Xóm Sưng develops community tourism.

Báo Hòa Bình•20/05/2023

(HBĐT) - Sung is an ancient highland hamlet in Cao Son commune (Da Bac district), with a natural area of over 780 hectares. Nature has blessed this land with beautiful scenery, undulating hills and mountains, streams flowing around it, and fluffy clouds floating on the mountain peaks. In front of the hamlet are winding terraced rice fields, and behind is the majestic Bieu mountain range, creating a breathtaking natural landscape.

The Sưng hamlet's performing arts group in Cao Sơn commune (Đà Bắc district) performs for tourists .

According to local elders, the village of Sưng has existed for 500 years. The village's name originates from the Sâng tree, a native tree that was once widely cultivated in the area, but due to its difficulty in pronouncing, the villagers gradually changed the name to Sưng village. Currently, Sưng village is home to 75 households of the Dao Tien ethnic group, primarily engaged in agriculture , with the main crops being upland rice, paddy rice, corn, and potatoes. In early 2017, with the support of the AOP organization in Vietnam, which provided guidance and assistance in developing community tourism, several households boldly participated in tourism activities. The project provided loans, advice on house renovations, cooking training, and skills training in welcoming tourists.

With its advantage of pristine natural beauty, the customs and traditions of the Dao ethnic group have been gradually preserved and transformed into distinctive tourism products. Typical examples include the Dao ethnic spring festival, the coming-of-age ceremony, the naming ceremony, and folk dances such as the bell dance, the rowing dance, and the Xoe dance, which are exploited and promoted by local community art troupes. Traditional handicrafts such as brocade printing and embroidery are preserved and developed, creating many valuable products for tourists. Therefore, Sung village has attracted many domestic and international tourists.

Currently, the village has 3 homestay businesses: Thanh Chung homestay, Xuan Lan homestay, and Nhat Quy homestay, along with 50 other businesses providing tourism services. The community homestays here are highly appreciated by tourists for their accommodation, as they retain the original architecture of traditional Dao ethnic houses. The service style and attitude towards tourists, through training and guidance, are becoming increasingly attentive and professional. Homestay businesses have grasped practical requirements, constantly improving equipment and investing in facilities to meet the diverse needs of tourists, such as: serving traditional dishes, performing ethnic folk art, taking tourists on walks around the village, mountain climbing, exploring caves, organizing activities for guests to experience the lifestyle of the Dao ethnic people such as: rice planting, cooking, fishing, visiting tea hills and the ancient Shan Tuyet tea production workshop on Bieu Mountain where the tea is grown, harvested, processed, and packaged right in the village, learning about the Dao people's dyeing and embroidery techniques... The number of tourists visiting Sung village is higher each year than the previous year. In 2017, the village welcomed 600 tourists, including 150 domestic tourists and 450 foreign tourists, generating revenue of 350 million VND. In 2018, the area welcomed 1,700 visitors (200 domestic and 1,500 foreign tourists), generating revenue of 567 million VND. In 2019, it welcomed 1,850 visitors (260 domestic and 1,590 foreign tourists), generating revenue of 817 million VND. From 2020 to 2022, tourism activities were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms. Ly Sao Mai, coordinator of community tourism in Sung hamlet, Da Bac district, shared: "The community tourism model has created more jobs and increased income for the people. This is a sustainable business model that exploits the strengths of the people while preserving and promoting the natural environment and ethnic identity. The model not only positively impacts the development of tourism but also profoundly impacts society, culture, and the environment. However, to maintain the sustainability of the model, close cooperation between local people, travel companies, and all levels of government is needed. The model has initially attracted the attention of leaders at all levels and attracted domestic and international tourists. The performing arts group serving tourists has had the opportunity to perform on large-scale stages and participate in competitions organized by the district and province. This is a great source of encouragement for the people of Sung hamlet, creating momentum for the socio-economic development of the locality."

Hai Linh

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