Phu Tho: "Longevity Valley" preserves ancient Muong culture

With the ancient Muong cultural identity and sustainable community tourism direction, Van Son is a destination that retains tourists, fully spreading the soul of Muong land in the vast mountains of the North and Phu Tho province.

Amidst the drifting clouds and the majestic mountain ranges of the Northwest mountains, Van Son commune, also known as the "roof of Muong land" of Phu Tho province, appears as a harmony of nature and people.

With pristine scenery, cool climate and intact cultural values ​​of the ancient Muong region, Van Son commune is becoming a new tourist highlight of Phu Tho province.

Land of clouds and ancient Muong memories

The only road leading to Van Son commune curves softly like a silk strip halfway up the mountain, surrounded by magical "cloud valleys" at an altitude of nearly 1,000m.

The natural picture appears completely with stilt houses nestled on the mountainside, hillsides of ancient tangerine trees golden in the sun, the sound of wild birds echoing down from the primeval forests, and mist lingering over all the villages.

Today, Van Son commune was formed on the basis of merging the three old communes of Quyet Chien, Van Son and Ngo Luong. This is where the Muong people have lived for many generations, maintaining a peaceful lifestyle, along with a fresh climate. This land is called "the valley of longevity" by the Muong people because there are many old people who live to be a hundred years old and are still clear-minded and healthy.

Muong villages in Van Son commune (Phu Tho). (Photo: Trong Dat/VNA)

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho province, Bui Xuan Truong, shared that when coming to Van Son commune, the ancient Muong character is clearly shown through each stilt house with a turtle-shaped roof, in the black brocade dresses with sophisticated patterns, in the bustling laughter at the early morning market or the jars of rice wine by the firelight of the stilt house...

That ancient Muong quality still exists today perhaps because of the terrain isolation. Van Son commune was formerly known as Lung Van, a high land, quite isolated and difficult to travel.

In a note by culturalist Phan Cam Thuong about the old Lung Van land, now Van Son, there is a passage: "This land is isolated, making its products, customs, and practices almost purely endogenous, with little mixing, preserving a rare originality..."

Mrs. Bui Thi In (Xom hamlet, Van Son commune) said that the ancestral homeland of Muong Bi is a land including Van Son commune today, established after a great flood. Starting from a couple who survived by clinging to an ancient bi tree, then clearing the mountains and forests, establishing villages, domesticating wild animals, cultivating fields and building a highland rice civilization. The name Muong Bi was born from that. That legend is still preserved as a sacred mark of the origin of the Muong people here.

Van Son is most beautiful from after Tet to the fourth lunar month every year. During this time, early mornings are covered with mist, clouds pour down into the valleys and hover over the terraced rice fields. Van Son rice is naturally sticky and fragrant. According to the elders, Van Son rice was once used as an offering to the Muong Lords - so it is also called "Muong Lord's rice."

The peaceful beauty of Van Son commune (Phu Tho). (Photo: Trong Dat/VNA)

Coming to Van Son, visitors can also experience Lung Van market - held every Tuesday and Sunday. In the early morning mist, the market appears lively with baskets of bamboo shoots, wild vegetables, purple garlic, golden ancient tangerines of Nam Son, or brocade fabrics handwoven over many months.

For tourists, this is not only a place to buy and sell but also a space to "touch" the rhythm of life of the Muong people. Ms. Hai Anh (Hanoi) shared: Coming to Lung Van market, she can slow down her life with the gentle people and simple, rustic lifestyle. The market scene is like other rural markets but full of vitality with many local products, helping me understand more deeply about Muong culture.

In Van Son, the pride is the ancient Nam Son tangerine variety, a plant that has long been associated with the Muong people. Thin peel, thick, juicy segments, and a distinctive aroma… have helped this tangerine variety become a “poverty alleviation” tree, bringing high income to many households.

The tangerine hills in the fruit ripening season before Tet have also become a unique agricultural tourism highlight. Visitors can learn about this specialty fruit and stroll among the shimmering golden hills, enjoying the ancient tangerine flavor of Muong Bi land and sky.

With the unique limestone geological background, many cave systems have been formed here, in which Nam Son cave has long been considered the "rough gem" of Van Son commune with a system of shimmering stalactites, a clear emerald green lake 2-7m deep, the sound of dripping water echoing in the quiet space.

Nam Son Cave was ranked as a National Scenic Monument in 2008 and is an attractive destination for eco-tourists, archaeological researchers and those who love exploration.

Not only caves, Van Son commune also owns Thung waterfall, Nui Kien cave and a population of 11 thousand-year-old nghien trees in Bo Tram hamlet, a rare rich ecosystem in the middle of the jungle...

Community tourism, keeping values ​​open for the future

Homestay in Chien hamlet, Van Son commune (Phu Tho). (Photo: Trong Dat/VNA)

Recognizing the natural potential and unique indigenous cultural values, many households in Van Son commune have pioneered the development of community tourism models. In Chien hamlet, Van Son commune, the stilt houses have been renovated by the people to be spacious but still retain their traditional spirit to serve tourists.

Typical homestays in Chien hamlet such as Lung Van homestay of Ms. Dinh Thi Truong's family can welcome 15-20 guests at a time; Hai Than homestay of Ms. Ha Thi Tham and her husband invested more than 300 million VND, bringing in a stable source of income.

Ms. Ha Thi Tham said that what impresses tourists about Van Son is not only the beautiful scenery but also the experiences that homestays bring when tourists get to "live like a local," eat Muong rice, pound rice cakes, go to the fields, go into the forest to pick bamboo shoots...

Ms. Diem Quynh (Hanoi) shared: For her, every time she comes to Van Son is a new feeling. Homestay services where we can live in the real Muong lifestyle are truly great values.

In the 2025-2030 period, the Party Committee of Van Son commune identified development pillars such as infrastructure investment, development of specialty agriculture associated with tourism and training in community tourism skills...

Secretary of the Van Son Commune Party Committee Nguyen Duy Tu said that the commune is building a project to develop sustainable tourism, positioning its specific products as ecology, Muong culture and agriculture; at the same time, expanding the homestay model, organizing night markets and promoting tourism links in the triangle between the Van Son-Mai Chau-Pu Luong regions.

Van Son Commune is "waking up" day by day, showing off its rustic yet attractive native beauty thanks to the wonderful harmony between pristine nature, ancient Muong cultural identity and sustainable community tourism direction.

Van Son deserves to become an outstanding destination, a place to retain tourists and fully spread the soul of Muong land in the vast mountains of the Northern mountainous region and of Phu Tho province./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phu-tho-thung-lung-truong-tho-luu-giu-van-hoa-muong-co-post1077715.vnp