Lac Village: Tourism starts bouncing back

Lac village in Chieng Mai Commune (Mai Chau district) has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the northern province of Hoa Binh for not only local people but also foreign visitors. About 140km northwest of the capital city of Ha Noi, Lac village is the place of special traditional cultures of black Thai ethnic people with their 700 year history. After weeks of avoiding travelling due to fears of the novel coronavirus outbreak (also known as COVID-19), Lac village in Mai Chau district of the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh starts welcoming tourists during the recent days. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Far more than 100km from Hanoi capital, Lac village appears as a dreaming and charming land. Upon arriving here, the village is a green valley of paddy fields dotted with rows of stilt houses of a peaceful town. Lac village, Mai Chau district is home to Thai people's culture with 5 clans, namely Ha, Lo, Vi, Mac, and Loc. The village has been 700 years in existence so far. The province welcomes a large number of visitors every year. According to local people, though the number of tourist arrivals last week was still humble, which stands at only 30-40 percent compared to that in previous years, this still shows a positive sign. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

As one of the most famous tourist attractions in Mai Chau district of the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh, Lac village captivates tourists not only with the rustic beauty of the mountains, with the gentleness of the girls in the upland, but also by the warming heart of the locals here. Moreover, "homestay" - a sort of tourism which tourists live in homes of the local people is gradually also favored by tourists, especially international tourists. This street had been empty during the week before due to visitors’ fear of infecting with the novel coronavirus, which causes the acute respiratory disease, when travelling. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Lac village, Mai Chau district of the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh is a can't-miss destination for tourists, especially international ones, as it is considered a safe and beautiful getaway in the Northwestern region of Vietnam. Visiting Lac village, tourists, both domestic and foreigners, will have a chance to stay on stilt houses to enjoy the peaceful and quiet atmosphere of the village, tasting numerous ethnic minorities' specialties, such as sticky rice cooked in bamboo cylinders, bitter bamboo shoots, famous Can wine (wine drunk out of a jar through pipes), grilled meat and experience the daily life of local ethnic people in the village. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

European tourists choose Mai Chau as a stop during their journey in Vietnam as they consider this destination a safe and beautiful getaway in the Northwestern region of Vietnam. Coming to Lac village, in Mai Chau, the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh, tourists can enjoy bamboo cooked rice and experience daily life of ethnic people living in the village. Ethnic people here are very gentle and friendly. In the afternoon, the village is especially beautiful with the rays of the sun shining in the valley. Lac villagers will grill meat, cook a pot of bitter bamboo shoot and sticky rice for tourists. They can enjoy traditional dishes and listening to the gong singing. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Electric cars carrying domestic and foreign tourists for sightseeing around Lac village of Mai Chau district, the northwestern province of Hoa Binh. It would be lacking of interesting if tourists not to go the Lac’s market. In front of each stilt house, people put some small tables for displaying their brocaded products, such as purses, handbags and Pieu scarves (a traditional scarf of the Thai people). They also hung an abundance of long cloth rolls and Ao com (a short traditional shirt of the Thai People) with distinctive patterns. In addition, unique products like wooden bells for buffalos, bamboo flutes, bows and cross-bows and knives were also displayed for sale. All the products were hand made by the Thai people. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Tens of electric cars operating at once, carrying domestic and foreign tourists for sightseeing around Lac village of Mai Chau district, the northwestern province of Hoa Binh. After weeks of avoiding travelling due to fears of the novel coronavirus outbreak (also known as COVID-19), Lac village starts welcoming tourists during the recent days. Many tourists said that they have closely followed COVID-19 developments every day in Vietnam and decided to go for a spring trip on these days as Vietnam has well controlled the disease’ spreading. According to local people, though the number of tourist arrivals last week was still humble, which stands at only 30-40 percent compared to that in previous years, this still shows a positive sign. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

