TTLV: Exploiting indigenous knowledge of some ethnic minorities to serve community tourism development in Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province.

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name:Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: 29/09/1999                                                   4. Place of birth:Peace

5. Decision to recognize student number:4058/2022/QD-XHNV dated December 28, 2022 President of University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process: Are not

7. Thesis topic name:Exploiting indigenous knowledge of some ethnic minorities to serve community tourism development in Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province.

8. Major:Study tourism; Code: 8810101.01

9. Scientific instructor:Assoc.Prof.Dr. Hoang Thi Thu Huong - Deputy Head of the Department of Geography, University of Science - Vietnam National University, Hanoi;

10. Summary of thesis results:

The thesis has achieved some main results as follows:

• Identify indigenous knowledge and present the current status of its exploitation.:The study has identified and analyzed indigenous knowledge of the Dao Tien and Muong Au Ta ethnic groups in Sung and Da Bia villages. This knowledge is used in tourism activities such as homestay, cultural experience tours, and kayaking, etc.

• Assessing the impact of indigenous knowledge on community tourism development:The results of field surveys and in-depth interviews in two villages showed that community tourism has helped households participating in tourism improve their livelihoods; increase income; and at the same time contribute to preserving customs and folk knowledge.

• Proposed policy implications for sustainable development:The thesis proposes four main solutions:

  • Strengthen tourism skills training for people, especially communication skills and homestay management.

  • Apply digital technology to promote indigenous knowledge, such as building travel guide apps or virtual reality tours.

  • Build a mechanism to protect indigenous knowledge ownership rights, ensuring that the community benefits fairly.

  • Collaborate with NGOs and governments to invest in transport infrastructure and tourism facilities 

11. Practical application:The thesis provides many practical application values, especially in promoting sustainable tourism development, cultural preservation, and improving livelihoods for ethnic minority communities. Specifically: Developing community tourism products; Preserving culture and environment; Improving community livelihoods.

12. Further research directions:The thesis opens up a number of potential research directions to continue exploring and solving challenges in exploiting indigenous knowledge for community tourism in Da Bac: Assessing the long-term impact of community tourism; Applying digital technology in promoting indigenous knowledge; Comparing community tourism models among ethnic groups.

13. The published works related to the thesis:

Hoang Thi Thu Huong, Muthia Evirayani, Hanne Derau, Louna Dayekh, Tzu-Ting Amanda Chi, Chloé Ledune, Giang Van Trong, Nguyen Thi Hong Van, Nguyen Thi Hue, Pham Thi Nhan, Vu Huong Lan, Vu Kim Chi, Nguyen Thi Hang, Dang Ngoc Khanh, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc (2024). Community-based Tourism Governance towards Sustainable Development in the Northern Mountainous Region of Vietnam: A Case Study of Hoa Binh Province.VNU Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 10(2), 121–145.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name:Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc

 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: 29/09/1999                           

4. Place of birth: Thai Binh Province

5. Admission decision number: 4058/2022/QD-XHNV, December 28, 2022 Issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title: Leveraging Indigenous Knowledge of Ethnic Minorities for Community-Based Tourism Development in Da Bac District, Hoa Binh Province

8. Major: Tourism Studies

9. Code: 8810101.01

10. Supervisors: Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Thi Thu Huong, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Geography, University of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The thesis has achieved the following key findings:

• Identification and analysis of indigenous knowledge: The study identifies and analyzes the indigenous knowledge of the Dao Tien and Muong Au Ta ethnic groups in Sung and Da Bia villages. This knowledge has been integrated into tourism activities such as homestays, cultural experience tours, and kayaking.

• Assessment of the impact of indigenous knowledge on community-based tourism: Field surveys and in-depth interviews in the two villages revealed that community-based tourism has improved livelihoods, increased household income, and contributed to the preservation of traditional customs and indigenous knowledge.

• Policy implications for sustainable development: The thesis proposes four key recommendations:

• Enhance training in tourism-related skills for local residents, particularly in communication and homestay management.

• Utilize digital technology to promote indigenous knowledge, such as developing tourism guide applications or virtual reality tours.

• Establish mechanisms to protect intellectual property rights for indigenous knowledge, ensure equitable benefits for local communities.

• Collaborate with non-governmental organizations and local authorities to invest in transportation infrastructure and tourism facilities.

12. Practical applicability, if any:

The thesis offers significant practical, particularly in promoting sustainable tourism development, preserving cultural heritage, and livelihood improvement applications for ethnic minority communities. Specific applications include:

• Development of community-based tourism products: Expanding homestay models and cultural experience tours based on indigenous practices, such as tea cultivation by the Dao Tien or traditional fishing by the Muong Au Ta.

• Cultural and environmental preservation: Promoting sustainable tourism practices that protect natural resources and cultural heritage, such as organizing workshops to document and preserve indigenous knowledge.

• Community livelihood improvement: Supporting income generation through tourism activities and providing training to enhance local capacity for tourism services.

13. Further research directions, if any:

The thesis opens several potential research directions to address challenges and further explore the use of indigenous knowledge in community-based tourism in Da Bac:

• Assessing the long-term impacts of community-based tourism on cultural preservation and environmental sustainability.

• Exploring the application of digital technology in promoting indigenous knowledge, such as virtual tours or mobile applications.

• Comparing community-based tourism models among different ethnic groups in Da Bac to identify best practices and scalable solutions.

14. Thesis-related publications:

Hoang, TTH, Muthia, E., Hanne, D., Louna, D., Chi, T.-TA, Ledune, C., Giang, VT, Nguyen, THV, Nguyen, TH, Pham, TN, Vu, HL, Vu, KC, Nguyen, TH, Dang, NK, & Nguyen, TBN (2024). Community-based tourism governance towards sustainable development in the Northern Mountainous Region of Vietnam: A case study of Hoa Binh Province. VNU Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 10(2), 121–145.