Unlocking the potential of ecotourism in Quy Mong

Following the merger of the three communes of Kien Thanh, Y Can, and Quy Mong, the new Quy Mong commune is considered to have rich potential for developing ecotourism and community tourism with its system of waterfalls, primeval forests, and villages that still retain the distinct cultural identity of the highlands. However, this potential has not yet been exploited to its full potential.

Untouched nature and unique cultural identity

Quy Mong is blessed with a rich and diverse ecosystem, pristine landscapes, and distinctive cultural values. Highlights include the Tam Kham primeval forest, the waterfall system in the Dong Song and Dong Ruong areas, and the cluster of centuries-old Shan Tuyet tea trees in Ban Khe Loong 1, located at an altitude of nearly 1,000 meters within the Tam Kham forest belt, creating a wild, majestic, and captivating natural landscape.

From the commune's People's Committee center, following winding roads for more than ten kilometers, visitors will reach Dat Rao Waterfall in Yen Thinh village. Amidst the lush green mountains and forests, the waterfall cascades down from above, creating a white, frothy spectacle that is both poetic and majestic. Large rocks along the stream, always cool, become ideal stopping points for visitors to rest and immerse themselves in the clear water during the sweltering summer days.

Besides the Dat Rao waterfall, this area also boasts many other promising destinations such as the Pa Ria waterfall and the Nine-Tiered waterfall, with their clear blue water flowing from pristine forests. These are all suitable locations for developing ecotourism , nature exploration, trekking, or experiential tourism.

With its pristine beauty, Pa Ria Waterfall is becoming an ideal destination for tourists every summer.

Recognizing the demand from tourists wanting to learn about the lives of the local people, some households in Dong Ruong village have boldly invested in developing community tourism.

Mr. Hoang Van Lang, from Dong Ruong village, said that this area possesses a beautiful system of waterfalls, suitable for developing community tourism and experiential tourism. Since 2021, his family has invested in building a homestay and has initially welcomed a certain number of guests. However, according to Mr. Lang, the infrastructure has not been upgraded comprehensively, lacking attractions and check-in points for tourists, so investment in upgrading transportation infrastructure and supporting services is urgently needed.

Besides its attractive natural landscapes, Quy Mong is also a land rich in cultural and historical value. The area currently boasts many historical sites such as Kien Lao communal house, Quy Mong communal house and temple, Yen Luong communal house, Ky Can communal house, Ghenh Linh temple, and Y Can pagoda. These are all destinations that can be connected to form cultural and spiritual tourism routes in the future.

The Quy Mong communal house and temple are historical sites closely associated with the cultural life, beliefs, and spiritual activities of the Muong community in the area.

In particular, the diversity of ethnic communities also creates a unique identity for this land. Currently, many ethnic groups live together in the commune, such as Tay, Dao, Muong, Mong, Kinh, etc., each preserving distinctive cultural values ​​from clothing and language to traditional festivals and cuisine .

Highland dishes such as multicolored sticky rice, bamboo-tube rice, smoked meat, stream fish, black chicken, or "piglet carried under the arm" (a local delicacy) can become distinctive and attractive tourism products. Along with that, traditional festivals such as the Long Tong festival, the Quy Mong temple festival, the Dao people's coming-of-age ceremony, or the Then singing and Tinh playing of the Tay people, and the Moi dance of the Muong people... contribute to creating a rich and unique cultural landscape.

A meal featuring traditional Tay dishes in Quy Mong.

In Dong Ruong village, where nearly 100% of the population are Mong ethnic people, Ms. Giang Thi Giong diligently preserves the traditional embroidery craft. She meticulously hand-embroiders vibrant, patterned garments for her family and to preserve the beauty of her ethnic culture. However, Ms. Giong is also concerned that fewer and fewer people are pursuing this traditional embroidery craft.

"Nowadays, most people are working, so they have less time for embroidery. Most Hmong women know how to embroider, but they don't do it as regularly as before," shared Ms. Giong.

After each day working in the fields, Ms. Giàng Thị Giông takes advantage of the time to embroider fabric and sew clothes for her family herself.

The local community's cultural space is still being diligently preserved by the residents. The Đồng Ruộng village's performing arts troupe continues to regularly rehearse for local events and is ready to perform when tourists arrive.

Ms. Giang Thi Sang, the leader of the Dong Ruong village's performing arts team, said: "Besides our work, we still maintain our performing arts practice, both to preserve our ethnic cultural identity and to entertain tourists who come to experience this place."

We need to "awaken" the potential.

Despite possessing many advantages in terms of natural landscapes and cultural identity, tourism in Quy Mong has not yet developed to its full potential. Tourism activities are still small-scale, spontaneous, and have not yet formed distinctive products or a synchronized service system to retain tourists.

Many destinations still lack proper investment in transportation infrastructure, parking, rest stops, or accompanying experiential products. Limited promotional efforts mean that many of Quy Mong's beautiful features remain unknown to a wider audience.

The centuries-old Shan Tuyet tea trees in the Tam Kham forest belt are protected and preserved by the local people.

Currently, the locality is gradually shaping a sustainable tourism development strategy. Mr. Vu Quoc Long, Vice Chairman of the Quy Mong Commune People's Committee, said that in the coming time, tourism activities will be organized in an environmentally friendly manner, linked to the rational exploitation of natural resources, forest ecosystems, and the characteristic mountain and forest landscapes of the locality.

According to local guidelines, tourism development aims not only to increase the number of visitors or revenue but also to preserve and promote the natural, historical, and cultural values ​​of the locality. In particular, Quy Mong will focus on developing ecotourism, community-based tourism, and cultural and spiritual tourism.

In addition, the locality is also aiming to promote supporting products such as experiential agricultural tourism, culinary tourism, cultural tourism, and traditional craft villages to diversify tourism products and create more livelihoods for local people.

Then singing and Tinh lute playing club of Kien Lao village, Quy Mong commune.

For the period 2025-2030, Quy Mong commune aims to develop tourism into a key economic sector of the locality, striving to attract approximately 15,000 visitors annually, with estimated revenue ranging from 10 to 25 billion VND per year.

With its existing potential and clear development direction, Quy Mong is facing a great opportunity to promote a green economy linked to sustainable tourism. If invested in a comprehensive and harmonious way, balancing tourism development with nature conservation and the preservation of cultural identity, it can absolutely become an attractive destination on the province's tourism map.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/danh-thuc-tiem-nang-du-lich-sinh-thai-o-quy-mong-post900114.html