A group of bikers choose Lac village of Mai Chau district, the northwestern province of Hoa Binh as a destination during their belated spring trip due to COVID-19 outbreak. From Hanoi, tourists must go 60 kilometers to Mai Chau by bus or motorbike. By bus, you must take in My Dinh Station, Hanoi. By motorbike, you can rent one at any travel agency inside the Old Quarter of Hanoi. From the center of Mai Chau town, you can easily move to Lac village. It is not difficult for tourists to get reasonable accommodation in Lac village – gathered by the biggest number of homestays of Mai Chau. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Restaurants in Lac village of Mai Chau district, the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh are busy welcoming domestic and foreign tourists. As one of the most famous tourist attractions in Mai Chau, Lac village captivates tourists not only with the rustic beauty of the mountains, with the gentleness of the girls in the upland, but also by the warming heart of the locals here. Despite numerous years of tourism services, the honest and sincere of the ethnic mountains is virtually no loss by the floodgates of money. The attitude welcoming tourists also strongly leaves beautiful impression to foreign tourists. Lac Village is thus one of the most appealing tourist spots in Mai Chau tourism. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Giang Vy homestay owner told reporters that tourist arrivals has just started bouncing back in Lac village, Mai Chau district for a week. There are currently 25 "hotel" stilt-houses in the Lac Village built under the plan, which are numbered in order from 01 to 25. These stilt-houses are ornamented with the bamboo. They all are respectively tall, clean, immerse and still maintain the ancient architectural traditions. Amenities include quilt, cushion, and pillow neatly and tidily folded. Adjoining bedroom is floor for dinner and tea. The rustic and cozy life somewhat mounted both the host and guests to become familiar, many of them have become intimates. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Many tourists said that they have closely followed COVID-19 developments every day in Vietnam and decided to go for a spring trip on these days as Vietnam has well controlled the disease’ spreading. In particular, visiting Lac village, tourists cannot miss the specialties of the land. Tourist will be invited to sit on the adorned mat in the center of the house. Then they will be invited to enjoy Can wine (a sort of popular wine in the upland and drunk out of a jar through pipes), com lam (a kind of delicious rice in the ethnic groups) with grilled meat and steamed freshwater fish. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Black Thai ethnic cuisine is famous for barbecue dishes, especially fish and pork. The barbecue is wrapped up in banana leaves with various herbal spices. the barbecue is a must for any festival banquet. Grilled dishes are signature and uniqueness attracting vitotors to Lac village. Stream alga is another unique food, which requires skillful cooks. The alga is cleaned up and washed carefully, then squeezed up to make it dry. Additive spices include garlic leaves, ginger, and forest pepper. All is wrapped in banana leaves before grill. Dried alga can be used in various dishes such as salad, barbecue and mixed food. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

