Then Pa - "Green village" at the foot of Lung Cu flagpole

From the poor village by Dragon Eye Lake

Just a few years ago, Then Pa was still a poor village. People's lives were tied to corn fields and cows all year round, young people left the village to work for hire, and children wore worn-out clothes. While right next door, Lo Lo Chai village has become a famous tourist destination, Then Pa still quietly nestled on the mountainside, not known to many people.

Then Pa tourist village at the foot of Lunhx Cu flagpole.

Then Pa tourist village at the foot of Lung Cu flagpole.

The turning point came in 2021, when Mr. Vu Gia Dai - a young businessman from the lowlands - stood on top of the flagpole for the first time, looking down and seeing Then Pa like a "forgotten ancient painting". He said: "I see that this place has great potential, but people only think about how to make enough to eat. I want to work with them to build a different tourism model, where the whole community participates and benefits together".

Mr. Dai persistently persuaded each household to participate in tourism. Cow sheds were dismantled, rammed earth houses were renovated to welcome guests, keeping the traditional architecture but adding minimal amenities. Guests must respect Mong customs: Men and women sleep separately, eat together, work together, and experience the same as the locals.

Mr. Vang Mi Nhu, one of the pioneers, recalled: “At first, I was very worried, how would I make a living if I left my cows? Mr. Dai told me to try one crop, if it didn’t work out, I would just raise cows. Unexpectedly, more and more customers came, and the income was several times higher than selling cows. Now I also raise horses for customers to ride around the village.”

Then Pa center area with unique stone star highlight.

After only two years, Then Pa had 32 rooms with a capacity of less than 100 guests. Twelve households participated, each with a product: one household made corn cakes, one household processed buffalo jerky, one household raised horses to serve guests, one household grew strawberries. The alleys were clean, flower gardens replaced corn fields, the village space seemed to be wearing a new coat, bright and full of life.

Mong people confident in tourism

Not only has the landscape changed, but what is more valuable is the change in perception. The Mong girls, who used to bundle grass and carry corn baskets, now wear colorful flared skirts and confidently guide tourists in weaving linen, wax painting, and indigo dyeing.

Vang Thi Say emotionally shared: “Before, my family was poor, worrying about food all year round. Now my mother weaves, and my sisters and I serve customers. Our income has increased many times, we have the conditions to buy clothes, utensils and learn Vietnamese and English to communicate with tourists.”

The Mong girls here meticulously paint beeswax paintings on linen, a traditional craft, to sell to tourists.

For Ho Thi Mai, tourism is also a way to preserve traditional crafts. In her spare time, she guides tourists in beeswax painting and indigo dyeing - crafts that have been passed down through generations. May proudly said: “Before, I only followed my mother’s example, but now I understand the cultural value of this craft. I hope that visitors coming here will love and respect the traditional beauty of the Mong people.”

Not only women, but also men in the village have changed. Mr. Vang Sinh Lung has now become a professional “horse driver”, taking visitors around the village. He excitedly said: “In the past, I only knew how to grow corn, now my income has doubled, and my children are fully educated. More importantly, I am proud that my village is known by visitors from everywhere.”

Mr. Vu Gia Dai, the initiator of the community tourism model, commented: “When people serve guests themselves, they feel their village is respected. Tourism not only brings income but also arouses pride, helping ethnic minority children here to stay connected to their homeland.”

Visitors experience beeswax painting with the hostess Mong.

Visitors experience beeswax painting with the host Mong girl.

Now, Then Pa is not only a check-in point at the foot of the flagpole, but also a place where visitors can immerse themselves in the life of the Mong people: Enjoying corn wine made from leaves, listening to the melodious sounds of the panpipe, joining in the rhythm of traditional dances and feeling the rustic rhythm of life in the far North.

Towards a model of green tourism in the Arctic region

Since the beginning of 2025, Lung Cu commune has welcomed over 200,000 tourists, of which Then Pa is a prominent destination. Many households participating in homestay have stable incomes, become well-off, and the poverty rate has decreased significantly.

Help tourists wear traditional Mong costumes.

Mr. Duong Ngoc Duc, Secretary of Lung Cu Commune Party Committee, affirmed: “In the coming term, we will identify tourism as a key economic sector, with agriculture as the core foundation. Then Pa and the community cultural villages will become the core, contributing to making Lung Cu a tourist center of Dong Van Stone Plateau by 2030. Tourism development must go hand in hand with preserving cultural identity and protecting the environment to create sustainability.”

According to the plan, Lung Cu commune will focus on completing infrastructure, improving service quality and putting into operation connecting points such as the cluster of spiritual cultural works, Ha Sung ancient house and the sacred northernmost point. When these works are synchronized, Then Pa will not only change itself, but also become an important link in the journey of discovering the whole region. The political report of the first Executive Committee of Lung Cu commune Party Committee, term 2025-2030, set a goal of welcoming 1 million tourists by 2030, creating sustainable jobs for people, increasing income, reducing the poverty rate by an average of 5-6% per year... These are numbers that demonstrate the long-term vision and strong determination of the locality.

Hmong girls share experiences with tourists at Then Pa tourist village.

Mong girls experience with tourists at Then Pa tourist village.

Ms. Nguyen Bao Ngoc, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, shared after experiencing beeswax painting and linen weaving: “Majestic scenery, fresh air, and most of all, being immersed in the unique culture of the Mong people. I will come back and introduce to my friends, because in addition to the beautiful scenery, I also feel like I am contributing to the development of the people here.”

From being a poor village by Dragon Eye Lake, Then Pa has now risen to become a bright spot for green tourism. This journey not only brings prosperity to the people, but also spreads the message of change through sustainable tourism - a story that every tourist contributes to writing by accompanying and appreciating the local culture.

With the new orientation, Then Pa is not only the pride of the Mong people in the northernmost part of the Fatherland, but also a testament to the aspiration to rise up and affirm the position of a land rich in identity, rich in potential and rich in hospitality./.

Article and photos: Duc Quy

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/du-lich/202509/then-pa-ngoi-lang-xanh-duoi-chan-cot-co-lung-cu-fba7cc3/