A green journey that extends identity
Dien Bien is proud to own the Da River with its wild, majestic beauty but also poetic. The whole province has 112km of inland waterways, of which the main route is 73km long from Muong Lay ward to Tua Thang commune. In particular, the Da River section through Tua Thang - Sinh Phinh is the geographical intersection of the three provinces: Dien Bien - Lai Chau - Son La and is the cultural connecting area of the Mong, Thai, Dao ethnic groups...
One of the highlights not to be missed on the journey to explore the Da River is the Pa Phong suspension bridge, connecting Huoi Long village with the center of Tua Thang commune. From the bridge, visitors can look far away, admiring the curving blue river crossing the mountain, the beautiful villages hidden behind the lush green trees, along with the leaning stilt roofs imprinted on the water surface, all blending together into a poetic water painting of the Northwest mountains and forests.
Currently, although still spontaneous, some local households have boldly invested in motorboats to serve river experience tours. Visitors can start their journey to explore from places such as: Huoi So, Huoi Long or Huoi Trang.
Ms. Quang Thi Hoa, owner of Homestay Pa Phong, Huoi So village (Tu Thang commune) shared her joy when welcoming visitors: " Participating in the experiential tour of our homestay, visitors not only get to admire the scenery on both sides of the river when on a boat but also have the opportunity to enjoy rustic specialties made by the local people such as: fragrant grilled fish, sweet sticky rice sticky rice, or a cup of warm enology wine". It is these realistic and rustic experiences that leave a deep impression on those who visit.
Traveling by boat from Huoi Trang wharf to Pa Phong bridge, Mr. Nguyen Son Tung, a tourist from Hanoi, was amazed: "The land of Dien Bien left me with many impressions, including the Da River flowing through, like a towel crossing the ground and sky. Taking a boat on the river, I can enjoy the majestic scenery of the mountains and rivers, breathing in the fresh air that no other place in the countryside can have.
The Son La hydroelectric reservoir area in Muong Lay ward also possesses a majestic beauty. Hang Tom Bridge, the intersection between reality and the past, has become an ideal place for visitors to stop and capture memorable scenes. The Doi En Boat Racing Festival held every year on New Year's Day is a cultural highlight of the White Thai people, contributing to enriching the river cruise and attracting a large number of tourists.
Need a synchronous strategy to " awaken"
Despite possessing great potential for river tourism, reality shows that the Da Giang river in Dien Bien is still a " gommeted gem" that has not been exploited as much. Riverside tourism in Dien Bien is still limited and has not developed at its best.
One of the biggest bottlenecks is tourism infrastructure. Most of the wharves are still spontaneous, lacking synchronous investment in infrastructure as well as safety factors, especially during the rainy season. On the entire inland waterway of the province, there are currently only two standard wharves, Nam Can Mechanical wharf (Muong Lay ward) and Huoi Long village wharf (Tua Thang commune). The majority of the remaining are unofficially licensed public seaports, which not only poses risks but also limits the ability to develop sustainable tourism on a large scale.
In addition, tourism products are currently single, small and unprofessional. Services such as paragliding are expensive, making it difficult for many tourists to access. Meanwhile, high-quality yachts are only at the pilot level, not really creating an impression and diversity for the discovery journey. The lack of stops, well-planned check-in areas or convenient transit stations along the river has limited the experience of tourists, lacking connectivity and attractiveness to keep them longer.
In an actual survey trip, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Binh, Director of Binh An Tourism Service Development Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City) commented: The Da River is a tourism route that can be promoted internationally if invested properly. However, it is necessary to train a team of tour guides with a deep understanding of indigenous culture, combined with explanations and storytelling of culture, cuisine, beliefs, and geography throughout the journey on the river.
To " awaken" and turn the "green gem" of the Da River into an attractive tourist destination, attracting domestic and foreign tourists, Dien Bien needs a synchronous and drastic strategy. The solution is to have a comprehensive plan for river tourism routes, closely linked with specific destinations, historical sites, scenic spots and cultural villages. Especially the construction of strong and sturdy wharves to ensure safety for tourists and vehicles.
Developing unique and diverse tourism products is also a key factor. Dien Bien can exploit its potential through types such as high-quality homestays along the river, tours to experience profound indigenous culture, and high-performance folk festivals to attract tourists. In particular, it is necessary to strengthen inter-regional connectivity between Dien Bien - Lai Chau - Son La, creating an "inter-regional green tourism corridor" with diverse tours, extending the length of stay and enhancing the experience for tourists. This cooperation will create a strong tourism product with high competitiveness in the market.
At the same time, promote communication, promote the image of the Da River and the hidden beauty of Dien Bien professionally, widely to a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.
awakening the "green gem" of the Da River is not only about economic development but also preserving and promoting the indigenous cultural values. With synchronous strategies and the cooperation of the government, businesses and the community, the majestic Da River of Dien Bien can completely "transform into a dragon", becoming an international river tourism destination, contributing to making Dien Bien on the Vietnam tourism map.
