Ta Xua commune art troupe practices to perform to celebrate National Day September 2.

We entered the space of the dance, were swept away by the drum beat, the sound of the flute, and circled with the villagers, feeling the joy spread. Mr. Mua A Sang, Head of Chung Trinh village, who is often present in cultural activities in the village, spoke warmly: We are practicing the art performance on the occasion of National Day September 2. Previously, the villagers paid little attention to community activities, only caring about farming and growing corn. When there was a policy to build a cultural life, everyone responded enthusiastically, participated in practicing, organized a festival for the village to be happy, and welcomed tourists to experience.

Ta Xua commune of Son La province currently has 13 villages, more than 11,000 people, of which Mong people account for more than 90%. The whole commune has 13 cultural houses, 13 mass art troupes operating regularly. Up to now, nearly 70% of the villages have been recognized as "Cultural Villages". In recent years, Ta Xua has organized many cultural and art events, such as: Mong Ethnic Cultural Festival; Ta Xua Cloud Festival; Horse Hoof Festival in the Clouds, becoming highlights, attracting thousands of tourists to experience Mong cultural space, enjoy local cuisine, and OCOP products.

Good models are being implemented in the villages, such as: Ta Xua village established an art troupe to serve tourists, turning the flute and singing into "specialties" of experiential tours. In Cheu village, the "Green - Clean - Beautiful Village" movement has changed the face of the countryside, the old dirt road is now blooming with flowers, the village is neat and tidy. Chung Trinh village maintains a folk art club. Meanwhile, in Hang Dong 1 and Hang Dong 2, the professions of linen weaving, brocade embroidery, and Mong flute making are being restored.

In Ta Xua, culture has become a resource and an internal force for development. In the flickering firelight, we gathered with tourists around the local people, enjoying the sound of the Mong flute, sipping a cup of spicy corn wine, eating a bowl of hot thang co and listening to stories about building a village and farming. Colorful brocades are sold at the tourist spot, both as souvenirs and as a source of income for the women in the village.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang, a tourist from Hanoi, confided: Coming to Ta Xua, I not only got to see the sea of ​​clouds but also experience the festival atmosphere of the Mong people. What I liked most was trying on traditional costumes and dancing with the locals. These experiences made us want to come back and recommend them to our friends.

The Mong Hang Dong flute club practices flute dancing.

Many households, after attending tourism training courses and vocational training organized by the commune, have boldly opened homestays, knowing how to make guests stay longer and, importantly, they have become a "bridge" to promote Ta Xua. Thanks to that, culture has been and is being linked with economic development, creating more sustainable livelihoods.

Mr. Do Van Xiem, Chairman of Ta Xua Commune People's Committee, informed: The commune is focusing on building a model community tourism village, associated with the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life"; focusing on preserving traditional values, such as panpipe dancing, brocade weaving; at the same time, mobilizing socialization, applying digital technology in promotion, to both improve spiritual life and create sustainable livelihoods for people.

The achievements in the movement to build a cultural life have been creating a new look for Ta Xua. Not only helping people have a rich spiritual life, connecting the community, but also opening up the direction of economic development from cultural tourism. This is also the premise for the commune to continue to exploit its potential, affirming its position as an attractive destination in the highlands of Son La.