Mơ Hra-Đáp: An attractive community tourism destination.

(GLO) - Amidst the vast sugarcane fields along the Eastern Truong Son mountain range, about 5 km from National Highway 19, the village of Mo Hra-Dap (To Tung commune, Gia Lai province) emerges as a tranquil note in the heart of the mountains. The slow pace of life of the Bahnar people harmonizes with the mountains and forests, creating a unique charm for this attractive community tourism destination.

The village of Mơ Hra-Đáp still preserves many distinctive cultural values ​​of the Bahnar people in the Eastern Trường Sơn region. The villagers still maintain the communal house – a space for community activities, where many festivals and traditional religious rituals are held, along with the art of gong and drum music; many people still practice handicrafts such as weaving and brocade making…

Community-based tourism is based on distinctive cultural values.

In 2019, the "Heritage Connects" project, funded by the British Council, brought about a turning point for the Mơ Hra-Đáp village. With a total investment of over 1.3 billion VND, the villagers were guided on how to develop tourism based on their own cultural values.

They established service groups focusing on cuisine , weaving, brocade making, performing arts, and hospitality. These initial "experimental tours" not only helped locals learn how to provide service but also allowed them to receive feedback from businesses to improve their community-based tourism products.

The communal house of Mơ Hra-Đáp village houses many ethnographic artifacts. Photo: Quốc Nguyễn

By 2024, the village received a further investment of 14.5 billion VND to become Gia Lai 's first OCOP (One Commune One Product) product for community-based tourism. Many new facilities were built, such as communal houses, community living spaces, and the restoration of traditional festivals. Step by step, Mo Hra-Dap is being awakened, becoming a "muse" amidst the eastern Truong Son mountain range's tourism route.

Ms. Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, a civil servant at the Office of the People's Council and People's Committee of To Tung commune, who has been involved with the village's community-based tourism projects from the beginning, said: In November 2024, nearly 40 villagers went to learn about the community-based tourism model in Vi Ro Ngheo village (Quang Ngai province).

“After the course, the village's service groups are operating quite systematically. In addition to the gong ensemble, cuisine, weaving, and textile production, the village also has elders who are knowledgeable about the culture and know how to tell stories to help tourists understand more about the life of the Bahnar people,” Ms. Ngoc shared.

Elder Hmưnh (far right) always shares profound stories about Bahnar beliefs and customs with visitors. Photo: Minh Châu

Currently, Mơ Hra-Đáp only has one household operating a homestay, and they are encouraging other families to join in order to meet the accommodation needs of visitors from afar.

The village's communal house is likened to a "miniature ethnographic museum," displaying hundreds of artifacts, from agricultural tools and traditional musical instruments to gongs and drums, and traditional handicrafts... All of them tell the story of culture through generations.

The village currently has five gong ensembles, including three adult ensembles, one women's ensemble, and one children's ensemble, always ready to perform when guests arrive. The formation of these gong ensembles is thanks to the efforts of the distinguished artisan Hmưnh.

Having lived through 75 farming seasons, Mr. Hmưnh is considered the "soul" of the village, the storyteller who shares witty and insightful tales about Bahnar beliefs and customs with visitors.

Tourists take photos with Bahnar artisans in the village. Photo: Quoc Nguyen.

Having participated from the early days of the village's operation of the community-based tourism model, village elder Hmưnh concluded: "We teach children and women to play gongs and practice rituals such as the water offering ceremony, the ceremony for the new communal house, and the closing of the rice granary... so that the culture does not disappear. From that heritage, we can develop tourism and make visitors want to come to the village."

The younger generation in the village continues that spirit, becoming the core of tourism development: guiding tourists through experiences, performing cultural shows, and introducing traditional cuisine.

Experience the authentic flavors of the highlands.

The Mơ Hra-Đáp community-based tourism village impressed photographers. Photo: Minh Châu

In Mơ Hra-Đáp, visitors are immersed in a mystical land with a vibrant cultural atmosphere – blending in with the rhythmic sounds of the xoang dance, the resounding gongs and drums in the night, weaving baskets and brocade, or enjoying a traditional Bahnar meal right in the communal house with grilled stream fish, steamed snails, and wild vegetables… simply prepared but with the rich flavors of the mountains and forests.

The village's landscape is rustic and pristine, surrounded by sugarcane fields, clear streams, mountains, and further afield, forests, creating a unique charm for tourists seeking authentic experiences.

Famous photojournalist and travel blogger Ngo Tran Hai An (far right) experiences life at Mo Hra-Dap Community-Based Tourism Village. Photo: Quoc Nguyen.

Recently, renowned photojournalist and travel blogger Ngo Tran Hai An (from Lam Dong province) and photographer Nguyen Linh Vinh Quoc (from Gia Lai province) visited and documented life in this area.

Artist Vinh Quoc shared: “What impressed me most was the village's neatness and the unity and friendliness of its people. The elderly are truly the 'wise elders' of the village, possessing deep knowledge of culture and being very talented, playing many traditional musical instruments such as the goong, ting ning, and kní…”

Meanwhile, the younger generation is dynamic and flexible in providing services. Traditional crafts such as brocade weaving and basketry are preserved almost in their original form, exquisite and highly aesthetic. To experience the authentic values ​​of Bahnar culture, lifestyle, and character, this is a very promising destination.”

Recreating daily life activities to serve visitors to the village. Photo: Quoc Nguyen

The UK also believes that attracting inspiring travel enthusiasts like Ngo Tran Hai An will help promote the image of this Bahnar village nestled in the Truong Son-Central Highlands to the nationwide travel community.

"Mơ Hra-Đáp should step up its promotion, especially showcasing beautiful images of its natural landscapes and unique cultural values ​​on social media platforms. This will certainly create a stronger attraction for tourists," he said.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/mo-hra-dap-diem-du-lich-cong-dong-hap-dan-post570845.html