Exploiting cultural values for tourism development in Quan Ba

10:37, 22/01/2024

BHG - Along with beautiful landscapes, many unique cultural values of indigenous people have been and are being exploited, contributing to increasing the attractiveness and highlights of tourism products in Quan Ba.

Quan Ba is a highland border district, the gateway to Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. With its favorable location, the district has great potential for tourism development. It is the majestic beauty of mountains, lyrical valleys and unique winding roads; Heaven's Gate, Quan Ba Twin Mountains; Lung Khuy Cave, Kho My Cave; Nam Dam Lake. In particular, Quan Ba is also a land with a diverse and rich culture, with 19 ethnic groups living together. Each ethnic group has its own distinct traditional culture, from costumes, language, culinary culture, customs, practices, festivals, folk games...

Traditional fishing festival of the Dao ethnic group in Nam Dam village, Quan Ba commune.

In recent years, Quan Ba district has done a good job of preserving, reviving, and promoting cultural values in the community, through teaching, restoring, and successfully organizing many traditional festivals and cultural festivals of ethnic groups. Every year, many major festivals are held such as: Ethnic Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival; Thanh Van Commune Cuisine Festival; Linen Weaving Festival; Thai An Commune Weaving Festival; Mong ethnic Gau Tao Festival; Dao ethnic Cap Sac Festival; Tay ethnic Long Tong Festival... The organization of festivals has mobilized the participation of the entire community. With the attention of local authorities and authorities, and the enthusiastic participation of the people, the festivals have created a buzz and gradually attracted tourists to attend. In particular, many backpacking groups or social media content creators have come to experience the festivals and have become channels to spread information more widely.

In addition to festivals, Quan Ba district is currently maintaining and organizing well the activities of the Nam Dam Village Community Tourism Cultural Village, Quan Ba Commune. Located about 6 km from the district center, this is a 4-star OCOP tourist village recognized by the Provincial People's Committee in 2022 and received the ASEAN award for the period 2023 - 2025 in the field of community tourism.

Visitors experience beeswax painting on linen at the traditional Mong ethnic linen weaving festival.

Mr. Ly Ta Danh, Head of Nam Dam village, Quan Ba commune said: “Currently, the village has 60 households, of which 33 households are involved in community tourism. With a revenue of about 500 million VND/month, it has created jobs for over 130 local workers. To attract tourists, the village has established 3 art troupes, each with about 10 people, with the purpose of cultural exchange, art performances or participating in traditional festivals and culinary culture to serve tourists when they want to enjoy it.”

With abundant and rich potential, to promote the "smokeless" industry, Quan Ba district has implemented many programs, projects and specific tasks, focusing on cultural strengths. That is, restoring traditional festivals; actively preserving and conserving ethnic cultures associated with tourism development. Maintaining the activities of the Folk Artisan Association, art clubs, and people with passion for ethnic culture. Supporting training, coaching, and capacity building for ethnic minorities to participate in tourism development.

Identifying and building local tourism brands from indigenous culture has truly created attractive differences for each region. In 2023, the number of visitors to Quan Ba district for sightseeing and relaxation was 450,000, reaching 150% of the assigned plan. Of which, tourists visiting, experiencing, and attending local festivals accounted for a fairly high proportion.

Comrade Vien Xuan Tung, Secretary of Quan Ba District Youth Union, said: “In the past year, the District Youth Union coordinated with the People's Committees of communes and towns to organize many traditional cultural festivals associated with trade promotion activities, displaying and introducing products of ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The organization of traditional festivals has promoted the potential and strengths of cultural, sports, tourism development and traditional cultural values of ethnic groups. At the same time, it preserves, promotes and honors the cultural identity of ethnic groups, educates the tradition of patriotism, national pride, strengthens the great solidarity of ethnic groups, encourages people of all walks of life to compete in labor production, strives to excellently complete the targets and tasks of socio-economic development. Promotes and introduces start-up products, typical products, and traditional cuisine of the locality to tourists from all directions”.

Article and photos: NGUYEN DIU

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