Leveraging cultural values ​​in conjunction with tourism.

Possessing a rich cultural heritage of 20 ethnic groups, Lai Chau province is actively promoting the exploitation of traditional cultural values ​​to create unique tourism products.

Water splashing competition during the Bun Vốc Nặm Festival of the Lự ethnic group in Bản Bo commune ( Lai Châu ).

As a land rich in cultural values ​​of various ethnic groups, including unique ethnic groups found only in Lai Chau such as the Mang and La Hu, Lai Chau province has leveraged its existing advantages to develop and improve distinctive tourism products over the years. Notable examples include the Sin Suoi Ho community tourism village, steeped in H'Mong ethnic culture; the Si Thau Chai community tourism village, associated with Dao ethnic culture; the Then Kin Pang and Nang Han festivals of the Thai ethnic group; the traditional New Year and Forest Worship ceremony of the Ha Nhi people; the Corn Festival of the Cong people; and the Bun Voc Nam (water splashing) and Su Khon Khoai (buffalo spirit worship) festivals of the Lu ethnic group…

Sin Suoi Ho is a model national community tourism village and has also been recognized as an ASEAN community tourism destination. According to Vang A Chinh, the head of Sin Suoi Ho village, “Tourists are delighted by the scenery, climate, and clean environment, and experience the rich local material and spiritual cultural values. From the traditional market atmosphere and enjoying local cuisine to participating in cultural and artistic activities… From the beginning of 2026 to the present, the village has welcomed over 32,000 tourists, providing the villagers with stable income and ensuring that agricultural products are sold locally.”

In Khong Lao commune, considered the cradle of the White Thai ethnic culture in Lai Chau, the Then Kin Pang Festival alone attracted over 15,000 tourists. Most visitors came to experience the unique local culture and lifestyle, participating in activities such as water splashing and traditional games; enjoying feasts with 70 dishes; and discovering the beauty of the traditional culture of the Thai people.

Mr. Nguyen Van Long, a tourist from Tu Ky commune, Hai Phong city, shared: “This is my first time in Lai Chau, and it coincided with a festival of the Thai ethnic group. I found everything very new and unique, from the stream fishing competition and the reenactment of daily life activities related to rivers and streams to enjoying dishes like young cicadas, stone worms, and grilled stream moss… everything was very strange and interesting, something I had never experienced before.”

According to Khong Van Thien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Khong Lao Commune, thanks to the support of the State, the Then Kin Pang Festival has been elevated to a provincial-level festival, contributing to attracting a large number of tourists to the locality. This not only promotes the image and cultural space but also creates momentum for socio-economic development. Not only during the festival, but also on ordinary days, many tourists come to enjoy the local cuisine, folk songs, folk dances, and learn about the beauty of the local culture.

Not only in community-based tourism villages or traditional festivals, but also in large, well-invested tourist areas, local cultural elements are gradually being exploited to create unique tourism products, such as the Dragon Cloud Glass Bridge Tourist Area and the O Quy Ho Sky Gate Eco-tourism Area.

According to Miranda-Nicole, a Dutch tourist, the O Quy Ho Heaven's Gate eco-tourism area, in addition to its beautiful scenery and modern tourism products, is particularly impressive with its stalls showcasing local cultural products and agricultural produce. However, she noted that there are still not many activities offering authentic local cultural experiences, failing to fully meet the exploration needs of tourists.

To achieve the "dual goal" of both preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural identity of ethnic groups and boosting tourism development, Lai Chau province issued Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU on preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural identity of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development during the 2021-2025 period; while prioritizing resources and integrating programs and projects to achieve the set goals.

According to Tran Manh Hung, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lai Chau province, in the period 2021-2025, the province has developed five villages with advantages in natural landscapes and unique cultural identities into typical community tourism products of the Thai, H'Mong, Dao, Giay, and Lu ethnic groups. Among these, three products have achieved OCOP 3-star rating; one village has been recognized as a national typical community tourism destination, and has also been recognized as an ASEAN community tourism destination.

As a result, the number of tourists visiting Lai Chau has increased continuously over the years. During the period 2021-2025, Lai Chau welcomed over 5 million visitors, with an average growth rate of over 33% per year; total revenue reached over 3,800 billion VND; and from the beginning of May 2026 to the present, Lai Chau has welcomed over 157,000 tourists, an increase of 8.5% compared to the same period, with estimated revenue of over 131 billion VND…

However, some difficulties remain, such as uneven levels of education; the role of the people as cultural actors in organizing, operating, and providing tourism services has not been fully utilized; the tourism skills of the community, especially ethnic minorities and artisans, are still limited; and some outdated customs still persist.

In the coming period, Lai Chau will continue to promote awareness among all levels, sectors, and people, build mechanisms and policies, focus resources on conservation, train human resources in culture and tourism, support artisans and practitioners of heritage... and continue to develop distinctive tourism products associated with local cultural identity.

TRAN TUAN-THAI THINH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khai-thac-gia-tri-van-hoa-gan-voi-du-lich-post963915.html