Kha village is located right near National Highway 6, about 10 km from Yen Chau town (Yen Chau district, Son La province). The village has more than 90 households and over 420 inhabitants, almost 100% of whom are of the Thai ethnic group.

In Kha village, visitors immerse themselves in the peaceful, natural atmosphere of an ancient Thai village, where most families live in traditional stilt houses, surrounded by shady mango and tamarind trees, and the winding Vat stream...​

The people of Kha village organize the "Dong Sua" festival in the village's forest.

According to Mr. Quang Van Phanh, an 80-year-old resident of Kha village, the villagers are still preserving and promoting many unique cultural features of the Thai ethnic group, such as folk singing, performing traditional musical instruments; maintaining traditional crafts like weaving, embroidering scarves, and basketry for daily life; and holding festivals such as "Xen Ban," "Xen Lau No," and "Dong Sua"... These are traditional rituals that symbolize prayers for good health, favorable weather, and a bountiful harvest.

"Every year on the 10th day of the lunar month, we have to offer sacrifices. We pray for the health of the villagers, prosperity in their businesses, abundant harvests in their fields, and healthy livestock free from disease," said Mr. Quang Van Phanh.

Leveraging its existing advantages and potential, Yen Chau district has implemented a project to develop a rural tourism model in Kha village. The project outlines a 5-year plan to develop tourism products with a total investment of approximately 43 billion VND, focusing on key infrastructure such as: a village entrance gate; a reception area at the parking lot; environmentally friendly parking and electric vehicle shuttle services for tourists entering the village; sales points and experiential games; the development of an experiential tour route; landscape improvement in the village; and the construction of restrooms.

Rehearsing for cultural performances in preparation for welcoming and serving tourists.

 In Kha village, the project has selected 5 families capable of renovating and upgrading their homes into homestays; 3 families capable of opening ethnic cuisine restaurants; and 3 families capable of weaving, embroidering scarves, and handcrafting rattan and bamboo products to serve tourists. Many households in Kha village have received training in community tourism. The village has also established 2 folk art troupes, regularly practicing and performing folk songs, dances, and music to entertain tourists.

Ms. Vi Thi Thanh, a resident of Kha village, shared: "My family has registered to participate in tourism activities, and we have bought new blankets and mattresses to prepare for guests. When guests arrive, we usually prepare Thai dishes such as papaya salad, bon soup, boiled bamboo shoots, grilled chicken and fish… to serve them."

Preserving the craft of basket weaving

Mr. Quang Van Chien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Sap Vat commune, also said: "The province and district are paying attention and have a plan to develop Kha village as a community tourism destination, and our commune is very excited. We have worked with the district and the consulting unit to survey and re-plan the village roads and alleys, and established a tourism cooperative so that the people can work together and learn how to do tourism."

Traditional embroidered Piêu scarves

According to Mr. Lu Van Cuong, Chairman of the Yen Chau District People's Committee, in order to develop Kha village into a community tourism village associated with the new rural development program, the Yen Chau District People's Committee has directed relevant agencies to develop and guide the application of a set of criteria on the cultural environment at the Kha village community tourism site; organize training courses to raise awareness about the cultural environment, and establish standards for lifestyles and behaviors in communication, conduct, and other tourism business activities.

Local people preserve the traditional brocade weaving craft.

"Currently, we have developed a plan to take households to visit and learn from tourist areas and destinations that are similar to the actual conditions of the people in Kha village. Along with that, we also take the villagers to places where tourism guidance programs are being implemented so that they can access and learn. We have also reported to the province and received guidance from the province to develop Kha village into a model cultural tourism village, using funds from national target programs and other legitimate budget sources, developing Kha village into a community-based cultural tourism village as approved by the province," said Mr. Lu Van Cuong.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Chau district also stated that, in addition to the Thai ethnic community tourism village, the locality is also developing a plan to preserve and promote the cultural values ​​of several ethnic groups such as the Mong and Xinh Mun, aiming to promote traditional cultural values ​​associated with tourism; thereby creating a breakthrough to boost local socio-economic development. This is also one of the important contents that the district has included in the draft Resolution of the 20th District Party Congress, term 2026-2030, which will take place next year.

Source: vov.vn