Developing a community-based tourism village in Hon Dung hamlet.

The Hon Dung community tourism village (Son Hiep commune, Khanh Son district) has been recognized by the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee as a location with potential for community tourism development in the province. To promote community tourism development here, Khanh Son district is focusing on implementing the project "Building a model of Hon Dung community tourism village as a tourist destination for ethnic minority and mountainous areas in Khanh Son district".

Many potentials

Hon Dung village is one of the four villages with a large ethnic minority population in Son Hiep commune, possessing potential for community tourism development. Specifically, the traditional longhouse in Hon Dung village is the only traditional longhouse in Khanh Son district, and it is regularly used by the district and commune for organizing traditional cultural activities of the Raglai people. It also preserves a set of stone xylophones – a unique musical instrument dating back thousands of years. Hon Dung village also preserves the rich traditional culture of the Raglai people with rituals and customs such as: the Funeral Ceremony, the New Rice Harvest Ceremony, life cycle rituals, thanksgiving ceremonies…; many forms of folk art are preserved and passed down with epic melodies, folk songs, and folk dances, most notably the Alou, Siri, Sa Nghôi, and Ru Tu songs; there are famous ethnic musical instruments that have been immortalized in poetry, such as the chapi lute; and there is a space for cultural activities involving gongs and ma la drums. Traditional crafts such as making chapi instruments, crossbows, weaving baskets, and brewing rice wine can also be found here.

The cultural traditions of the Raglai people in Hon Dung village are preserved and promoted.

Furthermore, Hon Dung village has convenient transportation access, is very close to famous scenic spots and historical relics of Khanh Son; enjoys a cool climate year-round; and has many specialty fruit trees such as durian, rambutan, and mangosteen. The potential and advantages for developing community tourism in Hon Dung village were further affirmed when, in February of this year, the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision recognizing Hon Dung village as a potential location for community tourism development in the province.

Developing exemplary community tourism villages.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hai, Chairman of the Son Hiep Commune People's Committee, said: "It is expected that in May 2025, the District People's Committee will hold a ceremony to announce Hon Dung village as a potential location for community tourism development, aiming to create a positive effect and attract tourists to visit and experience the Hon Dung Community Tourism Village. In addition, we will strengthen communication, promotion, and investment attraction for the Hon Dung Community Tourism Village."

Following the provincial People's Committee's recognition decision, the Khanh Son District People's Committee proposed to the provincial People's Committee the content and level of financial support for beneficiaries at the potential community tourism development site of Hon Dung Village, in accordance with Resolution No. 06/2022 of the Provincial People's Council on regulations regarding some contents and levels of support for community tourism development in the province. Accordingly, the locality proposed that the province approve funding for items such as: installing signage and directional signs; developing tourism products; providing initial necessary equipment for households operating accommodation businesses; organizing training courses to enhance knowledge and skills in serving tourists for individuals, households, and people in the community participating in providing tourism services; and promoting community tourism products of the village.

Tourists visit and purchase traditional handicrafts at Hon Dung Community Tourism Village.

In the coming period, relevant departments and the People's Committee of Son Hiep commune will focus on implementing the project "Building a model community tourism village in Hon Dung hamlet as a tourist destination in the mountainous and ethnic minority areas of Khanh Son district," which was approved by the District People's Committee at the end of 2024. The aim is to develop Hon Dung hamlet into a typical community tourism village, outstanding with the distinctive culture of the Raglai people, attracting tourists and creating momentum for local development; promoting community participation, creating jobs, improving livelihoods for people, contributing to poverty reduction, and socio-economic development of the locality.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hai, the locality strives to make Hon Dung village one of the outstanding tourist destinations in Khanh Son district by the end of this year. It will have a comprehensive tourism infrastructure to welcome visitors, with distinctive tourism products associated with the culture of the Raglai people; attracting at least 5,000 visitors per year, with an average stay of 1-1.5 days per visitor, and an average spending of 1-1.5 million VND per visitor; and at least 50% of households in Hon Dung village will participate directly or indirectly in community tourism activities. Along with this, the village aims to preserve and promote the cultural values of the Raglai people in tourism activities such as: traditional longhouses, musical instruments, costumes, cuisine , and traditional rituals; and to create a green, clean, and beautiful environment within the village.

By 2030, Hon Dung village aims to become one of the province's outstanding and professional community tourism destinations, with synchronized infrastructure to meet the requirements for receiving tourists; attractive and distinctive tourism products associated with Raglai culture; attracting 10,000 visitors per year; an average stay of 2-3 days per visitor; an average spending of 3-4 million VND per visitor; and 80% of households in Hon Dung village participating directly or indirectly in community tourism activities…

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