COMMUNITY TOURISM IN PA CO COMMUNE

COMMUNITY TOURISM IN PA CO COMMUNE

Hang Kia is a tourist destination located at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters above sea level. In summer, the weather here is refreshingly cool, while in winter the entire area is blanketed in white clouds. In spring, the plum blossoms cover the forests in white, mingled with the pink of peach blossoms, signaling the arrival of the upland festival season: the Gau Tao Festival.

Visitors can reach Hang Kia from Hoa Binh City by taking National Highway 6 for about three hours, or by boat across Hoa Binh Lake with stops at Chua Thac Bo Temple and Go Lao Waterfall, followed by about an hour of road travel to the Mong ethnic community area.

Mai Chau District is home to seven ethnic groups: Muong, Thai, Mong, Dao, Tay, Hoa, each preserving its own cultural traditions, creating a colorful blend in the Northwest region. In addition to its natural beauty, Mai Chau is attractive for its unique specialties, handicrafts, the friendliness of its people, and its rich culinary culture. The district also boasts pristine forests and ancient woodlands. Traditionally, tourism in Mai Chau has focused on Van Village, Lac Village, and Pom Coong, but Pa Co Commune is now emerging as a destination with rich tourism potential thanks to its unspoiled natural beauty and well-preserved Mong cultural traditions.

From the center of Mai Chau District, a 40 km journey over mountains reaching 1,200 meters above sea level takes visitors to Pa Co. From above, the lush green forests unfold beneath a veil of mist and smoke, with the rooftops of Mong houses faintly visible—an inspiring scene for photographers. The winding mountain roads lead past steep bends, tea hills, stone fences, and fields of golden mustard flowers surrounding each stilt house. Entering the villages, visitors often encounter Mong women skillfully embroidering and children laughing and playing joyfully. Even simple sights such as piles of firewood in the yard or smoke rising from kitchen chimneys bring a sense of peace, helping visitors leave behind the bustle of daily life.

In Hang Kia, besides village exploration, travelers can visit pristine sites such as tea hills, plum gardens in Ta Xong A, Ta Xo, and Thung A Lang. Along the connecting mountain paths, there are high points perfect for cloud-hunting, such as Cong Troi, Pa Khom–Thung Mai, or Sam Tha Mountain, where one can see the peaks of Pu Luong (Thanh Hoa) and Pha Luong (Son La).

Cultural experiences also attract visitors, including traditional Mong handicrafts such as brocade weaving, indigo dyeing, and beeswax painting. The local cuisine is equally appealing, featuring mountain specialties like corn wine, “thang co” (a traditional horse meat soup), hand-pounded sticky rice cakes, “men men” (steamed cornmeal), mustard greens, free-range chicken, local pork, forest bamboo shoots, all seasoned with the unique spice “mac khen.”

According to statistics, in 2018, Mai Chau welcomed about 332,000 visitors, of which Hang Kia received 6,000, with foreign tourists accounting for 60%. With two distinct seasons (rainy and dry), an average annual temperature of 18.5°C, a fresh climate, stunning landscapes, and unique ethnic culture, Hang Kia holds great potential for the development of community-based tourism, attracting both domestic and international travelers seeking exploration and authentic experiences.

This is also one of the priority destinations that Phu Tho Province aims to develop into a key tourism hub.

Address: Pa Co Commune, Phu Tho Province