Da Bac district is located in Hoa Binh Province, just two and half hours’ drive west of Hanoi. Unspoiled by mass-tourism and with stunning mountain views and calm waterways, it’s an ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of Hanoi.

We have recently called with Ms. Hảo from Da Bac CBT. She is working on COVID-19 recovery and getting community-based tourism along Da river back on its feet.

1. What are some of the challenges that communities in Da Bac area are currently working through because of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Community’s loss of income from tourism activity as well as other sources (agriculture, handicraft products, etc.).

Undoubtedly, tourism has been one of the industries hardest hit by the pandemic, a fact illustrated in a CBT project in the North of Vietnam, which recorded a 70%-80% fall in visitor numbers compared to the same period last year.

Due to the lack of resources, information, skills and power in relation to other stakeholdes in tourism sector, it is challenging for community to improve livelihood activity during the pandemic.

In the village, income from tourism activity accounts for 50% of the total income. Hence, during the quarantine period, at least 15 members of the CBT service group, of which 4 are homestay hosts, have worked in industrial zones as an alternative source of income.

2. How are communities in Da Bac responding to the pandemic?

To reduce the risk of Covid 19, communities have participated in different training courses, received prevention equipment (infrared thermometer, hand sanitizer, etc.). On the other hands, the projects strive to implement campaigns to promote tourism activity to domestic visitors.

Also, it’s important for community to have income from various sources other than tourism activity such as fishing, handicraft products, etc. Therefore, CBT project also supports with effective utilization and coordination of resources from businesses and state program.

3. How resilient are the communities, and what factors make them either more or less resilient to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic?

These communities provide travelers with more authentic and deeper local experience. And now after the pandemic, there’s hope that the trends are shifting towards local travel, visit an off-beat location-one that not many people visit.

Hence I believe that the communities will have great advantages in the post-covid world.

4. In your opinion, how will the impacts of the pandemic affect the future of CBT in the communities you work with?

The CBT have step up their existing health and hygiene measures to protect travelers’ health and safety. I think this trend will likely continue to the future as travellers are more and more concern about the area.

Also, there will be more and more products with deeper connection to nature, local culture and mindfulness.

At Footprint, we include into packages or promotes to clients excursions and activities which directly involve and support local communities in Da Bac (by purchasing homestay, foods, guiding service, traditional crafts and so on).

Book with us to support the local community!