National historical site of the 52nd Tay Tien Regiment.

Moc Chau boasts 14 recognized historical and cultural sites and scenic spots; including 3 national-level sites and 11 provincial-level sites. Many of these sites have been and continue to be valuable in educating about traditions and attracting tourists. Examples include: the historical site where President Ho Chi Minh visited and spoke with cadres, soldiers, and workers at the Moc Chau State Farm; the historical site of the 52nd Tay Tien Regiment; the Moc Ly Fort; the Pa Lay Fort; Vat Hong Pagoda; and Dai Yem Waterfall...

The historical site of the 52nd Tay Tien Regiment is located on Na Bo hill, Moc Chau town. It includes: a traditional house, reliefs, a memorial monument, a plaque commemorating the Tay Tien soldiers, a remembrance area, and a memorial monument. In November 2017, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism classified it as a National Historical Site. Mr. Dinh Hong Phuc, Deputy Director of Pha Luong Tourism Joint Stock Company, the unit managing the 52nd Tay Tien Regiment historical site, informed: This place preserves and showcases artifacts and images of the Tay Tien Regiment from the past. On average, the site welcomes over 30,000 tourists annually to visit and learn about the revolutionary traditions; at the same time, it serves as a place to educate the younger generation about revolutionary traditions.

In addition, Moc Chau district has 7 nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage sites, namely: the Het Cha festival and Thai Xoe dance of the Thai ethnic group; the Coming-of-Age ceremony and traditional wedding rituals of the Dao ethnic group; the clan worship ritual, khen flute dance, and embroidery on traditional costumes of the Mong ethnic group. Every year, the district organizes the Ethnic Culture Festival on National Day, September 2nd, with many unique cultural and artistic activities, contributing to preserving, conserving, honoring, and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic groups, meeting the cultural needs of the people, and creating unique tourism products to attract visitors.

A performance of the Muong ethnic group's bamboo pole dance at the Moc Chau District Culture and Tourism Week in 2023.

The Hết Chá Festival, held annually in March in Áng village, Đông Sang commune, attracts a large number of locals and tourists. The festival has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage and has become a unique tourism product of Mộc Châu district. Mr. Nguyễn Văn Quân, Chairman of the People's Committee of Đông Sang commune, said: "The Hết Chá Festival is a unique spiritual and religious custom, reflecting the traditional culture of the Thái ethnic group, contributing to the preservation of distinctive cultural features, and introducing the culture and people of Mộc Châu to domestic and international tourists. At the festival, locals and tourists can participate in folk games, watch how the Thái people traditionally made fire using bamboo, and enjoy delicious ethnic dishes."

Recreating scenes of labor and production at the Hết Chá Festival, Áng village, Đông Sang commune.

Moc Chau also focuses on preserving traditional housing architecture, costumes, cuisine, festivals, and community cultural activities, especially the Thai Xoe dance, the Tha Kenh dance of the Mong people, and the bell dance of the Dao people... Currently, community-based tourism is developing in many villages of several communes in the district, such as Ang village, Dong Sang commune; Doi village, Tan Lap commune; Vat village, Muong Sang commune...

Sharing her impressions of community tourism in Ang village, Dong Sang commune, Ms. Le Quynh Trang, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said: "Here, not only is the climate fresh and cool, but we also got to experience staying in stilt houses, sleeping on cotton mattresses, enjoying the specialties of the ethnic people, participating in a cultural exchange night with sweet rice wine, hand in hand, immersing ourselves in the unique and impressive Thai Xoe dance."

A performance of the Muong ethnic group's bamboo pole dance at the Moc Chau District Culture and Tourism Week in 2023.

Implementing Project 6 “Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with tourism” under the National Target Program for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province for the period 2021-2030. In 2022-2023, Moc Chau district supported the activities and established 6 traditional ethnic performing arts troupes in Ta So 1 and 2 villages, Chieng Hac commune; Ang village, Dong Sang commune; La Nga, Lun, and Vat villages, Muong Sang commune, with a total of 80 amateur performers. These troupes regularly practice and participate in performing folk songs, folk dances, and traditional musical instruments to serve tourists.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Moc Chau District, informed: Preserving and promoting the value of historical and cultural relics, as well as the cultural values ​​of ethnic groups, in conjunction with tourism, is identified as one of the important solutions for the effective and sustainable development of Moc Chau tourism. The district continues to direct the effective management, preservation, and promotion of the value of historical and cultural relics in the area; restoring and maintaining traditional cultural and artistic activities, creating tourism products that attract domestic and international tourists.

The preservation and effective promotion of historical and cultural relics, as well as the cultural values ​​of ethnic groups, have been and continue to be important contributions to the development of tourism in Moc Chau, commensurate with the potential of a national tourist area.

Text and photos: Duy Tung

Creating tourist attractions on Moc Chau plateau (baosonla.org.vn)