Tan Hoa village – the weather Adaptive tourism model that won the UNWTO’s Best tourism villages prize in 2023.
Tan Hoa village, a hidden gem in Vietnam’s Quang Binh province, has been recognized as one of the Best Tourism Villages of 2023 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The village was one of 54 selected from nearly 260 applicants across five world regions. The award honors rural destinations that embrace tourism as a driver of development and well-being, while preserving and promoting their natural and cultural heritage.
Tan Hoa village is located about 70 km northwest of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts spectacular limestone formations and biodiversity. The village is surrounded by majestic mountains and the Rao Nan river, which offer scenic views and diverse activities for visitors. Tan Hoa village is also home to the Tu Lan cave system, one of the most adventurous and beautiful cave destinations in Vietnam. Visitors can explore the caves by trekking, swimming, kayaking, or camping inside them, and experience the thrill of discovering the underground wonders.
Tan Hoa village is not only a place for nature lovers, but also for culture seekers. The village is inhabited by the Nguon ethnic minority, who have their own traditions, customs, and festivals. Visitors can learn about their way of life and enjoy their hospitality by staying in their homestays or joining their community events. Tan Hoa village also has a rich history, as it was one of the sites of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail during the Vietnam War.
Tan Hoa village has developed a sustainable tourism model that adapts to the changing weather conditions and respects the environment and the community. The village has cooperated with Oxalis Adventure, a leading adventure tour company in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, to create high-quality tourism products and services that benefit both the visitors and the locals. Oxalis Adventure has created jobs and income for many people from Tan Hoa as tour guides, porters, cooks, drivers, and homestay owners. Oxalis Adventure has also contributed to various social and environmental projects in the village, such as building roads, bridges, schools, clinics, and water systems, donating books, clothes, bicycles, and scholarships to the children, planting trees, cleaning up trash, and raising awareness about environmental issues.
The recognition of Tan Hoa village as one of the best tourism villages in 2023 by UNWTO is a great achievement and an honor for the village and for Vietnam. It is also an opportunity to promote Tan Hoa village as a destination that offers authentic and diverse experiences to visitors, while also creating opportunities and benefits for the local people and the environment. Tan Hoa village is a place where you can experience nature, adventure, and culture in harmony with the weather.
- Tu Lan Cave tours: Tan Hoa is the gateway to the Tu Lan cave system, which is a network of more than 20 caves connected by an underground river. You can join a cave tour with Oxalis Adventure, which is the only authorized operator for this area. They offer different tours ranging from one day to four days, depending on your preference and fitness level. You will get to explore some of the most beautiful and untouched caves in Vietnam, such as Ken cave, Tu Lan cave, Kim cave, and Hung Ton cave. You will also have the opportunity to swim in the underground river, trek through the jungle, camp by the waterfall, and enjoy local food. You can find more information and book a tour on the website.
- ATV Quad bike tour in the jungle: If you want to experience some adrenaline and adventure, you can join an ATV quad bike tour with Oxalis Adventure as well. This is a new service that they launched in 2023, which allows you to discover the home of Kong on an ATV quad bike. You will ride through the palm forest, the ironwood forest, the myrtle flowers forest, and the Kong’s tunnel, which are all locations that were used as film sets for the Hollywood movie Kong: Skull Island in 2016. The tour duration is 2 hours and costs VND 1,000,000 per person (2 guests share 1 ATV) or VND 1,500,000 per person (1 guest per ATV). You can book this tour online here https://oxalisadventure.com/atv-quad-bike-tours-explore-the-home-of-kong/
- Dinner at a local home: One of the best ways to experience the culture and lifestyle of Tan Hoa village is to have dinner at a local home. You can enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine prepared by the host family, and learn more about their history, traditions, customs, and crafts. You can also join them in their daily activities, such as farming, fishing, cooking, and weaving. This is a great opportunity to interact with the local people and support their livelihoods. You can arrange this service through Oxalis Adventure or Rural Homestay.
- Cycling around the village: You can explore the natural beauty of the village by bicycle. You can ride through the rice fields, the palm forest, the ironwood forest, and the myrtle flowers forest. You can also visit the caves, the waterfalls, and the Kong’s tunnel, which were used as film sets for Kong: Skull Island. You can rent a bicycle from Oxalis Adventure or Rural Homestay.
- Volunteering: You can support the local community by volunteering in various projects. For example, you can help with teaching English, environmental education, organic farming, handicraft making, or cultural exchange. You can also donate to the Oxalis Foundation, which supports the sustainable development of Tan Hoa village and other areas in Quang Binh province.
If you want to learn more about Tan Hoa village and its tourism products and services, you can visit at https://tanhoavillage.com and UNWTO Names Its Best Tourism Villages 2023 or watch this video: Best Tourism Villages 2023 Meeting where they introduce their village and their award. You can also browse the list of other villages that have been recognized as best tourism villages by UNWTO.