Central Vietnam village receives global recognition as top tourism destination

The announcement was made in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Thursday, after an evaluation of 260 applications from 60 countries.

Four Vietnamese tourist villages applied, including those from Son La, Lai Chau, and Hoa Binh provinces.

The "World's Best Tourism Village" award is part of UNWTO's effort to acknowledge villages that preserve and promote rural, community-based values, products, and lifestyles while emphasizing innovation and sustainability.

Tan Hoa Village in Minh Hoa District is known for its mountains, open grasslands, and the Nan River. The village is close to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, around 75 km from the park's Son Doong Cave, which is the world's largest.

An aerial view of Tan Hoa Village in Quang Binh Province. Photo courtesy of Oxalis Adventure

The village experienced frequent flooding in the past, prompting villagers to devise rafts to cope with these floods. By 2012, these rafts transformed into floating houses, enabling residents to maintain a regular life during floods.

As of 2023, Tan Hoa boasts 620 floating houses, and the village is actively developing a flood seasonal tourism experience.

By 2022, UNWTO had recognized over 70 villages in nearly 40 countries as "Best Tourism Villages." These villages serve as prime examples of rural tourist destinations, offering authentic and diverse experiences for visitors while simultaneously generating opportunities and benefits for local communities and the environment.

The evaluation of villages in this process encompasses several key areas: cultural and natural resources, promotion and conservation of cultural resources, economic sustainability, social sustainability, environmental sustainability, tourism development and value chain integration, governance and prioritization of tourism, infrastructure and connectivity, and health, safety, and security.