Con Cuong exploits tourism associated with protecting and developing sustainable forests

Attractive destination

District areaCon Cuongis the center of Pu Mat National Park with a rich flora and fauna system, the Thai and Dan Lai ethnic communities still preserve their identities. These two important factors have helped the locality have the conditions to exploit its potential, develop ecotourism and community tourism. In fact, over the years, Con Cuong has built a tourism brand and become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists, even attracting many foreign tourists.

Primary forest in Pu Mat National Park (Con Cuong). Photo courtesy

When it comes to ecotourism in Con Cuong, visitors from near and far all know about Khe Kem waterfall, Nuoc Moc stream, Giang river, Pha Lai dam and the core area of ​​the National Park.Pu MatEach destination has its own unique features and exudes majestic and poetic beauty such as a clear blue river, a waterfall pouring down from a height of tens of meters, a poetic dam or a 1,000-year-old sa mu dau tree...

Recently, there has been a beautiful bamboo forest, which is considered to be no less than the set of the movie “House of Flying Daggers” in Chau Khe commune, which has also attracted many tourists to come and enjoy. In other words, coming to Con Cuong mountains and forests means coming to pristine and beautiful scenery, coming here to have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the vast landscape, leaving behind the worries of life.

The beauty of the Giang River and the Pu Mat forest. Photo: Le Quang Dung

As for community tourism, destinations such as Khe Ran village (Bong Khe), Nua village (Yen Khe) and Xieng village (Mon Son) welcome tens of thousands of visitors each year. The unique customs, habits and cultural life of the Thai people have created an attraction for visitors from the lowlands and big cities. Products such as five-color sticky rice, bamboo-tube rice, grilled meat, cool fish, ot soup and leaf-fermented wine all have the typical flavor of the mountains and forests.

Through the skillful processing of mothers and sisters, these products become "delicious dishes that are long remembered", enjoying them once will make you want to come back again. Then the smooth melodies of Xap, Lam, Nhuon, Xuoi; the resounding sounds of Khen Be and gongs; the bustling Sap dance and the charming Lam Vong dance bring interesting experiences about the land and people in "Tra Lan Region”.

Ancient cajuput tree in the core zone of Pu Mat National Park (Con Cuong). Photo courtesy

In addition, handicrafts made by the ingenuity and sophistication of the highlanders (brocade weaving, rattan and bamboo weaving products) also contribute to the uniqueness of the village, bringing interesting experiences on the journey of experience. In particular, visiting the Brocade Weaving Cooperative in Xieng village (Mon Son), many tourists are really interested in experiencing the process of completing a product. From cotton picking, spinning, dyeing thread to weaving, embroidering patterns, each stage is a surprise, bringing many interesting things to "life around us".

Hope from a project

From April 2021 to present, due to the impact of the pandemicCovid-19 epidemic,Tourism activities in Nghe An in general and Con Cuong district in particular must be temporarily suspended. Currently, the epidemic has been basically controlled, tourism activities are about to be restored and reopened, tourism businesses and households are ready.

Khe Ran community tourism site, Bong Khe commune (Con Cuong) attracts tourists with its cultural features imbued with Thai ethnic identity. Photo: Sach Nguyen

At the same time, Con Cuong is receiving support from the Development Project.Ecotourism, community tourism for ethnic minorities in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF SPG). The project is implemented in Mon Son commune (Con Cuong) and Tam Dinh (Tuong Duong) with the immediate goal of contributing to the conservation of biodiversity in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, associated with the protection and sustainable development of forests with the development of ecotourism.

In Con Cuong district, the project to support the construction of a model for developing eco-tourism and brocade weaving villages associated with sustainable forest protection and development was built in Xieng village, Mon Son commune. Local people attended training courses on tourism services for the community and training on forest protection, protection, conservation and development of natural dye plants.

Thai ethnic women in Xieng village, Mon Son commune (Con Cuong) perform the cotton picking process to make raw material for brocade weaving. Photo: Cong Kien

After rolling, the cotton is rolled into small balls and then used to pull them into long fibers. Photo: Cong Kien

The training course helped trainees and local authorities understand and grasp more about business operations and serving tourists when they come to participate in community activities in villages and hamlets. The experts shared experiences in developing community tourism, the process of organizing reception and serving tourists.

Ms. Ha Thi Hang, a resident of Xieng village, said: “By participating in the training courses organized by the Project, I have really learned many useful issues surrounding the community tourism model. When tourism activities are restored, Xieng village will certainly welcome and serve tourists better.”

To make the fabric colorful, before weaving, people go into the forest to find some plants, boil them until the water has color, then dip the thread into the water for about 30 minutes, then dry it. Each type of plant has a color, to have many colors, people often use many different types of plants or mix them to mix colors according to folk experience. Photo: Cong Kien

The yarn is soaked in color and dried, ensuring its firmness, toughness, durability and strength, and will be strung on the loom to weave the fabric according to the weaver's wishes. The weaving process also requires skillful hands, rhythmic feet and delicate eyes to create products with smooth lines, harmonious colors and sophisticated patterns. Photo: Cong Kien

At the same time, support funding to build toilets for families as a reference.homestay, upgrading the exhibition house to introduce and sell brocade products of Xieng brocade village. In particular, the Project has supported the construction of a model of conservation and development of natural dye plants in the forest, and mulberry planting to raise silkworms for the Brocade Weaving Cooperative in Xieng village.

In particular, the model of growing mulberry and raising silkworms has 10 households participating with an area of ​​300m2 each; the model of protecting natural forests, preserving and developing and planting additional trees for brocade weaving with a support fund of 50 million VND (11 households participating/area of ​​24 ha). Currently, the basic model is ready to serve tourists when tourism activities are restored and reopened.

Tourists experience the stages of brocade weaving in Xieng village (Mon Son - Con Cuong). Photo: Cong Kien

“In recent years, Con Cuong district has exploited its strengths to develop tourism. Hopefully, with the support of the Ecotourism and Community Tourism Development Project for Ethnic Minorities in the Buffer Zone of Pu Mat National Park, the people here will continue to promote their achievements, gradually increase their income and protect and develop sustainable forests.”

Mr. Nguyen Manh Loi - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Tourism