The peaceful scenery in Kon Vơng Kia village, Măng Đen commune, inspired Nguyễn Đức Dũng to leave the city and join the Mơ Nâm people in developing tourism . Photo: Ngọc Chí
He calls himself a "wandering farmer".
Beginning his story with us, Mr. Nguyen Duc Dung smiled and described himself as a "nomadic farmer."
He explained that the name suited him because he loves agriculture , enjoys immersing himself in pristine natural landscapes, golden rice fields, and vast primeval forests.
Dũng reminisced about how he came to Kon Vơng Kia village: "In 2022, I went on a trip to the Măng Đen area with a group of friends. I was once again captivated by the cool air and the pristine beauty of this place."
“At that time, I decided to say goodbye to my friends and stay a few more days to learn more about this land. And then I accidentally set foot in Kon Vơng Kia village, a small village that still retains many of the pristine characteristics of the Mơ Nâm people amidst the vast Măng Đen mountains,” Dũng confided.
"The nomadic farmer" Nguyen Duc Dung (right) recounts how he became involved with Kon Vong Kia village, Mang Den commune. Photo: Ngoc Chi
Captivated by the scenery and people of Kon Vơng Kia village, Mr. Dũng made a bold decision: he bought 1 hectare of land at the end of the village to develop tourism.
"Since arriving in Kon Vong Kia village, all my previous plans have been completely turned upside down. The tranquility of this village has a miraculous healing power. I decided to sell all my houses and gardens in Da Lat and invest all my capital here to start a new journey," Dung confided.
I once considered giving up.
From the very first day of developing the tourism model, Mr. Dung set himself a strict principle: to preserve the ecosystem and remaining forest vegetation on the land.
He meticulously planted more trees and flowers suitable for the local climate and built small houses.
However, in 2022, the concept of "doing tourism" was still something unfamiliar to the people of Kon Vơng Kia village.
For the villagers, life is a constant cycle of working in the fields, leaving in the morning and returning in the evening, sometimes even staying there for a whole week. Therefore, hiring laborers to help build houses has become an extremely difficult problem.
After more than four years of investment, Mr. Nguyen Duc Dung has completed the construction of a farmstay called Konke Ruong Farmstay. Photo: Ngoc Chi
Dũng recalled: "Many times I sat alone, looking at the unfinished, chaotic construction site, my heart filled with worry. At night, lying in bed in a desolate place, surrounded only by the croaking of frogs, loneliness and helplessness overwhelmed me. There were sleepless nights when I missed the city lights and even considered giving it all up and returning home."
But then, perseverance and love for this land prevailed. Instead of waiting for people to come to him, Dung persistently met with village elders, heads of hamlets, and residents to talk and explain his idea of community tourism.
"Slow and steady wins the race," his sincerity touched the hearts of the Mơ Nâm people. Understanding Dũng's good intentions, they rallied together to help him rebuild their traditional houses.
After more than four years of investment, Mr. Dung has now completed the construction of a farmstay called Konke Ruong Farmstay. This is a type of agricultural accommodation service that focuses on "nature-friendly tourism".
Guiding villagers to develop tourism.
Mr. Dung understands that community tourism is only sustainable with the participation of local people. As a pioneer, he has proactively accompanied, guided, and supported eight Mơ Nâm ethnic minority households in Kon Vơng Kia village to participate in tourism.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Dung (second from the right) instructs the people of Kon Vong Kia village on how to serve tourists. Photo: Ngoc Chi
Mr. Dung shared: "I guided the locals to preserve the traditional architecture of the Mo Nam people's houses to create homestays. At the same time, we utilized natural materials, used tile roofing, and avoided excessive concrete construction."
“What makes me happiest is that the villagers have unanimously agreed on a village charter to promote tourism. It stipulates that livestock must be herded and not allowed to roam freely. They have boldly switched from single-crop rice farming to double-crop rice farming; and they prioritize forest protection, preserving traditional stilt houses and cultural values,” Dũng shared.
To ensure the tourism business is fully realized, Mr. Dung also took the initiative to connect with and establish the Kon Vong Kia Village Agricultural Tourism Cooperative, dividing it into several groups to serve tourists, including: a culinary group, a weaving group, a gong and drum group, and a group for storytelling and love songs.
Mr. A Druế, Party Secretary of Kon Vơng Kia village, Măng Đen commune, said: "Since coming to the village, Mr. Dũng has helped the villagers learn how to develop community tourism. He is willing to share his methods of running homestays, promoting tourism, and serving tourists. Now, the villagers can both farm and earn income from their own ethnic cultural identity."
At the end of 2025, Mr. Nguyen Duc Dung was elected as Vice Chairman of the Quang Ngai Provincial Tourism Association. For him, his greatest wish at this time is to help many other villages develop sustainable community tourism, so that the people can live comfortably and prosper through traditional culture and the beautiful scenery of their homeland.
Source: https://dantocphattrien.vietnamnet.vn/ga-du-nong-len-ngan-cung-nguoi-mo-nam-lam-du-lich-75577.html
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