Tết Holiday Feast: Savor Cơm Pồi and Cá Thính Chua at Tân Hóa Tourist Village

Discover Tan Hoa Tourist Village in Quang Binh, an award-winning destination recently named the 'Best Tourism Village in the World.' This captivating village is renowned for its unique weather-adaptive tourism model and provides access to the breathtakingly pristine Tú Làn cave system.
Tan Hoa, Quang Binh – From Flood-Prone Village to World's Best Weather-Adaptive Tourism Village
In late 2023, the weather-adaptive tourism village model in Tan Hoa (Quang Binh), along with many other villages worldwide, was added to the 'Best Tourism Villages' network by the World Tourism Organization - UNWTO (now UN Tourism). Among over 100 best tourism villages assessed by UN Tourism, Vietnam boasts two entries: Tan Hoa (Quang Binh) and Thai Hai (Thai Nguyen).
In late December (Lunar Calendar), as the weather began to warm, the entire village of Tan Hoa (Quang Binh) buzzed with preparations for Tet (Lunar New Year). The busiest were families running homestays, getting ready to welcome tourists. After a three-month winter break and post-flood cleanup, every home was meticulously cleaned, flowerbeds replanted, fences trimmed, and residents eagerly awaited the return of visitors to Tan Hoa.

Mr. Truong Xuan Duong (right), from Hamlet 1 - Yen Tho, Tan Hoa Commune, Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province, shared that his family's income has improved since they started working in tourism.
Mr. Truong Xuan Duong (from Hamlet 1 - Yen Tho, Tan Hoa Commune, Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province) stated that since operating a homestay, his family earns an additional 7 to 10 million VND per month. “This year, Tet feels happier than ever. Since the 20th of December (Lunar Calendar), we've been renovating our home and planting flowers right up to the homestay entrance. Our guests will be staying through Tet, so we're ready to celebrate the holiday with them.”
Tan Hoa village is nestled amidst limestone mountain ranges, home to numerous cave systems that have existed for millions of years. The limestone mountains in Tan Hoa, with caves like Hang Con Chuot, Hang Doi, Hang Tung, and Hang Tu Lan, create a strong foundation for eco-tourism and cave exploration. In the past, this area was covered by endless forests rich in precious timber and countless valuable medicinal plants. Today, the forests have significantly shrunk, but some areas are carefully preserved by villagers, allowing Tan Hoa to retain its pristine beauty and captivate visitors.

Tan Hoa villagers prepare for Tet.
Most notably, the Con Lim forest, meticulously cared for by Mr. Truong Quoc Do's family in Hamlet 5 - Yen Tho, stands out. Mr. Do recounts that he was orphaned as a child and grew up relying on the forest, which nurtured him. In the past, he also participated in deforestation under the cooperative's orders, harvesting timber to build homes. However, in 1993, when the government initiated a policy to allocate land and forests to local people for protection, Mr. Do took on nearly 20 hectares to care for and safeguard. Since then, he has regarded the lim forest as his closest friend. For decades, under his diligent care, the lim forest has grown increasingly lush. Today, within the Con Lim forest, many lim trees have become rare ancient trees, over a hundred years old.
Mr. Truong Quoc Do confided that despite his poverty, he is determined to preserve and care for the lim forest like a "treasure": “I protect the forest to eventually hand it over to the national public land; I protect it for future conservation, because if we don't, it won't exist anymore. Protecting the lim forest often puts me in danger, as illegal loggers frequently pick fights with me.”
Not only Mr. Do, but many other Tan Hoa residents who once engaged in deforestation have now become strict forest protectors. Today, when entering the Tu Lan - Tan Hoa forest, there is no longer the sight of people illegally logging as in previous years. The men who once relied on hunting, fishing, logging, or clearing forests have now become meticulous guardians of every tree branch, picking up every piece of scattered trash in the forest.

