Unlocking the tourism potential of Son Luong

Son Luong commune was formed by merging three communes: My Lung, My Luong, and Luong Son, spanning an area of ​​nearly 97 square kilometers and home to 11 ethnic groups, with the Muong people being the majority. Thanks to its pristine mountain and forest landscapes and the rich cultural identity of the Muong people, Son Luong has significant potential for community-based tourism development.

The waterfall system in Son Luong still retains its pristine beauty.

The Son Luong area is surrounded by rolling mountains, streams, and waterfalls cascading through the vast forest, such as the Quat Waterfall, the Three-Tiered Waterfall, the Hundred-Tiered Waterfall, the Dung Waterfall, the Lao Stream, the Mu Stream, the Da Stream, and the Dong Mountain Fish Cave... creating a picturesque landscape that offers a sense of peace and tranquility to visitors. The local people still preserve long-standing customs and traditions, unique traditional festivals, folk songs, and rich, attractive cuisine with a distinct mountain flavor. After a period of decline, in early 2025, the commune successfully organized the Muong people's Ha Dien Festival and restored the Dong Suong communal house (phase 1). Possessing attractive natural resources and a diverse indigenous culture, Son Luong has many favorable factors for developing ecotourism, community-based cultural tourism, and experiential tourism.

A traditional meal of the Muong people in Son Luong.

The preservation and safeguarding of the Muong ethnic group's cultural identity has always been a priority for the local government. Accordingly, the commune has intensified its efforts to disseminate and educate the public on policies concerning ethnic minorities and traditional culture, ensuring that organizations, associations, and the people deeply understand the importance of preserving and promoting the cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in the development of an advanced culture rich in national identity. The preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values ​​are linked to the development of community tourism, building exemplary tourist destinations associated with the cultivation of the Muong people's Ga Gay sticky rice. To date, the Muong people's Moi and Trong Du dances have been revived in the commune. Traditional Muong costumes, gongs, and related props for the activities of the folk clubs in the commune have received significant investment. At traditional festivals, many folk games such as Ferris wheel rides, throwing the ball, stick pushing, etc., attract large numbers of participants.

In addition, the Muong ethnic community in Son Luong commune preserves several characteristic dishes, such as: "Co la" (a traditional feast served on leaves), sticky rice wrapped in dong leaves, five-colored sticky rice, herbal rice wine, grilled Ngoi Lao fish... From these familiar dishes, local people have applied advanced techniques to develop and expand production of products towards commercialization and achieved OCOP certification. These include sticky rice, Muong-style dried meat, Muong-style sour meat, Thao Xuan herbal rice wine, Thao Xuan rice wine, Truong Thinh cassava starch... The diversity of OCOP products contributes to building a community tourism brand, attracting tourists, opening up job opportunities, and increasing income for local people.

Muong-style fermented pork is one of the 12 OCOP (One Commune One Product) products of the locality.

In order to preserve and promote the valuable traditional culture of ethnic minorities in conjunction with tourism development, immediately after the merger, the commune actively coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize four training courses for more than 180 staff members of accommodation establishments, restaurants, tourist attractions, and tourism service businesses, as well as local residents, on food preparation methods, hospitality skills, tourist accommodation services, and gong playing instruction.

Despite possessing immense potential in natural and cultural resources, tourism in Son Luong is still in its nascent stage, characterized by small-scale and fragmented development; transportation infrastructure is not yet synchronized; the system of guesthouses, homestays, and quality accommodation facilities is very limited; and there are not many professionally developed tourism products... This shows that to "awaken" the tourism potential of this area, a well-structured development strategy is needed, along with the coordinated efforts of the entire political system and the proactive participation of the local community.

Comrade Vu Dinh Ngoc - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: In the coming time, along with economic development, the commune will focus on preserving and promoting traditional tangible and intangible cultural identity; building a new cultural life, maintaining a green, clean, and beautiful landscape, thereby creating a foundation for the development of ecotourism and community tourism, attracting many tourists to visit and experience.

The systematic planning and investment in tourism in Son Luong contributes to diversifying tourism types in Phu Tho province, creating livelihoods for local people. Furthermore, it is the "key" to improving living standards, retaining young people in their hometown, and developing a green economy that harmonizes with the environment and culture, helping the locality become a new destination with a strong local identity within the province's tourism landscape.

RED VELVET

Source: https://baophutho.vn/danh-thuc-tiem-nang-du-lich-o-son-luong-244576.htm