Along with projects for forest tourism and rural tourism being implemented synchronously, many localities are gradually turning green resources into sustainable livelihoods, creating motivation for the province’s socio-economic development.

On a weekend morning, under the canopy of the Mường Phăng special-use forest, groups of people, from small children carrying bamboo baskets to parents, excitedly entered the “chestnut gathering” experience area. Tiny hands quickly turned over layers of rotting leaves, cherishing each plump, round chestnut. This isn’t just a relaxing picnic in nature; the activity also has a deeper meaning, sowing a love for the forest and an awareness of protecting the ecological environment in children’s souls, starting from the simplest things.

The “chestnut gathering” activity is part of a new experience program implemented by the provincial Management Board for Protection and Special-Use Forests since early October. Families participate in the experience of finding and gathering chestnuts, boiling them together, and enjoying their harvest. They also go boating on Pá Khoang lake and socialize through collective games. All this creates a harmonious experience blending nature with education, and fun with appreciating the value of labor.

Vũ Thị Nhường, from Điện Biên Phủ ward, shared: “On the weekend, I want my child to be out in nature, breathe the fresh air, and experience something different from just staying home with books and TV. When I learned they were organizing a chestnut gathering program here, I found it very interesting and brought my child to try. This is truly a very meaningful activity. My child got to find and pick the chestnuts under the forest canopy, then boil and enjoy their own harvest with everyone.”

“The most precious thing about this activity is the connection between parents and children, and between children and nature. No phones, no traffic noise, just fresh air. I think it’s not just a picnic but a very useful lesson about the value of labor and protecting the environment,” Nhường added.

More than 20km from the center of Điện Biên Phủ ward, the terraced field area in Phù Lồng B village, spanning about 20 hectares, is the “masterpiece” of many households from Phù Lồng A, Phù Lồng B, Nậm Ngám A, and Nậm Ngám B villages in Pu Nhi commune. When the seasons change from late September to mid-October, the entire Pu Nhi valley dons a brilliant golden coat of ripe rice, the terraced fields winding softly mid-sky. That beauty, through the lenses of photography and exploration lovers, has spread quickly. Pu Nhi has suddenly become a sought-after destination, a newly awakened “muse” of the Northwest mountains, inviting tourists from all over to admire and capture magnificent moments.

The people of Pu Nhi are not “sleeping” on their God-given beauty. As soon as the rice season ends, Hạng A Cải of Phù Lồng B village, one of the tourism pioneers here, is already pondering new plans. Cải said: “When the golden rice season passes, we don’t want to let the land ‘sleep.’ The people in the village are wondering and discussing what ‘new coat’ to put on the terraced fields. We are considering whether to sow a carpet of brilliant yellow mustard flowers or plant various other flowers to entice visitors to stay longer. What to plant, how to plan it to be both beautiful and effective, is what we are calculating very carefully. More importantly, under the guidance of the commune government, we are establishing a Community Tourism Cooperative Group. This is a necessary step to develop tourism together in a methodical, professional, and sustainable way.”

Recognizing the potential from nature, indigenous culture, and the demand for green recreational tourism, provincial functional agencies have proactively advised and oriented the development of eco-tourism, agricultural tourism, and resorts linked with protection and special-use forests. Currently, in addition to building sustainable forest management plans, the Management Board of the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve and the provincial Management Board for Protection and Special-Use Forests have completed a Project on eco-tourism, resorts, and entertainment. In particular, Decision No.2359/QĐ-UBND dated December 29, 2022, of the provincial People’s Committee approving the Project for Eco-tourism Development in Mường Nhé Nature Reserve for the 2022 - 2030 period is a strong affirmation of the commitment to sustainable tourism development, in harmony with natural resource conservation. The province is also promoting rural tourism. Plan No.3745/KH-UBND dated August 24, 2023, on developing rural tourism in building new rural areas by 2025 provides a clear direction: exploiting the potential of agriculture, craft villages, and landscapes to improve people’s lives, while also shifting the economic structure towards multi-value integration, agriculture, environment, culture, and services.

These nature experience models, like those in Mường Phăng and Pu Nhi, are the first, vivid, and appealing “bricks” in building Điện Biên’s green tourism picture. With the joint effort of the people and the strategic orientation of the government, these “muses” of the forest and mountains will tell even more compelling nature stories, inviting tourists to visit and stay longer, helping Điện Biên’s “smokeless industry” to grow.