Experience making dó paper paintings with the Mong ethnic people in Hua Tat village, Van Ho commune, Van Ho district.

Preserving the flame of national culture.

In a small house in Sao Do 1 sub-district, Van Ho commune, Mr. Ban Van Duc, the district's only outstanding artisan, has preserved the Dao Nôm script and traditional rituals of his ethnic group. Besides his efforts to teach the language, folk songs, and folk dances to the younger generation, he has also had traditional wedding rituals and coming-of-age ceremonies of the Dao Tien people recognized as national intangible cultural heritage. For over 25 years, he has organized nearly 20 classes teaching the script, folk songs, and folk dances to more than 1,000 students in Van Ho, Moc Chau, and Phu Yen districts of the province, and Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province.

Mr. Duc shared: "The cultural values ​​of our nation need to be preserved and passed on to future generations. I hope that young generations will understand their roots and develop these beautiful traditions in modern life, contributing to making intangible cultural heritage a unique tourism product in the locality."

Developing community tourism

A Chu Homestay in Hua Tat village, Van Ho commune, owned by Mr. Trang A Chu, is a place for relaxation and also a place for tourists to explore the Mong ethnic culture through traditional clothing, decorative items in the homestay, or to experience making Do paper, beeswax painting, and pounding sticky rice cakes.

Mr. Trang A Chu said: "Doing tourism has helped me participate in preserving ethnic culture and improving the lives of my family and community." In 2024, A Chu Homestay welcomed nearly 3,200 guests, of which 35% were international tourists. The homestay has created jobs for many local workers with stable incomes ranging from 4-7 million VND per person per month.

Ms. Inbal Meyuhas, a tourist from Israel, shared: "I never imagined that the mountainous region of Son La in Vietnam would be so beautiful. The winding roads in the mist, the endless hills covered in white and yellow flowers, the cozy wooden houses, and the friendly, kind people here. I learned about A Chu homestay through Google, and this trip has given me and my family unforgettable experiences."

Previously, Trang A Cua's family maintained the traditional craft of making Do paper for their own use. After being encouraged and persuaded, they started growing flowers, using pumpkins to decorate their garden, continuing the Do paper-making tradition, and opening their doors to visitors for tours and experiences. Initially, simply introducing the traditional process and products didn't attract many tourists. After receiving feedback from tourists and villagers, he came up with the idea of ​​creating paintings from Do paper combined with flowers and leaves from around the house for visitors to experience and take home as souvenirs. On average, his family welcomes about 7-10 groups of tourists each week, providing a stable income.

Tourism products linked to local culture.

The villages of Chiềng Đi 1 and 2; Hua Tạt and Suối Lìn in Vân Hồ commune; Phụ Mẫu and Nà Bai in Chiềng Yên commune; and historical sites and scenic spots such as: Hang Miếng Temple in Quang Minh commune; Tạng Mè burial cave in Suối Bàng commune; Tạt Nàng waterfall and hot springs in Chiềng Yên commune; Nàng Tiên waterfall and Nàng Bẳng Mương Temple in Chiềng Khoa commune; Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn Temple in Song Khủa commune; and Mộc Hạ revolutionary base... are typical locations in Vân Hồ district that have been developing tourism products linked to ethnic cultural identity. Traditional crafts such as brocade weaving, musical instrument making, and dó paper making have been revived, preserving traditional culture while serving tourists. Local specialties such as tangerines, peaches, sticky rice, and stream fish contribute to creating tourism products and adding highlights to the visitor experience.

Currently, Van Ho district has more than 100 performing arts groups, regularly practicing, organizing exchanges, and performing for tourists. At the same time, the district has established folk singing and dancing clubs in community tourism villages; and revived folk festivals and cultural activities to serve tourism development.

In 2024, Van Ho district welcomed nearly 332,000 visitors, generating 233.5 billion VND in tourism revenue. Mr. Ngo Van Du, Head of the District's Culture and Information Department, stated: "We recognize culture as the root of tourism development. In particular, artisans and cultural figures are the core of culture, responsible for 'keeping the flame alive' for the traditional culture of the nation. Along with honoring cultural values ​​and commending the contributions of artisans who are preserving, spreading, and teaching traditional cultural knowledge and folk arts, the district organizes training for tourism personnel, especially ethnic minorities. At the same time, we are developing diverse tourism products linked to the preservation and promotion of ethnic cultural identity through the restoration of traditional rituals, the development of traditional craft villages, and handicrafts in community tourism villages."

With the right direction, Van Ho district strives to become an attractive destination, contributing to bringing the culture of the ethnic groups of Northwest Vietnam to tourists and creating sustainable livelihoods for the people in the area.

Text and photos: Thu Thảo