Unique flower village amidst the vast forests of Mang Den

Nestled deep within the Măng Đen forest (Kon Plông district, Kon Tum province), lies a village called Vi Rơ Ngheo in Đăk Tăng commune, surrounded by pristine mountains and forests. This small village is home to 63 households with approximately 300 inhabitants, all of whom are Xơ Đăng people. It is considered the most peaceful and beautiful village in Kon Tum.

Showcasing the beauty of wild orchids.

Mr. A Hien is introducing his family's orchids.

The village of Vi Rơ Ngheo is simple yet possesses a unique beauty. The first impression for visitors is the gate. All 63 households here have built their gates using salvaged wooden planks from the forest. The gates are very simple, consisting of two vertical posts and a horizontal bar. The planks are uneven, some curved, some straight, but under the hands of the Xơ Đăng people, they become very graceful. The fences surrounding the houses are lined with rows of orchid pots. The pots are made from salvaged wood, about 40cm high, hollowed out, and filled with rice husks and fertilizer to grow orchids. "This is the result of the villagers' efforts over the past two years," shared A Hiên, a young man from the village, about the flower fences around each house. According to A Hiên, two years ago, the villagers began going into the forest to collect various types of orchids, mainly terrestrial orchids, to cultivate and propagate. To date, all 63 households in the village have orchid gardens. “I don’t know the specific name. Checking online, they say it’s the 'Trần Mộng' orchid or the 'Kiếm Hồng' orchid,” A Hiên said. The orchids are grown by the villagers as hedges around their houses. In their gardens, each household has dozens of other orchid pots being cultivated. This is the most distinctive feature of Vi Rơ Ngheo compared to other villages in Kon Tum. A Hiên said that the people of Vi Rơ Ngheo cultivate about 1,000 orchid pots and plants. The flowers usually bloom from the end of the previous year, lasting until April or May of the following year. Therefore, during the historic month of April, when visiting Vi Rơ Ngheo, the orchid hedges are in full bloom, showcasing their beauty throughout the village. Not only do they display their beauty, but these orchid hedges also become green spaces for each house. Besides growing and cultivating orchids at home, the people of Vi Rơ Ngheo are developing five orchid hills around the village. The orchids are collected by the villagers and planted naturally under the forest canopy, along the paths leading up the mountain. Showcasing their beauty in these forests, besides orchids, there are many other wildflowers such as rhododendrons, myrtle, and sim flowers, creating a diverse array of colors. “These flower hills and forests are strictly protected by the locals. No one is allowed to steal or sell the flowers. The flowers grow naturally in the forest. Only the orchids are planted by the locals along the paths leading up. Later, they will naturally reproduce to form an entire flower area,” A Hien added. Paving the way for a flower village.

The village of Vi Rơ Ngheo is located in Đăk Tăng commune.

During those historic days of April, the joy of the people of Vi Rơ Ngheo was doubled when the village was recognized as a community tourism village by the People's Committee of Kon Tum province. This is a step forward and a challenge for the Xơ Đăng people here in their efforts to transform Vi Rơ Ngheo into a shining example in Kon Plông district - a key tourism development area of ​​Kon Tum province.

To become a tourist village, for Vi Rơ Ngheo to showcase its beauty alongside Măng Đen on the path of development, the Xơ Đăng people here must continue their tireless efforts. In recent days, young men in the village have been busy going to the stream, collecting stones to build bases and add accents to the flower fences. The village selected five houses that met the criteria to experiment with welcoming tourists. All the houses have beautiful scenery and views. The houses are designed in a traditional style, with windows opening onto the fields and overlooking the rice paddies. A Vin, a household chosen for tourism, said: "We had the wood readily available; we sold four buffaloes to build it. In addition, everyone in the village helped to build the house as it is today. To welcome guests, my daughter, who teaches in Đăk Nên commune, will come to help on weekends." To allow tourists to experience the local culture, the Kon Plông district government has also collaborated with the villagers to renovate their houses and restore the cultural values ​​of the Xơ Đăng people. According to Mr. Pham Van Thang, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, the district is restoring the fading cultural features. The district is supporting the purchase of gongs and drums, inviting artisans to teach and develop local cultural activities. "In the near future, we will include regulations so that all local people here can participate in tourism and benefit from it. The Vi Ro Ngheo people will live and preserve their original cultural values ​​and people to develop tourism." Mr. Pham Van Thang said that Kon Plong is encouraging people not to sell their land or bring in businesses to exploit tourism here. For houses with corrugated iron roofs, the district will soon cover the roofs with bamboo and reeds, similar to traditional houses. The district is connecting tourism tours to explore the lakes and waterfalls around Vi Ro Ngheo village. With the help of the government and the efforts of the people, Vi Ro Ngheo village has formed traditional dance and gong-playing teams, with participants ranging from children to the elderly. The Vi Rơ Ngheo people have also formed groups of households to grow vegetables, raise chickens and pigs, and organize cooking services for tourists. The dishes consist of local vegetables, roots, and fruits, as well as stream fish near the lake…

Text and photos: Cao Nguyen (VNA)