Visit Tan Hoa Village - The best tourism villages

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) names Tan Hoa among the Best Tourism Villages in 2023. How did Tan Hoa Village in Quang Binh overcome 206 global "competitors" to receive the "World's Best Tourism Village" 2023 award?

About Tan Hoa Village

Tân Hoá village is known as the “seasonal flooded zone” of Quang Binh province, where during the rainy season the flood water can submerge the whole village. Tân Hoá used to be one of the poorest villages in Quang Binh Province. Since 2011, when tourism activities were adopted by Tân Hoá village, many people have acquired stable jobs and, subsequently, their quality of life has improved significantly.

The village is situated in the vicinity of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, benefiting from unique natural conditions and a rustic charm. The village has been recognized by the provincial People’s Committee as an ecological and cave tourism area within the Tu Lan cave system. Surrounded by primary forests, limestone mountains, and the tranquil Rao Nan river, Tân Hóa village exhibits a simple and enduring beauty that leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

Tân Hoá Tourism Village is a pioneering tourism business model that promotes collaboration between enterprises and the local community, aiming for mutual benefits.

Tan Hoa Village in Quang Binh - the best tourism villages
Tan Hoa owns many magnificent caves with rich flora and fauna that were once chosen as a backdrop for filming. Among them, the most famous is Kong: Skull Island, directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts.

Adapting to the Seasons and sustainable development goals

Tân Hoá village is famous for its natural disasters and floods. The weather-adaptive tourism model was developed in 2017, focusing on adjusting cave expedition tours to accommodate seasonal variations, particularly during the rainy season, to ensure the safety of both tourists and staff.

Over the past years, local residents have engaged in tourism activities to help sustainably reduce poverty. With support from businesses, Tan Hoa has become a weather-adaptive tourism village with many unique and typical tourism products.

Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme. The programme works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism, and encourage sustainable practices.

Building upon this success, the weather-adaptive homestay model was introduced in 2022 and further enhanced in 2023. These adaptations have positively influenced the perception of Tân Hoá’s tourism activities, resulting in a significant increase in the number of domestic and international visitors seeking to experience the region. In 2022, Tân Hoá welcomed a record-breaking 8,001 visitors, surpassing the figures from the previous year. This innovative approach continues to attract a growing number of tourists, both locally and internationally, who are eager to engage in the authentic and immersive experiences Tân Hoá has to offer.

Preserving local culture

Preserving local culture is one of the top priorities in Tân Hoá Village. Alongside teaching Vietnamese language in the education system, the Nguồn people still maintain their spoken Nguồn language for daily use in the community.

Cultural customs such as Ho Thuoc Ca (folk singing), Ram Thang Ba festival (March Full Moon festival), and the Living Ancestor Worship tradition are preserved by the local people across generations. Additionally, the Ho Thuoc Ca has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

The villages are evaluated under nine key areas, namely cultural and natural resources; promotion and conservation of cultural resources; economic sustainability; social sustainability; environmental sustainability; tourism development and value chain integration; governance and prioritisation of tourism; infrastructure and connectivity; and health, safety, and security.

Financial mechanisms towards tourism development

On a yearly basis, the province of Quang Binh introduces financial support policies for rural tourism development projects in local communities. These policies, including financial assistance grants, aim to facilitate the construction of homestays using state budget funds or through loans from the district’s Bank for Social Policies. Tân Hoá Village has effectively disseminated these supporting policies to individual households, enabling them to access various funding opportunities. These include government funds such as the poverty reduction fund, the new rural development fund, and the minority support fund.

Tân Hóa Village encourages its residents to become independent entrepreneurs and be a part of the tourism supply chain. The locals engage in various tourism service activities, including operating homestays for tourists, organizing home-cooked meals for visitors to savor local cuisine, and selling local products to tourists through the OCOP (One Community, One Product) initiative. Local products include honey, pepper, turmeric powder, salted fish, and other agricultural products.

Natural

Unique natural conditions and a rustic charm.
Surrounded by primary forests, limestone mountains, and the tranquil Rao Nan River.
Known for the beautiful Tu Lan cave network, which has been chosen as the location of famous blockbuster films,.

Tu Lan Cave - Quang Binh
The beautiful Tu Lan cave network