Tourism in Hoa Binh province and the authenticity of ethnic culture.

Abstract

Tourism has been influential in Hoa Binh people’s lives. Ethnic culture is used as an “exhibited” cultural product to attract tourists in a cultural tourism perspective. Anthropologists and mass media play an important role in introducing ethnic minorities’ images to visitors who want to explore exotic traditional cultures. To meet the visitors’ demands, the possessors of ethnic cultures have been modifying their cultural authenticity to “perform” for tourist purposes. Traditional ethnic culture therefore will be preserved or changed in order to suit the purpose of tourism. This article will examine the role of the authenticity of ethnic cultures in cultural tourism in Hoa Binh.