Foreign visitors visit Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Friendly tourism with homestays

With the first success of the homestay model at Chay Lap, Phuc Trach commune, Bo Trach district six years ago, the community-based tourism is currently common at communes in the buffer zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a World Natural Heritage Site.

Tran Thi Dien, the owner of Pepper House at Hung Trach commune, Bo Trach district, has shared that her accommodations located in a calm natural space with eco-activities in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, has attract many visitors, especially international tourists. At Pepper House, the visitors have a chance not only to see the beauty of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, but also to enjoy life in the Vietnam’s countryside, according to owner Dien.

Ho Khanh Homestay, another accommodation in Bo Trach district, and run by the married couple Ho Khanh and Le Thi Nghia, includes two bungalows and three buildings. The Ho Khanh Homestay’s has beautiful and romantic views and is a convenient location for visiting the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Visitors have the opportunity to meet with the accommodation’s owner, Ho Khanh, who discovered Son Doong cave - the largest cave in the world.

Recently, Ha Thi Huyen Trang, from Bac Ly ward, Dong Hoi city, Quang Binh province, has opened Homestay Ocean View in Quang Phu commune, marking the first appearance of eco-friendly tourism in the sea city of Dong Hoi.

Quang Binh currently has three farmstay zones and 27 households with homestay services. Over the two past years, the accommodations, with their friendly style and competitive prices, have attracted many international visitors.

In the first three months of 2015, Quang Binh welcomed over 10,400 foreign travelers, the majority of who have chosen to stay with a homestay.

Developing community-based tourism

Highly appreciating the effect of community-based tourism, Deputy Director of Quang Binh provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyen Van Ky, who also is Chairman of the provincial Tourism Association, said that this type of tourism not only contributes to introducing and promoting tourism in Quang Binh, but also brings practical benefits to the economy and the lives of local people.

According to Chairman Ky, the natural beauty of the forests, seas and people in the surrounding zones of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and along of beaches in Quang Binh will help develop tourism to the region.

Quang Binh has provided refresher courses for local people, however the community-based tourism is developing largely on its own.

Ho Khanh expressed his hope that he would het to improve the quality of Ho Khanh Homestay.

Quang Binh provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is planning to develop more large-scale community-based tourism. According to Chairman Nguyen Van Ky, local authorities should raise awareness of community-based tourism to support and create the conditions to develop tourism.

Meanwhile, the local people should be trained in foreign languages, tourism skills and services to improve the quality of tourism services at homestays and farmstays.

With the participation of local authorities and local people, the quality of tourism will improve.