Mr. Truong Quoc Do, guardian of the ancient lim forest in Con Lim, answers an interview with a VOV reporter.
Tan Hoa's numerous caves mean that during floods, water drains slowly, causing significant difficulties for local production and daily life. However, the people of Tan Hoa have not abandoned their homeland; instead, they have found ways to live with the floods. Following the historic floods of 2010 and 2011, residents of Tan Hoa commune came up with the innovative idea of building floating rafts to "live with the floods." These rafts were constructed from about 20 to 30 empty oil drums, bound together. When water levels rose, the rafts would float with the water. Gradually, the locals improved these floating rafts into floating houses, complete with roofs and walls to shield against rain and sun. These floating houses are secured by four corner posts, allowing families to live normally during the rainy season and floods. To date, Tan Hoa commune has nearly 620 floating houses, ensuring 100% of households can safely adapt and coexist with floods. The construction of these nearly 620 floating houses was 100% funded by organizations and individuals, helping the community build them.
Once residents were safely settled in their floating homes, Tan Hoa focused on developing its weather-adaptive tourism village model, offering diverse experiences for visitors, from homestays and farm work experiences to dining with local families, souvenir shops, and other tourist services. Tan Hoa has also invested systematically in promotion, actively communicating and introducing Tu Lan and Tan Hoa. Several films have shot many scenes in Tan Hoa, including “Kong: Skull Island,” “The Immortal,” and “The Legend of Quán Tiên,” among others.

Residents celebrate Tet with the hope that more tourists will visit Tan Hoa for spring travel.
Based on the vibrant reality in Tan Hoa, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism proposed Tan Hoa for the “Best Tourism Villages” award by the World Tourism Organization - UNWTO (now UN Tourism). In late 2023, the weather-adaptive tourism village model in Tan Hoa, Quang Binh province, along with many other villages worldwide, was added to UNWTO's network of Best Tourism Villages.
For the first Tet celebration with the "Best Tourism Village" designation, the entire village of Tan Hoa welcomed the holiday with the hope of attracting even more spring tourists. Mr. Truong Son Bai (from Hamlet 2 - Yen Tho, Tan Hoa Commune, Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province) shared that Tan Hoa villagers meticulously prepare Tet meals to host guests: “Houses must be swept, renovated, and cleaned. Families with the means will meticulously arrange ornamental plants and flowers. As for the ancestral altar, last year they visited for Tet, and this year they might come to celebrate Tet. We will let our guests experience Tet just as we do. Additionally, there will be traditional sweets and other treats if guests arrive; in short, we ensure guests have a joyful and enthusiastic visit.”
Tan Hoa commune is home to approximately 3,300 people, all part of the Nguon ethnic community. The Nguon people typically eat Com Poi, oc tuc (snails), ca lao (a type of fish), and more. Com Poi is a daily staple for the Nguon, primarily made from corn, cassava, and beans. To prepare Com Poi, corn is first soaked in boiling water for a few hours, then drained, pounded in a mortar, and gradually sifted into flour. This flour is then moistened with cold water, thoroughly kneaded, fluffed, and placed into a steamer pot. The next step involves wrapping banana leaves around the pot's rim, sprinkling corn flour, and steaming it over a fire to create "Com Poi." This Tet, the women of Tan Hoa village are preparing even more elaborate Tet offerings.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu proudly states that Com Poi is an indispensable dish for the Nguon people of Tan Hoa: “Both foreign and Vietnamese guests absolutely love Com Poi, fermented sour fish (ca thinh chua), and banana flower salad. These are Tan Hoa's specialties. For Tet, there are also banh chung (sticky rice cakes), ram cuon moc nhi (fried spring rolls with wood ear mushrooms), ant egg soup cooked with pun tree leaves, or wild forest vegetables.”

Homestay owners prepare rooms to welcome guests for Tet.
Visiting Tan Hoa this spring, tourists will be captivated by unique folk melodies such as 'ho thuoc ca' (fishing chants), 'dan dum' (communal singing), and lullabies. Tan Hoa's recognition by a prestigious global tourism organization has provided momentum, helping the village rise and gradually become a key tourism hub in the Northwest region of Quang Binh province.
Mr. Ho An Phong, Vice Chairman of the Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee, stated that Tan Hoa will soon become a tourism highlight in the Northwest region of Quang Binh province in the near future, serving as a lever and driving force for community tourism development in neighboring localities: “This village possesses many charms and will not disappoint visitors, offering many fascinating natural values. However, a village also needs to develop to create services, both preserving the essence of a Vietnamese rural village and providing essential services from internet access to environmental sanitation and other amenities.”
This Tet, if you visit Tan Hoa village in Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province, you will see sturdy brick houses with tiled roofs, interspersed with spacious two-story homes, replacing traditional wooden houses. Schools are now multi-story, grand, and more spacious. Roads and schools are more impressive; residents' lives are more prosperous, and the Nguon children of Tan Hoa village will have a brighter future.
Quang Tri 5615 view
Update day : 17/02/2024
Source : VOV.VN Affiliate links
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