Cultural performance program at the Moc Chau Night Market - pedestrian street.

The cultural landscape of the ethnic groups in Moc Chau and Van Ho districts is quite diverse, with unique characteristics of the Mong, Dao, Thai, and Muong cultures. These include traditional festivals, folk beliefs, folk songs and dances, and traditional costumes, all converging in a long-standing culture passed down and preserved through generations, creating invaluable cultural heritage for these ethnic groups. Notable examples include: the coming-of-age ceremony, traditional weddings, and the art of creating patterns on Dao ethnic costumes; the ancestral worship ceremony and the art of playing the khene (a traditional wind instrument) of the Mong ethnic group; the Het Cha festival and the xoe dance of the Thai ethnic group… These have been recognized as national intangible cultural heritage and are currently being preserved, protected, and restored to promote their value and serve tourism development in the Moc Chau National Tourist Area.

Ms. Dinh Thi Huong, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Moc Chau District, shared: Tourists come to Moc Chau National Tourist Area not only because they love the romantic scenery and fresh climate, but also because they are impressed by the land's rich cultural traditions and hospitality. Therefore, preserving and promoting the beautiful values ​​of ethnic culture and developing green agriculture are identified as the two main foundations in the sustainable tourism development orientation of Moc Chau District.

Moc Chau currently maintains over 300 amateur performing arts groups in villages, sub-districts, agencies, units, and schools. Among them, the performing arts groups in community-based tourism villages, such as Ang Village in Dong Sang commune; Na Bo, Vat, and Lun villages in Muong Sang commune; and Doi village in Tan Lap commune, regularly perform, meeting the needs of tourists for performances showcasing the local ethnic identity.

In Moc Chau, not only community-based tourism villages but also famous destinations such as the Moc Chau Night Market - pedestrian street, Moc Chau Island tourist area, restaurants, and hotels all feature amateur performing arts groups showcasing cultural programs rich in ethnic identity to serve tourism, creating a joyful and harmonious atmosphere that attracts tourists to participate. Especially during the Moc Chau Culture and Tourism Week held during the National Day holiday on September 2nd, or other cultural and tourism events, there are community cultural performances, reenactments of traditional festivals, and displays of ethnic cultural spaces... making Moc Chau tourism even more diverse and truly attractive to visitors.

Mr. Vu Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Ho District, said: Every year, Van Ho District maintains the organization of traditional festivals such as the Ban Flower Festival and the Peach Blossom Festival, creating highlights to attract tourists. This is also an opportunity to honor the unique traditional cultural values ​​of the ethnic communities in Van Ho District, encourage people to preserve their ethnic culture, and contribute to tourism development. At the same time, it conveys the message of hospitality and friendliness of Van Ho to a large number of people and tourists from both inside and outside the country, building Van Ho District into a friendly, safe, and attractive destination.

Having directly experienced the cultural space at the 2024 Hoa Ban Festival in Van Ho District, Ms. Ha Thi Thanh Tram, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, enthusiastically said: "I am very impressed with the cultural space of the ethnic groups recreated within the framework of the festival. Each ethnic group has its own unique and very distinctive, interesting, and captivating characteristics for visitors from afar. I will definitely come back here many more times to learn more about the traditional culture of the people."

The unique aspects of local culture ignite a love and passion for exploration, creating memorable experiences for tourists. Simultaneously, cultural activities foster friendliness and hospitality, leaving a positive impression on every visitor. The traditional cultures of the ethnic groups in the Moc Chau National Tourist Area are being preserved and promoted in the right direction by local authorities to exploit their potential and develop them into attractive tourism products.

Text and photos: Thanh Dao

Promoting traditional cultural values ​​in conjunction with tourism development (baosonla.org.vn)