De also knows how to impress tourists by attaching each tourist destination to a story of the people and that land and letting the driver tell it to tourists on the way.

"Our goal is that every tourist coming to Mu Cang Chai can not only see the natural beauty but also understand the local culture and traditions," Giang A De further emphasized.

Hello Mu Cang Chai Homestay has appeared on many booking and tour sites for domestic and international guests. Homestay said it has free Wi-Fi and free private parking.

There is also a private bathroom with a shower in some units, complimentary toiletries, a hairdryer, and slippers. The property serves a continental, Asian, or vegetarian breakfast each morning.

In particular, if weather conditions permit, Hello Mu Cang Chai Homestay also has a garden and sun terrace for guests to use. The nearest airport is Dien Bien Phu Airport, 243 km from the accommodation.

The government got involved

Mrs. Luong Thi Xuyen, Vice Chairwoman of Mu Cang Chai District People's Committee, said that the locality has taken many measures to promote propaganda and raise awareness with policies when developing tourism.

The purpose is to develop human resources and create more jobs in the tourism industry for local people. This approach also identifies the subject as the people and lets them benefit together.

Meanwhile, state management agencies will play the role of orienting and guiding people to operate scientifically and legally. On that basis, Mrs. Xuyen said the district has established cooperative groups, cooperatives, and businesses so that Mong young people can self-manage and operate.

In addition to the government's support, to operate effectively, local people must also explore and create new tourism products to attract tourists.

"To increase the attractiveness of Mu Cang Chai tourism, local people will find new landscape locations and create agricultural products for tourists to use or buy as gifts," Mrs. Xuyen further analysis. From these activities, there are more and more jobs for local people, especially agricultural workers.

Regarding accommodation and food, restaurants, hotels, and homestays also require high-quality human resources. Not to mention, as tourism develops, tourist demand for transportation also creates many jobs for people, the simplest being the motorbike taxi force, taking tourists from main roads to attractions.

Currently, due to the characteristics of the highlands, one of the difficulties in developing human resources to serve tourism in Mu Cang Chai is that ethnic people and older people are not fluent in Mandarin. Mandarin is difficult, English is even more complicated, and people in Mu Cang Chai encounter many obstacles when communicating with international visitors.

Tourism operations are also a limitation that needs to be mentioned for local human resources. The quality of human resources serving tourist groups coming to Mu Cang Chai today is often not as expected.

Mu Cang Chai district determined that it needs to continue to have more time to propagate, guide, and improve local people's understanding of the tourism potential in the area. From there, we motivate people to develop tourism skills and preserve and promote traditional cultural values, helping this direction become more effective and sustainable.