Xom Mo, Thung Nai, Phu Tho: primitive Muong stilt house

Located in the middle of a valley, surrounded by hills and terraced fields sloping down the hillside, Mo hamlet (Thung Nai commune, Phu Tho province) appears like a rustic picture of mountains and forests. The hamlet has 195 houses, most of which are wooden stilt houses with thatched roofs; the peaceful scene makes many visitors feel relaxed and at ease.

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Explore Mo Hamlet

What attracts tourists is not only the valley landscape or the terraced fields, but also the soul of Muong culture in the stilt houses and the customs and practices of the local community. Since the 1980s, Mo hamlet has welcomed the first groups of visitors; at first, it was just out of curiosity, but the simplicity and the space of the stilt houses kept them staying longer, and then coming back.

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The stilt houses in Xom Mo are made of wood and thatched roofs, creating a coherent and peaceful whole. According to the locals, it is the pristine beauty and slow pace of life that has become a real “destination” and not just a backdrop for tourist activities.

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“Living as it is” – a story about doing tourism

Ms. Bui Thi Tuyet, a resident of Mo hamlet, recalls: the first visitors came to the “small hamlet by Hoa Binh lake” out of curiosity, then were attracted by the simplicity of the people and the beauty of the mountains and forests. “Up to now, our small hamlet welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year, a remarkable number for a community tourism destination,” she said.

Ms. Bui Thi Oanh, a resident of Mo hamlet, shared about the community's way of doing tourism: "Our special point is that we do tourism not by 'selling what we have', but by 'living as we are'. We do not change the village to please tourists, but it is the pristine, genuine nature that makes everyone fascinated."

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Vibrant culture in stilt houses

Many Muong cultural values are still maintained and passed down through generations, from costumes to songs and dances. People participate in training courses on welcoming guests, preserving the environment and preserving traditional crafts to develop cultural and tourism products. Daily life, familiar customs and rustic stilt houses are the foundation for the tourist experience.

Cuisine of Mo Hamlet

Cuisine is a memorable highlight with dishes filled with the flavors of the mountains and forests: five-color sticky rice, pomelo leaf rolls, grilled stream fish, bamboo rice, rice wine… These rustic dishes reflect the ingenuity of Muong women and the source of indigenous culture.

Five-color sticky rice
Pomelo leaf rolls
Grilled stream fish
Bamboo rice
Wine

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Practical information

Location: Mo Hamlet, Thung Nai Commune, Phu Tho Province; small hamlet next to Hoa Binh Lake.
Landscape: Valley surrounded by hills, terraced fields spread along the hillsides.
Residential space: 195 houses, mostly wooden stilt houses, thatched roofs.
History of welcoming guests: Started in the 1980s.
Number of visitors: Tens of thousands per year (according to locals).
Recognition: Recognized as a 4-star OCOP community tourism destination at the provincial level this year.

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Suggested experiences

Stroll among the thatched roof wooden stilt houses and terraced fields, feel the slow, rustic pace of life.
Learn about the Muong people's costumes, songs, and dances – values that have been passed down through generations.
Accompanying the community in preserving the environment and indigenous culture - a spirit that people focus on through training courses.

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Xom Mo does not follow the trend of “pretending” for tourism; the community here chooses to keep what belongs to them. It is this authenticity that has created the lasting attraction for this community tourism destination in the middle of the mountains and forests.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/xom-mo-thung-nai-phu-tho-nha-san-muong-nguyen-so-10313347.html