Developing community tourism in Pu Sam Cap

Pu Sam Cap commune (Sin Ho district) has 4 villages with 293 households and 1,652 inhabitants, of which the Mong ethnic group accounts for 96.4%. With the advantage of being over 1,500m above sea level; a cool climate year-round; and beautiful natural scenery with majestic mountain ranges and many terraced rice fields winding around the hillsides, it is becoming an ideal destination for tourists who love exploring nature, ecotourism , taking photos, and learning about the traditional culture of the ethnic groups in the area.

Nestled in isolation high in the mountains, the people of Pu Sam Cap commune still preserve many unique traditional cultural features of the Hmong and other ethnic groups living together, creating a colorful cultural tapestry. Distinctive customs and traditions, from the New Rice Festival and "Gau Tao" to the traditional New Year, all contain unique spiritual values ​​and identities. Cultural and artistic activities have helped preserve traditional dances, folk songs, and musical instruments naturally, serving as a cultural bridge to tourists. Traditional crafts such as brocade weaving, corn wine making, and blacksmithing have been passed down through generations, providing local products to meet tourist demand and offering opportunities for visitors to experience local culture. Visiting Pu Sam Cap, tourists have the chance to explore and immerse themselves in the local culture, appreciating the beauty of the landscape. Recognizing the potential for tourism development, the People's Committee of Sin Ho district and Pu Sam Cap commune have focused on implementing policies to develop community-based tourism. According to Mr. Chang A De, Chairman of the People's Committee of Pu Sam Cap commune, in recent years, the district has developed a plan to upgrade infrastructure and transportation, and directed relevant departments to support the commune in participating in tourism activities. The locality makes maximum use of the supported resources for development, while promoting the leading role of the people. Households with the need and sufficient conditions will be supported to develop homestay models, provide food and beverage services, and offer tour guiding services.

Women in Ho Si Pan village (Pu Sam Cap commune) maintain the traditional craft of brocade embroidery.

Currently, Pu Sam Cap commune is focusing on training tourism service skills and preserving and promoting traditional cultural identity for its people. Through professional training courses, people are equipped with knowledge about tourism service management, environmental protection, and civilized business conduct. More than 30 households in the commune participate in activities serving tourists. Mr. Mua A Chinh from Ho Si Pan village shared: "In recent years, I have regularly participated in training courses on community tourism development. Since the beginning of this year alone, I have attended two training courses. Thanks to this, I and the villagers know how to organize activities to serve tourists, such as accommodation, food, experiencing local culture, selling souvenirs... meeting the increasingly high demands of tourists." "We will continue to preserve and promote the unique cultural values ​​of the community, focusing on environmental protection to attract tourists." Efforts to develop community tourism in Pu Sam Cap have initially yielded positive results. The number of tourists visiting and experiencing the area has increased year by year. In the first 10 months of 2024, the commune welcomed over 350 tourists, including 95 from outside the province. Although the number of visitors is not yet very high, this is a positive sign for tourism development in the highland commune of Pu Sam Cap. The homestay model, offering food and sightseeing services, not only provides additional income for families but also sustains supporting industries such as farming, livestock raising, and handicrafts. Ms. Giang Thi Pa from Ho Si Pan village shared: "Since participating in community tourism activities, my family has had a stable income from accommodation services and selling brocade products and corn wine – local specialties." Tourists highly appreciate and buy these products as souvenirs, and enjoy experiencing village life. However, developing community tourism in Pu Sam Cap still faces many challenges. The transportation system to tourist destinations is limited; the commune's image is not yet diverse enough in terms of promotion through media, especially digital platforms, leading to a lack of reach for tourists from within and outside the province. Recognizing this, the commune is implementing measures to improve transportation infrastructure; coordinating with tourism businesses and media agencies to develop a strategy for promoting the local image. It is also accelerating digitalization and the application of information technology to attract more tourists and affirm its position on the tourism map of Lai Chau .

Manh Hung

Source: https://baolaichau.vn/v%C4%83n-h%C3%B3a/ph%C3%A1t-tri%E1%BB%83n-du-l%E1%BB%8Bch-c%E1%BB%99ng-%C4%91%E1%BB%93ng-%E1%BB%9F-pu-sam-c%C3%A1p