The Lolo people are learning how to develop community-based tourism in Cao Bang.

Located about 120km from Cao Bang city and over 10km from the center of Bao Lac district, Khuoi Khon village is about to enter the rice harvest season. Simple stilt houses nestled among terraced rice fields that are gradually turning yellow and lush green cornfields, making Khuoi Khon village a vibrant, multicolored painting.

The rice harvest season is a major draw for tourists to Khuoi Khon village.

After passing through the gate of Khuoi Khon Community Cultural Village and traveling about 5km along a narrow road, we arrived at Khuoi Khon village, home to 101 households with 489 inhabitants, comprising three ethnic groups: Lo Lo, Tay, and Nung, living together.

Entrance to Khuoi Khon village.

Like many areas of Cao Bang province, traditional stilt houses with yin-yang tiled roofs create a unique character for the region and are an attractive feature for tourists.

The Lolo people traditionally live in high mountainous areas, so their villages are surrounded and protected by forests on all sides.

This place still preserves many beautiful traditional cultural features of the local ethnic minority communities.

The yin-yang tiled roofs contribute to the beauty of Khuoi Khon hamlet.

The traditional stilt house of the Lo Lo people, made primarily of wood, consists of five bays, four roofs, a door located in the center of the second floor, and a staircase with seven or nine steps leading up and down, depending on the height of the house.

Traditional house architecture of the Lo Lo people

The Lolo people's houses are typically two stories high. The first floor houses agricultural tools and has a secondary fireplace for cooking food for livestock.

There is an auxiliary fireplace on the first floor.

The second floor is the common living area for the whole family. The main space of the house serves as both the ancestral altar and the reception area. The Lolo people highly value the hearth, which creates a warm atmosphere for the entire house. The hearth is placed right next to the entrance.

According to Chi Thi Mon, a villager, the Lo Lo people never let their hearths go out; the embers are always kept under a layer of ash to maintain warmth.

Ms. Chi Thi Mon's family receives guests by the fireplace on the second floor.

Over the years, with support from the project "Preserving the traditional culture of the Lo Lo ethnic group associated with the development of community tourism in Khuoi Khon hamlet, Kim Cuc commune, Bao Lac district, Cao Bang province," five traditional houses in Khuoi Khon hamlet have been renovated, cleaned, and had new toilets built to serve tourists. When tourist groups arrive, the households will take them on tours of the hamlet, cook meals for them, etc.

The stilt houses have been renovated to accommodate guests.

Based on the project, the community cultural center, a five-room wooden stilt house with an area of ​​120 square meters, was also completed in March 2021. This cultural facility serves both the community's activities and as a venue for the performing arts group to entertain tourist groups.

Community cultural center in Khuoi Khon village.

Inside the cultural center, there are displays of two bronze drums, traditional Lolo ethnic costumes, and paintings depicting the people and their way of life.

Traditional costumes are displayed inside the community cultural center.

Life is still difficult, but relying on the beautiful natural scenery and relatively well-preserved local cultural values, the Lo Lo people are beginning to learn about community tourism to improve their lives. Some households have participated in tourism training courses and visited and learned from successful community tourism models.

Public water tank in Khuoi Khon village.

The roads in the village are gradually being paved with concrete, and the transportation infrastructure in Khuoi Khon village, along with some supporting projects, is continuing to receive investment.

Concrete roads are currently under construction in the village.

Facilities such as parking lots are taking shape to serve tourist groups.

A bulldozer is digging up earth for the construction project.

Despite its potential, developing Khuoi Khon into an attractive community-based tourism destination requires significant investment in both financial and human resources. Currently, income from community-based tourism is not consistent. Locals are not yet able to organize their own tourism activities, relying instead on travel companies for customer acquisition. Therefore, households are hesitant to invest in community-based tourism development.

In the future, Khuoi Khon needs to develop diverse tourism products, build a specific tourism program map for visitors to experience; arrange services such as visitor reception areas, souvenir shops, local specialties, accommodation facilities, and preserve the landscape and living environment… to meet the needs of domestic and international tourists.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nguoi-lo-lo-cao-bang-hoc-cach-lam-du-lich-cong-dong-post826606.html