Located in the western part of Nghe An Province, Quy Chau is inhabited by Thai ethnic people whose tradition is based on rice cultivation and textile and woodwork crafts. Thai women in Hoa Tien Village have been well known for their brocade weaving techniques and skills for many generations. The brocade products were originally made for family needs and as a dowry for brides. The Thai women in Hoa Tien are adept at weaving silk and cotton and using herbs, flowers, leaves, and bark as natural dyes, adding unique value to their products.

A variety of activities for every taste awaits visitors to Hoa Tien. They have an opportunity to enjoy local foods, learn how to make banh chung (square glutinous rice cake filled with green bean paste and fat pork) and drink local wine.

They can also join in brocade weaving, bamboo dancing, a game of throwing cotton balls and Nhuon singing activities.

Foreign visitors are drawn to Hoa Tien Village out of curiosity about the cultures of the different ethnic groups in general and of the Thai in particular. Being able to join in local activities adds a particularly worthwhile dimension to the visit.

Marcos Daniel from Portugal said he enjoyed trying to make banh chung and other cakes. Jagli Lena from Switzerland said she participated in many Vietnamese traditional games but loved performing the bamboo dance most. Most foreign visitors to the western part of Nghe An Province choose homestay tours which expose them to first-hand information and experience of local life and culture.

Brocade production, watering wheels, and folk games have been well preserved in Hoa Tien. Nguyen Thanh Ha, Deputy Chairman of the Quy Chau District People’s Committee, said many delegations, including foreign visitor groups, come to Hoa Tien both for cultural research and culinary enjoyment. The district is developing ecological tours to attract more visitors in the coming time, Ha said.

Nghe An is strengthening regional connectivity by encouraging travel businesses to work with local residents and authorities to develop community-based tours.

Please feel free to contact us at anytime  at [email protected] if you really want to get off the beaten tracks in Nghe An and Central region of Vietnam

Western Nghệ An
Western Nghe An is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, located in Nghệ An Province in the tropical and temperate zone of Vietnam, and on the border with Laos. It was designated as a biosphere reserve in 2007, and recognised by UNESCO in 2011. It is one of eight recognised biospheres in Vietnam.
 

The Western Nghe An biosphere reserve is an area profoundly influenced by a northeast and southwest monsoon. The topography of the Annamite Range influences circulation of the atmosphere, which creates large climatic differences in this region.

The Biosphere Reserve has area of about 1,303,285 ha, being the largest biosphere reserve in South-East Asia. Covering nine mountainous districts including Con Cuông, Anh Sơn, Tương Dương, Quế Phong, Quỳ Châu, Quỳ Hợp, Thanh Chương and Tân Kỳ, its core consists of three nationally protected areas: the Pù Mát National Park, the Pu Huong Nature Reserve, and the Pu Hoat Nature Reserve.

Most of population in the biosphere reserve is of Thai ethnic group (68.89%) and a small number of O Du ethnic groups (0.6%). Living in 3 districts in Pù Mát National Park region belongs to 3 main ethnic groups: Thai, Kho Mu, Kinh and other ethnic groups such as: Tay, H' Mong, O Du. The population suffers the highest rate of poverty in the country.

The design of the Biosphere Reserve is based on criteria to perform three functions of internationally Proposed Biosphere Reserves: the development strategy of the country, the commitment of Nghe An provincial People's Committee in implementing the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Agenda 21 national project. The Biosphere Reserve has a 440.8 km friendship border with Laos People's Democratic Republic. There are at present 130 species of mammals, 295 bird species, 54 species of amphibians and reptiles, 84 species of fish and 39 species of bats.