The Mien Doi terraced fields in Phu Tho Province are undergoing development to enhance tourism and preserve local culture. The recent Mien Doi Terraced Field Festival celebrated Muong heritage while promoting eco-tourism. Emphasis on sustainable practices and community-based tourism aims to economically benefit the local residents and elevate the region’s attractiveness.
The Mien Doi terraced fields in Thuong Coc Commune, Phu Tho Province, have in recent years benefited from a series of efforts by local authorities aimed at strengthening planning, enhancing management, and investing in tourism infrastructure to unlock the area’s full potential.
The commune has focused on developing community-based tourism that offers hands-on experiences, promotes local products, preserves the terraced landscape, and maintains the area’s pristine natural scenery. These measures are designed to create a breakthrough in tourism-driven economic development.
Widely regarded as one of the most picturesque landscapes in Phu Tho and the wider northwestern region, the terraced fields cascade across gently sloping hillsides. For generations, they have reflected the agricultural ingenuity of the Muong ethnic minority people and now serve as a valuable scenic resource deeply imbued with cultural identity — a strong foundation for agricultural and eco-tourism experiences.
On October 25, the Thuong Coc People’s Committee organised the Mien Doi Terraced Field Festival 2025, attracting thousands of residents and tourists. The festival served as a significant cultural and tourism highlight, aimed at preserving and promoting the value of the terraced landscape while celebrating Muong cultural expressions such as gong performances, folk singing, new-rice ceremonies, and traditional dishes and local products.
According to Bui Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Thuong Coc People’s Committee, the festival not only honours the historical and cultural heritage of the Muong people but also reinforces the commune’s strategic direction: developing tourism in alignment with cultural preservation and the protection of Mien Doi’s agricultural ecosystem. These efforts, he noted, contribute to local socio-economic growth.
Visitors have also expressed their appreciation for the destination. Tran Van Liem from Ninh Binh said that Mien Doi offers a unique landscape where travellers can walk among golden rice fields midway along the hillsides. Meanwhile, Hoang Thu Nga from Hanoi emphasised the need for sustainable, well-planned development to elevate the terraced fields into an attractive, long-stay destination.
She suggested developing the area into an experiential tourism site linked with agricultural seasons, festivals, and traditional cuisine. Alongside this, she highlighted the importance of further investment in infrastructure and services to create meaningful economic opportunities for local residents and position Mien Doi as a distinct and compelling destination on Vietnam’s tourism map in the years to come.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 