Son La province is home to about 3,380 Lao people, mainly concentrated in border districts such as Sop Cop and Song Ma. Among them, Muong Va village, Muong Va commune, Sop Cop district is a typical locality in preserving and promoting traditional Lao cultural identity, gradually moving towards developing community tourism, associated with agricultural models and traditional craft villages.
Muong Va Commune seen from above
Preserving culture, unleashing potential
The Lao people in Son La have a cultural life imbued with their identity, with traditional stilt houses and costumes similar to those of the Black Thai but still with their own characteristics: black skirts embroidered with colorful patterns, tight blouses with silver buttons, Piêu scarves and floral tattoos on the backs of women's hands. These marks not only show aesthetic taste but also reflect their attachment to nature and traditional beliefs such as animism, ancestor worship and the profound influence of Buddhism.
The Lam Vong dance - a prominent cultural and spiritual symbol often appears in festivals, weddings, and important events, with gentle and graceful steps in a circle of solidarity. Along with that, the treasure trove of folk songs, traditional musical instruments, and handicrafts such as brocade weaving, knitting, silver making, etc. are still maintained in many villages, especially in Muong Va village.
With over 1,000 Lao ethnic people living, Muong Va village stands out not only for its rich cultural life but also for its unique landscape and architecture. In the center of the village, Muong Va Tower - an ancient, sacred architectural work built on an artificial hill, is a spiritual highlight and attracts tourists. This work was recognized as a National Architectural and Artistic Relic since 1998.
The people of Muong Va village still maintain the traditional stilt houses. The long-roofed wooden houses nestle next to the Pu Hong Lok range and Nam Ca stream, creating a peaceful and fresh scene. The village is surrounded by fertile fields combined with a system of natural ponds and lakes, suitable for agricultural tourism models and exploring the daily life of ethnic minorities.
Lao ethnic people in Muong Va and Muong Lan communes, Sop Cop district also participate in promoting culture at the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village.
Traditional Lao costumes are brightly colored, dyed from forest plants, and hand-embroidered on silk, linen, or cotton. People still maintain the habit of harvesting cotton, weaving, and tailoring by hand. Ms. Vi Thi Chan, an artisan in Muong Va village, shared: For hundreds of years, the craft of weaving brocade has been passed down from generation to generation. The patterns on the brocade fabrics of the Lao people in Muong Va village are woven like a wordless book about our lives, nature, and aspirations. It takes about a month to complete each costume.
Implementing the Project to develop a rural tourism model in Muong Va, people are trained in guest reception skills, organizing experiential activities such as learning to weave brocade, cooking traditional dishes and performing ethnic dances. Tourism develops, many households in the village have additional income from selling brocade products, bamboo rice, and dried buffalo meat. In 2024, the village will welcome more than 3,000 visitors, with revenue of nearly 1 billion VND, and the poverty rate will decrease from 25% to 15%".
Cuisine is also a highlight of the village, with the fusion of Lao and Thai cultures, from rustic dishes to the way of preparation and the stories associated with the dishes. Specialties such as Muong Va sticky rice - an OCOP product of Son La province, are gradually affirming their brand and commercialization potential.
Promoting identity to build community tourism
Currently, Muong Va village still maintains two major festivals: Xen Muong and Tet Khau Ho - New Rice Celebration on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This is a unique ritual to pray for a good harvest, expressing the bond between people and nature, hoping for favorable weather and a prosperous life. In recent years, Tet Khau Ho has attracted a large number of tourists to experience the traditional cultural space, enjoy folk songs, Lam Vong dance, watch weaving and knitting performances and participate in community activities. In addition, the village can also develop more festivals such as the traditional New Year celebration, the field festival, the sticky rice harvest festival... to increase tourism attraction.
Promoting cultural and natural potential, since 2023, Sop Cop district has implemented a project to develop a rural tourism model in Muong Va. The project helps promote the image of the village and support people to increase their income. Mr. Lo Van Thinh, Head of Muong Va village, said that people are trained in guest reception skills, organizing experiential activities such as learning to weave brocade, cooking traditional dishes and performing ethnic dances. With the development of tourism, many households in Muong Va have additional income from selling brocade products, bamboo rice, and smoked buffalo meat. In 2024, the village welcomed more than 3,000 visitors, with revenue of nearly 1 billion VND, and the poverty rate decreased from 25% to 15%.
Introducing Lao culture at the "Common House"
From December 2023 to present, Lao artisans in Muong Va and Muong Lan have also participated in promoting culture at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism (Dong Mo, Hanoi), contributing to introducing national identity to domestic and foreign tourists.
It is known that in the coming time, the local government will help Muong Va promote festival tours, increase promotion on social networks and call for infrastructure investment. Community tourism not only preserves the cultural identity of the Lao people but also opens up a direction for sustainable development for the border area.