Hot spring by the Da Giang River
Ban Bon, Muong Chien commune is located by the Da River lake, owning a natural hot spring with a temperature of 40-45°C, favorable for developing experiential tourism and resorts.
Hot springs amidst mountains and forests, combined with cold streams and waterfalls, create a unique landscape. Visitors can take mineral baths, admire the scenery and learn about the culture and life of the White Thai people.
Bon Village Community Tourism Cooperative has invested in 4 individual bathrooms, collective bathtubs; renovated the stream area, built a water fountain and a bamboo bridge across Nam Chien stream, creating a space to experience close to nature.
Ban Bon has 153 households, 100% of whom are White Thai people. Many traditional stilt houses have been renovated into homestays, both serving accommodation and helping tourists experience local culture and customs.
Visitors can enjoy specialties such as pa pinh top, mo chicken, kitchen buffalo meat, and lam rice; cultural exchange, dancing, listening to then singing, and playing guitar.
Mr. Bui Dinh Hai, Vice Chairman of Muong Chien Commune People's Committee, said that the locality identifies community tourism as an important development direction, associated with cultural and landscape preservation and improving service quality.
Co Noi Cave - a destination for explorers
Besides hot springs and the landscape of the Da River lake, Muong Chien also has the advantage of developing cave exploration tourism. Co Noi Cave in Co Luong village stands out with a natural stalactite system, bringing a pristine and wonderful beauty.
The main cave is more than 1km long. From the cave entrance, visitors follow the rock crevices to go deep inside, admiring stalactite blocks with many shapes and sizes. The ceiling and walls of the cave are covered with stalactite layers formed over a long time, along with small drops of water creating a characteristic sound in the quiet space.
In the same area, Huoi E cave in Nam Ngua village has quite complex terrain, inside there is a Nam Ngua stream flowing through, creating more uniqueness for the exploration journey.
Connecting natural destinations with indigenous cultural space is expected to help Muong Chien diversify tourism products, attract many groups of tourists and extend stays.
Community tourism creates more livelihoods
Tourism development is opening up more livelihoods for the people of Bon village. Bon village community tourism cooperative has 10 members, including 7 households doing business in accommodation. The cooperative invests in facilities, connects travel agencies and organizes arts to serve tourists.
Ms. Hoang Thi Dung, Director of the Cooperative, said that the unit is linked with travel businesses to build tours, maintain art troupes and welcome more than 3,000 visitors each year.
People also bring brocade weaving and weaving to serve tourism, creating products such as bags, piêu scarves, fish baskets and handicrafts.
Ms. Dang Thi Thuy Tien, a tourist from Lai Chau, said that this is the second time her family has come to Muong Chien. The wild scenery, fresh air, unique culture and the friendliness of the people leave a good impression.
The typical dishes, unique culture and the friendliness of the people make me very excited. I will introduce Muong Chien to my friends," Ms. Tien shared.
In the coming time, Muong Chien will continue to develop lake tourism, community and exploration, associated with cultural preservation, attracting investment, and upgrading infrastructure and services.
With landscapes, hot springs, cave systems, pine forests and Thai Trang culture, tourism is expected to create more livelihoods and promote the economy of the Son La lake area.
