From preserving Muong culture to sustainable livelihoods

When people become the "subject" of tourism

Kha Cuu is a commune with over 94% of the population being ethnic minorities, mainly Muong people. This place still preserves quite completely unique cultural values such as Mo Muong, Muong gongs, traditional stilt houses, folk festivals and rich culinary treasures. In recent years, the exploitation of cultural values associated with the development of community tourism has brought about clear changes to the locality. When coming to Kha Cuu, visitors can directly participate in the daily life activities of the Muong people such as learning to weave brocade, pound rice, blow sticky rice, enjoy specialties prepared by the locals, immerse themselves in gong dances, try being a "Muong person for a day". That interaction creates a unique attraction, helping visitors understand more deeply about the local culture.

Tourists participate in the stilt walking game during the New Rice Festival of the Muong people in Kha Cuu commune.

Mr. Dinh Van Khanh - owner of an ancient stilt house in Chuoi area, is one of the pioneering households in community tourism in the locality. Previously, his family mainly lived on agriculture . When he started doing tourism, he was almost "empty-handed" in terms of experience in welcoming guests, arranging space, and organizing experiential activities. Thanks to capital support, skills training and participation in models implemented by the locality, Mr. Khanh's stilt house now regularly welcomes groups of guests to visit and experience. "Before, life was very poor. Since doing community tourism, the family has had more income and life has improved. The happiest thing is when welcoming guests, seeing them enjoy our culture, everyone is excited" - Mr. Khanh shared.

Not only does it help increase income for each household, community tourism also creates more outlets for local products such as brocade, agricultural products, and traditional cuisine. Many women and the elderly also have additional jobs from cooking, performing arts, and serving tourists who come to visit and learn about the unique architecture of the ancient stilt houses.

New economic driving force for Muong region

In recent years, community tourism in Phu Tho has effectively exploited traditional cultural values, especially culinary culture, craft villages, folk festivals and experiential activities. For Kha Cuu commune, community tourism is truly becoming an important development direction in the local socio-economic strategy.

Ms. Le Thi Huong Giang - Head of the Department of Culture and Society of Kha Cuu commune said: The commune is maintaining the activities of 47 cultural clubs of Muong ethnic groups and other ethnic groups. Many sets of musical instruments, costumes, and traditional living tools have been restored. Two stilt houses in the commune center and many ancient stilt houses in the community have become places for cultural activities and serving visitors.

Community tourism is gradually becoming an important development orientation in the local socio-economic strategy. The Resolution of the Kha Cuu Commune Party Congress for the 2026-2030 term has identified tourism development associated with preserving national identity as a breakthrough.

Mr. Bui Ngoc Ha - Vice Chairman of Kha Cuu Commune People's Committee said: "The locality determines that cultural preservation must be associated with people's livelihoods. We hope to continue to receive attention and support in terms of resources to maintain cultural clubs, restore heritage and expand the scale of typical tourist destinations in the ethnic minority region in Kha Cuu."

Currently, the project to build a typical tourist destination has just completed phase 1. If there is synchronous investment in infrastructure, services and promotion, Kha Cuu has the potential to become an attractive community cultural tourism destination of Phu Tho.

From values that seemed to belong only to the past such as Mo Muong, Muong gongs, stilt houses, bamboo rice, can wine..., now tourism products with strong identities are being formed. Community tourism not only helps Muong people preserve their cultural roots but also opens up a path for sustainable economic development, so that traditional identities continue to "live" in the new rhythm of life in the highlands of Phu Tho.

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