Passionate about projects promoting tourism in Northwest Vietnam, especially in Van Ho district (Son La province), Ms. Dinh Thi Huyen, Director of the Northwest Development Cooperation Center, said that Van Ho district is considered one of the destinations with unique natural and cultural features.

Visitors to Van Ho district have many different options, from nature experiences to cultural experiences, such as the Fairy Waterfall; the Mong villages in Chieng Di and Hua Tat, and the Thai villages in Chieng Yen with their unique cultural features; Phu Mau village associated with hot spring resources; and community tourism villages like Buot village, which tells the story of protecting the forest and fish streams... The people here have a diverse culture, forming tourism villages characteristic of the Mong and Thai ethnic groups.

The "Heritage Agricultural Village" model in Buot village harmoniously combines ecological agricultural practices and experiential tourism.

Nestled in a valley surrounded by majestic mountains in Van Ho district, Son La province, Buot village not only boasts pristine natural beauty but is also the long-standing home of 58 Thai ethnic households. Within the area, which includes 400 hectares of primary forest, Buot village embodies unique natural and cultural values. The diverse ecosystem, with its old-growth forests, streams, and rice paddies, provides a habitat for many rare plant and animal species. Notably, the area features a natural fish stream, Bang Dong waterfall, Tat Nang waterfall, natural hot springs, and a system of mysterious caves.

These wooden signboards provide additional information about Buot village for visitors.

Despite the limited agricultural land, the people still preserve traditional farming methods, using hand tools, organic fertilizers, and a natural irrigation system to produce clean agricultural products. This also lays the groundwork for the emergence of the "Heritage Agricultural Village" model, a harmonious combination of ecological farming and experiential tourism.

At Buot Village, visitors can experience nature firsthand and discover a "nature exhibition within their sight." But this isn't simply about colorful paintings and photographs capturing beautiful moments displayed in an exhibition space. Here, each visitor uses their own senses to connect with nature, capturing and preserving beautiful images in their minds.

Tourists experience the process of making sticky rice cakes in Buot village.

These include the game "Closing Your Eyes to See the Clouds," where players guess materials closely associated with the daily lives of the Thai people through touch; the story of Buot village practicing ecological agriculture; the traditional Thai house, the weaving and rice cake pounding spaces accompanied by the melodious sounds of traditional musical instruments; the story of a natural fish stream; and a tea party in Buot Valley…

The natural fish stream in Buot village has been protected and preserved by the local people for generations.

Today, the people of Buot village still cherish and preserve the unique traditional culture of the Thai ethnic group: stilt house architecture, clothing, cuisine and festivals, and rich indigenous knowledge about agriculture, forestry, and ancient traditional medicine…

A unique experience, closely connected to the daily life of the Thai ethnic people.

Ms. Maija Helena Seppala, Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Finland in Vietnam

Ms. Maija Helena Seppala, Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Finland in Vietnam (who provided funding for the project “Conservation of Landscape Systems in Ecotourism Development for Ethnic Minority Communities in Vietnam”) shared: “Ban Buot is a beautiful place. I was very happy to visit this traditional village, surrounded by mountains and a long stream, with its unique scenery. I also had the opportunity to explore the local lifestyle of the ethnic minorities. I was impressed with this place.”

This was his third visit to Van Ho, where he experienced community tourism and directly participated in the games. Mr. Tuan Anh from the CC Foundation (an organization that provides financial support for sustainable community development initiatives and projects) praised the place highly: “For the first time, I was able to feel the different materials used in the daily lives of the local people with my own feet. The unspoiled and friendly atmosphere is what I felt here. Normally, it takes us 7-8 hours to travel to remote areas, but to Buot village, it only took a little over 3 hours by car along the national highway, allowing us to experience a peaceful life close to nature…”

Video showcasing activities in Hua Tat village (Van Ho district, Son La province)

At the Hua Tat community tourism village in Chieng Di (Van Ho district, Son La province), visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the Hmong people, such as beeswax painting, using natural materials to create vibrant patterns and colors on clothing, making Do paper, or experiencing folk games like Tulu, Pao throwing, and even witnessing a thrilling Tulu match between the village boys.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Kien (a tourist from Moc Chau) expressed: “My hometown is Moc Chau, but this is the first time I've participated in a traditional Do paper-making experience. The people here still preserve their unique cultural characteristics. I also filmed some videos to share with friends and family...”