One of Thai ethnic group’s outstanding typical features lies in its culinary culture. The ethnic group’s culinary culture has great vitality. To Thai ethnic people, making local dishes has become a traditional cultural feature. It’s very easy for us to recognize dishes of Thai ethnic people. They are processed in distinct ways. Some dishes are very spicy or salty, some are very sour or tart. Black Thai is also good at cooking chicken dishes. They select chicken with soft meat and mix up with various spices so that the food is spicy, bitter and sour. It is good for body digestion and metabolism. Thai people could work the whole day without much sweat. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Mouth-watering dishes await diners who visit Lac village of Mai Chau district, the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh. The food are processed in distinct ways. Some dishes are very spicy or salty, some are very sour or tart. It’s a typical feature of dishes of Thai ethnic people. Dishes of Thai ethnic people are spiced carefully, ensuring the elements of Yin and Yang. For example, Thai ethnic people use some Yang spices such as chilli, lemongrass, ginger, pepper, etc for spicing Yin dishes. And they also mix Yin spiced including starfruits, lemons and so on with those Yang spices. Grilled meat, chicken and fish are must-try dishes for tourists to Lac village. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Grilled dishes in Lac village, Mai Chau district in Hoa Binh province are carefully seasoned with local herbs and spices, attracting tourists both at home and abroad. There are a lot of dishes in a daily meal of Thai ethnic people. And each dish has its own flavor. Thai ethnic people often roast cattle, poultry or seafood. And they often keep dried fish in their kitchens. When guests arrive at their houses, they roast dried fish again to serve guests. And then, they treat guests to other dishes. This shows the hospitality of Thai ethnic people. Thai ethnic people enjoy their dishes slowly to thoroughly feel their wonderful flavors. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Rice cooked in bamboo tube is also a dish one-shouldn’t-miss when travelling to Lac village of Mai Chau district, the northern province of Hoa Binh. Locals people here would use young bamboo tubes, cut out one side of the tube to place the sticky rice and add salt and water. The bamboo tubes must be new and fresh so that when rice is cooked, the aroma of bamboo is well absorbed into rice grains. The tubes are then rolled evenly in the fire. Before eating, people would peel off the green cover, which turned black after being grilled. By the smell from the rice tube or the color of the bamboo, the "cooks" would know whether the rice was ready to be served. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Homestay - a sort of tourism service which tourists live in homes of the local people is gradually also favored by tourists, especially international tourists. Despite numerous years of tourism services, the honest and sincere of the ethnic mountains is virtually no loss by the floodgates of money. The attitude of welcoming tourists also strongly leaves beautiful impression to foreign tourists. Lac village is thus one of the most appealing tourist spots in Mai Chau tourism. Having dinners with friends in a stilt house amid beautiful natural scenes is surely an unforgettable experience for tourists to Lac village, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Brocade weaving is the traditional craft of the Thai that creates cultural characters that fascinate tourists going to Lac Hamlet. An unusual cultural feature of the Thai people is clearly seen through their costumes: a scarf that crosses the head, a blue shirt, and a black floor length skirt. Girls often wear a brocaded piece that crosses her chest that helps them look graceful. Tourists to Lac village of Mai Chau district, the northern province of Hoa Binh could watch local ethnic women weaving brocade products. Nothing is more exciting than wearing tradition clothes as a local and take some beautiful photos when coming there. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Tourists are suggested to rent a bike to drive yourself or trek around Lac 2 village to enjoy the wild atmosphere. It would not be interesting if tourists do not go to the Lac's market where includes small simple stalls. Locals are considered as funny and enthusiastic tour guides who show tourists many strange items. From weaving scarf, brocade dress to wear, women in the village have made a lot of souvenirs for tourists such as: scarf, skirts, lovely wallet, etc. Tourists to Lac village of Mai Chau district, the northern moutnainous province of Hoa Binh could watch local ethnic women weaving brocade products. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Colourful brocade products of all sizes on display in Lac village, Mai Chau district, the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh. Thai ethnic people in the Northwestern region are renowned for their traditional craft of brocade weaving that has been preserved for many generations. Thai women make traditional brocade products on their special loom. The weaving looms are made from wood and generally big. Thai women often wear Pieu scarf, one of their traditional brocade products. Brocade production helps maintain Thai ethnic minority people’s typical cultural characteristic. For many Thai women, the most difficult stage in weaving brocade products is preparing threads. Thai ethnic minority people have maintained their traditional brocade weaving for many years. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Colourful brocade products of all sizes on display in Lac village, Mai Chau district, the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh. All Thai females are taught the way how to make cotton and weave brocade when they are children. Growing up and getting marriage, they must be skillful in making cotton and weaving brocade for their own family and trading. At the present, Thai ethnic people in Mai Chau know how to combine closely brocade weaving development with public tourism. With more 300 looms, four villages in Mai Chau valley formed and developed handicraft tourism are Lac village, Nhot village, Van village and Pom Coong village. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Images of vivid brocade products are typical in northern mountainous region, especially in Lac village, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province. In order to weave a piece of brocade cloth, a White Thai girls have to use materials made by herself from planting mulberry, growing silkworm and reed grass. With three main materials, they weave and combine brocade with diversified and plentiful designs. The picture of Thai girls studiously weaving beside looms and boisterous sound from loom’s diamonds which seems to attract domestic and foreign visitors. That picture also becomes lively symbol of Mai Chau tourism land in the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Lac village in Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province. It's become a great destination for anyone seeking tranquility away from urban luxuries. Here the atmosphere is rich, culture is more and more attractive than ever. A lively gateway to the highlands of the Northwest. Many people call that the Lac is a tourist center of Mai Chau district. Because of the beautiful scenery and the great things it offers, it satisfies travelers with their own names. So gradually it becomes a certain point to arrive at Peace.Drinking Asian pigeonwings tea amid untouched natural scene is a pleasant experience for visitors to Lac village, Mai Chau district of the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Only about 140 km away from the lavish city of Hanoi, this is a good way to travel for a weekend trip. Here you are like to find your true feelings, to live yourself with peace and quiet quiet space of the forest scene. These days are the days of enjoying, experiencing and discovering many new things, especially the culture of the upland people. The stilt house, the room is still open until late at night so that visitors can spoil the taste of hot smoke and the moon after the evening with the fresh air of the place. Enchanting local flowers and fruits luring tourists to Lac village, Mai Chau district of the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)

Previously, the lives of local people only depended on the cultivation of rice, weaving, and brocade. However, recently, the hidden beauty of the Lac has been discovered so most people in the village are doing tourism as an additional income to support their lives. Since then, Lac Village has gradually become one of the key areas of Mai Chau tourism. Moreover, Lac village tour is also the "highlight" on the tourism map of Vietnam, becoming one of the best tours in Vietnam. In recent years, visitors to Mai Chau in Vietnam countryside tours are rapidly increasing. Nevertheless, the houses on stilts in Lac village today do not change too much, they still keep the unique tradition of this place. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+)