Potential and advantages for tourism development

Song Pe is a Category III commune in Bac Yen district, Son La province. The commune comprises 8 villages, over 1,120 households, and more than 5,380 inhabitants, with 7 ethnic groups living together: Mong, Thai, Muong, Dao, Kho Mu, Kinh, and Tay; among them, the Muong ethnic group makes up the majority, accounting for over 72% of the commune's population. Each ethnic group in the commune has its own unique cultural characteristics, and the people of all ethnic groups are united and help each other develop socio-economically. Along with many other localities in Bac Yen district, besides developing agriculture in a green and sustainable direction, Song Pe commune has many potentials and advantages for developing tourism to increase people's income and contribute to poverty reduction.

Song Pe commune, Bac Yen district (Son La province) develops its annual boat racing festival to promote tourism. Photo: T. Thao

Located on National Highway 37, a route connecting to many tourist destinations such as: Ta Xua Eco-tourism Area, Pu Nhi Eco-tourism Area, Ho Sen Eco-tourism Area, Hua Nhan Commune, Dinosaur Backbone scenic area, A Phu Cave historical site, Khe Ho Ancient Stone Carving site, Cheon Pass National historical site, Hua Nhan Commune; 99 Resistance Base historical site… Notably, Song Pe Commune has an inland waterway running through it, the legendary Da River, stretching across the majestic high mountain range. These are favorable conditions for Song Pe to develop tourism associated with organizing traditional festivals and building festivals linked to its existing potential.

Speaking with reporters from NTNN/Dan Viet/Trang Trai Viet online newspapers, Ms. Dinh Thi Bich, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Song Pe commune, Bac Yen district (Son La province), said: "Along with the district's tourism development plan for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030, Song Pe commune has also developed plans and strategies based on its potential and advantages to develop local tourism. Through surveys and assessments, we have found that, in addition to traditional festivals rich in cultural identity, developing the Song Pe boat racing festival and experiential tourism at Mo Tom cave, Doi cave, Lanh cave, etc., is the right direction and has great potential for tourism development in the commune."

Developing tourism aims to increase income for local people.

Taking advantage of favorable conditions, in recent times, the Party Committee and the government of Song Pe commune have In coordination with specialized departments and units of the Son La Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, surveys were conducted and potential tourism development sites were included in the planning, such as: boat tours on the Song Da reservoir, community tourism, restoration of Muong ethnic culture, experiential tourism at Mo Tom Cave, Bat Cave, Cold Cave, etc., each cave with a capacity of 100 to 200 people; exploration tourism at Cold Cave, waterfalls, Mong Cave, Thai Grass Cave in villages along the Song Da River, or the ancient jackfruit tree in Ngam village... combined with unique cuisine such as sour fish, river shrimp...

The boat racing festival in Song Pe commune, Bac Yen district (Son La province) will be held annually to attract tourists and contribute to the development of local tourism. Photo: Nguyen Vinh

Song Pe commune also focuses on disseminating information, mobilizing, and guiding the people to preserve, conserve, and promote the ethnic cultural identity in conjunction with tourism development, and strengthening resources for preserving the cultural identity of ethnic groups. Preserving and developing tangible and intangible cultural heritage within the Muong, Dao, and other ethnic communities... Building performing arts troupes with unique characteristics of each ethnic group, linked to preserving the traditional cultural identity of festivals, costumes, musical instruments, and folk songs, such as: the Mo Muong folk ritual, the initiation ceremony, the coming-of-age ceremony of the Dao ethnic group, folk games like throwing the ball, tug-of-war, archery, and playing the tu lu game... and folk songs and dances such as Dang Muong, Xoe dance, and Vi singing...

Mr. Dinh Van Doan, Party Secretary and Head of Pe village, Song Pe commune, Bac Yen district (Son La province), shared: "The Party branch and the village management board will continue to educate the people to preserve ethnic cultural identities, traditional sports, folk songs, dances, etc., in order to revive them. There are some caves in the village where our ancestors took refuge during the war to carry out revolutionary work. We always emphasize to the people of Pe village the importance of preserving these caves so that they can visit them in the future."

Traditional folk games in festivals attract enthusiastic participation from the people. Photo: T. Thảo

Recently, the Bac Yen District Cultural and Communication Center, Son La Province, in coordination with Song Pe Commune, organized a ceremony to announce the establishment of the Bac Yen Muong Land Club in Pe Village. Currently, the club has 50 members who are actively practicing folk songs, singing, and dancing three times a week, ready to perform at local cultural events, festivals, and holidays. This is an opportunity to spread and promote cultural and artistic activities, contributing to preserving the cultural identity of ethnic groups in Song Pe Commune in particular and Bac Yen District in general. In addition, Song Pe Commune is also directing and encouraging the people to revive traditional crafts such as brocade fabrics, cotton mats, rattan and bamboo woven items, steel tempering techniques, forging and casting for plow blades, knives, hoes, wood carving for rice steamers, fabric dyeing techniques, sewing, embroidery, and fishing net weaving…

Mr. Dinh Minh Xuat, head of the Muong ethnic group's cultural club in Pe village, Song Pe commune, Bac Yen district, Son La province, happily shared: "As the head of the club and a son of Song Pe commune, I wish to contribute my small efforts, together with the Song Pe commune People's Committee, to support the preservation and promotion of the Muong ethnic group's cultural identity. Promoting our Muong ethnic identity so that audiences from all over know about the Muong people in Bac Yen will contribute to the development of tourism in the locality."

In traditional festivals in Song Pe commune, Bac Yen district (Son La province), the Xoe dance and other dances symbolizing unity among the people demonstrate solidarity. Photo: Nguyen Vinh

Clearly defining the tasks in tourism development in the commune, right from the beginning of the Party Congress term, 2020-2025, the Song Pe Commune Party Committee issued a Resolution on tourism work, which is: it is projected that by 2025, Song Pe will welcome 1,500 tourists to visit and experience the area. To achieve tourism development targets in the area, the Party Committee and government of Song Pe commune are actively disseminating information to officials, Party members, and the people to effectively preserve and promote the cultural identity of ethnic groups in the area, protect resources and the environment, and leverage advantages and potential to develop tourism, contributing to increasing people's income, poverty reduction, and building new rural areas.

Nguyen Vinh