Unique experiences turn forgotten destinations into magnets for tourists

Dak Ke lake - a popular tourism destination in Mang Den town (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi – The development of distinctive tourism products through the effective utilisation of natural resources and local culture has added charm to travel destinations.

The recent tourism boom in the northern mountainous provinces of Ha Giang and Son La and the Central Highlands provinces of Lam Dong and Kon Tum demonstrates how unique tourism products transforms “forgotten lands” into bright stars on the tourism map.

In early 2025, Moc Chau township in Son La province welcomed a record number of tourists, with caravans of vehicles stretching for kilometres along roads winding through plum valleys, and lodging facilities and restaurants overwhelmed. According to the township’s Division of Culture and Information, the locality hosted some 105,000 tourist arrivals from January 25 to February 2.

Valleys and hills blanketed in the white hue of apricot and plum blossoms during spring together with the unique cultural traits of the Thai, Muong, Dao, Mong and Kho Mu ethnic minority groups have become a magnet attracting tourists to Moc Chau.

Despite being dubbed “the second Da Lat” of the Central Highlands, Mang Den town in Kon Tum province’s Kon Plong district has been a small and overlooked tourist destination. However, it became a popular destination during Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, with “check-in” photos widely shared across social media platforms.

Prunus cerasoides, originally from Da Lat, has created a strong attraction for Mang Den. When blooming, it dyes roads and tourist destinations pink, turning Mang Den into a sleeping princess who has just awakened.

Vice Chairman of the Kon Plong district People’s committee Pham Van Thang said Mang Den welcomed nearly 230,000 tourist arrivals and gained some 80 billion VND (3.13 million USD) in tourism revenue during the nine-day Tet holiday. In 2025, the district plans to plant 1 million prunus cerasoides trees to beautify the landscape and boost tourism, turning Mang Den into a prunus cerasoides town in the future.

Da Lat Flower Festival is a unique tourism product of Da Lat city. (Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, Lam Dong’s tourism industry also made an impressive comeback in 2024 following years battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. It attracted over 10 million tourists, an increase of 2.3 million compared to 2023, with a significant rise in the number of visitors from Russia and the Republic of Korea. The growth was stemmed from the locality’s successful organisation of multiple events such as the 10th Da Lat Flower Festival, Da Lat city’s recognition as a UNESCO creative music city, as well as festivals connected to characteristic flower seasons on the Langbiang plateau like wild sunflowers, cherry blossoms, and pink grass.

At a recent international conference highlighting Da Lat’s development of green tourism and cultural industry from natural resources, domestic and international experts affirmed the important role of distinctive tourism products while proposing numerous solutions to promote them.

Chairman of the Da Lat People’s Committee Dang Quang Tu said that the city is developing quality tourism products with Da Lat's unique brand and identity such as agricultural tourism experiences at high-tech vegetable, flower, and specialty production areas, and adventure sports tourism like forest trekking, waterfall climbing, and camping.

Deputy Governor of Thailand’s Suphanburi city Apinya Iamampha said it is crucial to create products with brand identity and distinctive characters. Therefore, authorities and businesses need to firmly grasp consumer trends, understand the advantages and core values of the locality, especially regarding indigenous culture and natural features, avoid duplicating products with other localities and regions, and implement effective promotional strategies./.