A "nature" painting made from dó paper by the Hmong ethnic group in Hua Tat village.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hau (tour guide, Hanoi) is learning how to draw decorative patterns using beeswax.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hau (tour guide, Hanoi) was also impressed with the games and cultural aspects of the place: "I got to play the Tu Lu game, it was really interesting, and in about 30 minutes, I understood the steps in making Do paper from bamboo and completed a picture..."

Experience the traditional rice cake pounding activity at Chiềng Đi 1 market.

The stalls selling products made by the local people in the highlands attract tourists.

Another "specialty" of the highlands that attracts tourists is wandering through the local markets. In Van Ho district, visitors can experience pounding sticky rice cakes with the Mong people; be captivated by the bell dances of the Dao people and the Tha Khenh dance of the Mong people; and enjoy ethnic dishes at the Chieng Di 1 market (held every Saturday evening). They can also shop for handicrafts, brocade fabrics, and agricultural products made by the local people.

Tourists immerse themselves in the traditional dances of the Thai ethnic group.

Experiencing Chieng Di market for the first time, Thuy Linh (24 years old, a tourist from Hanoi) shared: “The market is interesting, with many great experiences; I got to watch the Hmong dances, participate in pounding rice cakes, pluck chicken feathers… These are memorable experiences in my life.”

"Awakening" tourism in Van Ho

Previously, the people in Buot, Hua Tat, and Chieng Di villages, especially the women, only knew how to cultivate fields, weave cloth, and take care of their families... but now, they have learned how to develop tourism "professionally" based on local resources. They warmly welcome guests, using everyday cultural stories and traditional dances to connect and interact with strangers, and they are also confident in using English when welcoming international visitors...

Ms. Ha Thi Anh, a resident of Buot village (Chieng Yen commune, Van Ho district).

On days when tourists visit, Ms. Ha Thi Anh, a resident of Buot village (Chieng Yen commune, Van Ho district), wakes up at 5 a.m. to take care of household chores and prepare the experiential spaces, practicing traditional Thai dances and songs to help welcome visitors. Afterward, she returns to her farming work. Despite the many tasks and constant running around, a radiant smile always shines on her face.

"I feel happy and excited when tourists come to the village; the income is better, and many tourists also buy agricultural products to support the villagers," said Ms. Ha Thi Anh.

A stall selling local agricultural products.

After many years of dedication and commitment to supporting ethnic minority communities in developing tourism, Ms. Dinh Thi Huyen, Director of the Northwest Development Cooperation Center, hopes to establish close cooperation between different ethnic villages in Van Ho district to create a network connecting tourism villages.

Ms. Dinh Thi Huyen, Director of the Northwest Development Cooperation Center, shared her thoughts on sustainable tourism development.

“Currently, we are focusing on leveraging the strengths of each village to connect them and help them create unique tourism products. For example, Hua Tat village has been involved in tourism for over a decade, and the local people have good skills in providing accommodation and dining services. However, nature-based experiential activities here are not yet vibrant. We see potential in other villages such as Buot and Phu Mau in the Van Ho district ecosystem… where we can develop more unique services and experiential activities to serve tourists, and rest stops could be in Hua Tat village, Chieng Di village, or even nearby areas like Mai Chau and Moc Chau,” Ms. Dinh Thi Huyen shared.

Ethnic minority villages are doing well in tourism, but they still preserve their traditional values ​​and unique characteristics. Because when developing tourism, people are primarily concerned with attracting visitors, inadvertently neglecting their responsibility to protect the community's distinctive natural landscape. In sustainable tourism development, the most attractive factor for visitors is the unique cultural characteristics of a community...

The "Heritage Agricultural Village" model creates a stable source of income for local people, generating direct employment in tourism and agricultural activities. The average income of people participating in the model has increased by 30% compared to before.

Families participating in the Dong Rung Cooperative have a stable income of approximately 60 million VND per year. Member families of the cooperative receive profit sharing for three consecutive years, each year receiving over 10 million VND. Importantly, the model has created a local market for agricultural products, allowing people to sell their produce directly to tourists, instead of just producing for family consumption as before.