Son La province is home to 12 main ethnic groups: Thai, Kinh, Mong, Muong, Dao, Kho Mu, Xinh Mun, Khang, La Ha, Lao, Tay, and Hoa. Each ethnic group possesses its own unique cultural identity, from customs and traditions to traditional clothing and a rich treasury of folklore. This is an invaluable resource for developing tourism.

Currently, community-based tourism has spread and been successfully implemented in many localities across the country.Son La provinceEspecially in the highland villages where the Thai and Mong ethnic groups live, such as: the community tourism villages of Bản Bó, Bản Hùn, Bản Hụm (Sơn La city); Bản Áng, Bản Dọi (Mộc Châu); Bản Lướt, Bản Nà Tâu (Mường La); Bản Bon (Quỳnh Nhai); Bản Hua Tạt, Nà Bai, Phụ Mẫu (Vân Hồ)...; Ngọc Chiến commune (Mường La)...

The Bo Am hot spring in Na Bai village, Van Ho district, attracts tourists.

Community-based tourism models in the villages of Van Ho, Muong La, and the city, through years of development, remain attractive destinations for many tourists, especially on weekends, holidays, and Tet (Lunar New Year). Besides providing accommodation and lodging services, the villagers continue to cultivate rice, grow crops, preserve traditional brocade weaving, and protect the natural landscape and ecological environment. These are the factors that attract tourists to visit and experience these attractions.

Over the past period, the province has issued many projects to develop tourism associated with exploiting the traditional cultural values ​​of the ethnic groups living in the area. These include Resolution No. 22/2016/NQ-HĐND dated December 14, 2016, of the Provincial People's Council on policies to support community tourism development in the province until 2020; and Resolution No. 41/2022/NQ-HĐND dated August 31, 2022, on regulations on some policies to support tourism development in Son La province for the period 2022-2026.

In various localities, the promotion and preservation of the culture of ethnic minority communities is also being emphasized. For example, the People's Committee of Phu Yen district has directed specialized departments to coordinate with communes and towns to collect documents and gather information from elderly people in the villages to restore traditional festivals and cultural features of the Thai ethnic group, such as the Xip Xi Tet festival; cuisine; brocade; rattan and bamboo weaving; along with their language and writing, linking them to the development of local tourism. Plans are being implemented to preserve and restore traditional festivals and cultural features that are at risk of disappearing.

In addition, the preservation of traditional dances and musical instruments of the Thai ethnic group is a priority for Phu Yen district. Communes and villages maintain amateur performing arts troupes, regularly practicing, exchanging ideas, and choreographing new performances. This preserves traditional cultural features while incorporating modern styles, suitable for various competitions, festivals, and performances for the public and tourists during holidays and festivals.

In addition, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province actively coordinated with localities to open training courses on methods of preserving traditional costumes of ethnic minorities; and provided training for performing arts groups.community tourismThis includes teaching traditional folk songs, dances, and music of ethnic minorities to serve tourism development; guiding and supporting local people in developing unique tourism products based on indigenous culture; and creating conditions for local people to participate in the management and exploitation of cultural heritage. From there, tourism development will be linked to the preservation of local culture.

Xuyen Kim