Community-based tourism in the highlands of Muong Long applies digital transformation and adapts to the technological era.
Currently, tourists visiting community-based tourism destinations in Muong Long commune are guided to locations and services using QR codes. Similarly, in many other localities, community-based tourism destinations are also being promoted through the application of digital technology and social media.
Attach a QR code for directions.
At the end of June 2025, after a trip to community-based tourism destinations in Muong Long commune, Ms. Tran Thuy Lam brought back some quite new information from the villages near the "Gateway to Heaven" in Nghe An province. Ms. Tran Thuy Lam is from Dien Chau commune. This summer, after her children finished their exams, Ms. Lam, along with her family and some friends, took a trip to experience tourism in the western communes of Nghe An province.
This wasn't the first time Ms. Lam had visited tourist destinations in the highlands, including Muong Long, but this trip still brought her many new experiences.
“Previously, when visiting Muong Long, tourists had to ask locals for directions or contact homestay owners, restaurant owners, or service providers in advance to find the right places. But now, upon reaching the Muong Long Sky Gate, right at the check-in point, there are clear promotional signs with directions and QR codes. Simply scanning them with your phone will take you directly to your destination, which is very interesting and convenient,” said Ms. Tran Thuy Lam.
Besides updating the signage for tourists' convenience, the system of destinations and roads in Muong Long has also been renovated and built to be more spacious, clean, and beautiful. The plum orchards and homestays offering accommodation and meals here are becoming increasingly professional.
In particular, the local people are also the owners of the tourism services here, acting as both owners and employees, as well as farmers directly involved in production. Their friendliness and hospitality create a comfortable, natural atmosphere, allowing visitors to easily immerse themselves in village life.
Ms. Lau Y Denh, owner of Y Denh homestay in Muong Long 2 village, Muong Long commune, is one example. In 2021, she and her family renovated her house and registered it as a homestay to serve tourists. Here, in addition to personally providing accommodation for guests, Ms. Denh, her husband, and children also directly grow vegetables, raise chickens and pigs, and prepare meals that reflect the unique culture of the Mong ethnic group. All homestays in Muong Long follow this approach.
From an initial homestay established by the village head of Muong Long 1, Vu Tong Po, the commune of Muong Long now has 6 homestays along with a fairly modern service point, Muong Long Eco. In addition, since the introduction of homestay services, the Muong Long Community Agriculture and Tourism Cooperative has been established, and the Mong Pa Tau brocade embroidery village has been formed in Muong Long 1 village. This is also the first traditional craft village of the Mong ethnic group in Nghe An province.
Moving towards professional tourism.
Ms. Le Thi Van, a member of the Muong Long Community Agriculture and Tourism Cooperative, has been involved in community tourism since its early days. Thanks to the support of various levels of government, agencies, and organizations, she and many other households in the area have gradually developed tourism in a more professional manner.
On April 24, 2025, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Decision No. 1152, allowing the cooperative to use the place name Muong Long to register the collective trademark "Muong Long Community Tourism," and simultaneously confirming the corresponding geographical area on the map.
On July 10, 2025, the Provincial People's Committee issued a Decision recognizing "Muong Long Community Tourism Destination," creating further impetus for people to confidently and securely upgrade their tourism and service industries in the remote Muong Long area.
Mr. Vu Ba Ly, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Muong Long commune, said that the people of Muong Long not only know how to grow vegetables, raise chickens and pigs, and embroider brocade, but also know how to rely on the strengths and unique customs, traditions, scenery, and natural conditions of Muong Long commune to enrich community tourism services and experiences. In addition, they have the support of the Global Environment Fund, which provides both funding and expert training to guide people in developing community tourism based on the local strengths.
Most recently, the Global Environment Fund's Small Projects program has funded the installation of signboards to promote and introduce tourist destinations in Muong Long. These signs are installed in convenient locations so that tourists can quickly and easily access information about destinations, and the information is widely disseminated through information systems thanks to the application of digital technology.
Nghe An has many attractive eco-tourism destinations, especially in mountainous districts such as Muong Long, Na Ngoi, Chau Tien, Tam Quang…The tourism practices in communes like Muong Long and Hung Chan show initial signs of being on the right track and achieving certain effectiveness, contributing to the development of unique tour products and routes for each locality and key tourist areas and destinations, diversifying products and enhancing the image of tourism in Nghe An province.
