8X Co Tu turn Bho Hoong into a 'fairy tale village' in the middle of the jungle

With her love for her homeland and her sensitivity, Ms. Dinh Thi Thin in Bho Hoong village, Song Kon commune, Da Nang city has become a "bridge" to bring Co Tu culture to the world, contributing to changing the face of her village.

Village tour guide

Born in the middle of the Truong Son mountains, Dinh Thi Thin (born in 1989, Co Tu ethnic group) had a childhood associated with the sound of gongs, the tang tung - da da dance and traditional festivals. That cultural space nurtured in her a love for the Co Tu identity.

In 2012, after graduating from Vietnamese Studies (Dong A College, Quang Nam ), Thin returned to Bho Hoong to volunteer for community tourism.

In the early days, she did almost everything: welcoming guests, explaining, connecting people to serve food and accommodation. While working, she also guided people on basic skills so that everyone could participate.

Ms. Dinh Thi Thin - a Co Tu woman starting a business from community tourism

In 2017, she went to Da Nang to work as a tour operator and at the same time studied English ( Hanoi Open University, Da Nang campus). Practical experience and new knowledge helped her realize the unique value of Co Tu culture and decided to return to be a "bridge" between the village and tourists.

Thin traveled all over Dong Giang and Tay Giang to find cultural "touchpoints" such as Quyet Thang tea hill, Y Kong artisan's house, Dho Rong village... After surveying, she "packaged" it into a tourism product and linked up with travel companies in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue...

Ms. Thin (standing in the middle) guides tourists to visit Bho Hoong tourist village.

8X Co Tu has contributed to "turning" his village into an attractive destination for tourists.

Believing that “language is the key to communication”, she opened free classes for more than 30 people in the village. Thanks to that, many young Bho Hoong women and men can communicate basically with international guests, creating a friendly and close atmosphere.

Visitors to the village are quite diverse, mostly foreigners and young people who love experiences. Each month, Thin welcomes from 5 to 10 groups, some groups up to several dozen people.

Tourists often take part in walking around the village, bathing in streams, climbing mountains, weaving baskets, brocade weaving, enjoying bamboo-tube rice, grilled meat, and Ta Vat wine. These simple experiences help them “touch” the real life of the Co Tu people.

Co Tu people reenact traditional festival

International visitors enjoy experiencing Co Tu culture

Unique homestay in the mountains and forests

Not only connecting tours, Thin also built ACu Homestay - the first private homestay in Bho Hoong. The house retains the Co Tu architectural style: thatched roof, bamboo walls, wooden floors, but has been improved to suit the resting needs of tourists. Inside, brocade blankets and pillows, rustic decorations remind of the life of the mountainous region.

ACu Homestay retains the traditional Co Tu architecture, making tourists excited.

In the evening, visitors can sit by the fire listening to gongs and dancing around the campfire with the villagers. In the morning, open the window, the mist covers the mountain, the sound of streams and forest birds harmonize. Many visitors compare this place to a "fairy tale village".

From the homestay, guests are connected to many other activities: knitting, weaving, crossbow shooting, preparing traditional dishes. Thanks to that, not only Thin’s family but also the whole community participates - from elderly artisans to young people and women.

Homemade brocade blankets and pillows bring a unique and distinctive feature to ACu Homestay

After many years of perseverance, in April 2025, Thin established his own travel company to operate professional tours, expand travel cooperation and promote Co Tu culture to many countries.

“What I hope for is not only income for the village, but also to let the world know that the Co Tu people have a unique culture that deserves to be preserved,” Thin shared.

The "key" to preserving Co Tu identity

After more than a decade, tourism has brought a new look to Bho Hoong - a village of nearly 700 people. While in the past people lived mainly on farming, now they have an additional livelihood from experience services and handicraft products. On average, Bho Hoong welcomes more than 100 visitors per month.

Although tourism has not yet brought in a large source of income, it has created jobs on the spot, helped young people develop their skills, and artisans are more proud when traditional culture is respected. In particular, Bho Hoong has become one of the 12 green and sustainable rural tourism destinations of Quang Nam in the period of 2023-2025.

Co Tu people guide tourists in crossbow shooting - a unique folk game

People are now more aware of preserving “village traditions”. Values ​​such as the tang tung dance, the ly singing, the new rice celebration… which had been fading away, are now being revitalized thanks to tourism services.

"Every time I explain to tourists, I not only tell with knowledge, but also with my love for my homeland," Thin confided.

Tourists enjoy taking photos with Co Tu village elders in traditional costumes.

Commemorative photos between locals and tourists become beautiful memories of the trip.

Thin's efforts have also been recognized. In 2023, she received a Certificate of Merit from Dong Giang District (old) and was honored by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam (now Da Nang City) at the Central Ethnic Culture Festival. In 2024, she received a Certificate of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee for her outstanding achievements in ethnic work in the 2019-2024 period.

With a sharp mind, foreign language skills and a passion for culture, Dinh Thi Thin has become a model of a Co Tu woman who dares to think and dares to do. Her journey not only brings a sustainable livelihood to Bho Hoong, but also contributes to spreading Co Tu culture to the world.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/8x-co-tu-bien-bho-hoong-thanh-lang-co-tich-giua-dai-ngan-2447311.html