The fascinating community tourism in Pù Mát.

(Baonghean) - Located in southwestern Nghe An province, on the eastern slopes of the Truong Son mountain range, Pu Mat National Park stretches across three districts: Anh Son, Con Cuong, and Tuong Duong. Pu Mat possesses a unique charm not only because of its breathtaking, pristine mountain and forest beauty but also its diverse flora and fauna, including many endemic species. Since 2010, with the assistance of UNESCO, many community-based tourism models have been implemented to promote the natural beauty and cultural identity of the area...

Attractive travel packages

In early April, under the bright sunshine, we joined the crowds heading to Nua village, Yen Khe commune, Con Cuong district (a community tourism village). Even at midday, a large number of tourists gathered at the Nuoc Moc stream to bathe in the mysterious water "emerging" from the earth, dispelling the sweltering heat of early summer. Mr. Phan Anh Hao, a tourist from Hanoi, said: "During the holiday, we brought our family here to visit eco-tourism destinations and participate in community tourism in Pu Mat National Park. The scenery here is truly enchanting; we can enjoy a refreshing swim, admire the mountains and forests, and savor the local specialties."

Stilt houses, a distinctive feature of the Thai ethnic group.

Visitors were observed being provided with life jackets and warnings by the village management to swim only in safe areas. The Khe Nuoc Moc tourist spot has developed services such as parking and food stalls offering grilled chicken and sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes. Returning to Nua village, one sees rows of tall, ancient traditional stilt houses of the Thai people nestled among coconut trees. Nua village attracts tourists not only with its beautiful scenery but also with its fresh, cool air and clean, green environment. In recent years, the people of Nua village have joined hands to develop community tourism, linked to building a civilized way of life.

River cruise on the Giang River.

Heading into the forest towards Muong Qua, Mon Son commune, right at the foot of the Pha Lai dam, there were already quite a few tourists, mainly visiting the Giang River. Three floating restaurants have sprung up here, primarily serving drinks and local specialties like grilled catfish… Along with more than a dozen motorboats serving tours of the upstream Giang River – where the Dan Lai ethnic group lives. Lo Van Huong, a boat driver from Xieng village, said that a round trip by boat, carrying about 5-7 people, costs around 1.5 million VND.

Grilled meat served to tourists at Nuoc Moc stream.

Late in the afternoon, visiting Xieng village – a community tourism destination – we attended a meeting of the Xieng Village Management Board discussing plans for accommodation. Mr. Ngan Thanh Mai, the head of Xieng village, said: "Since receiving assistance from UNESCO in developing community tourism, we have been organized to visit and learn from community tourism models in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh. This includes learning how to welcome guests in the village, how to arrange accommodation, and how to market tourism products and services…"

In Xieng village, more than 10 of the largest and most beautiful stilt houses have been built to provide accommodation for tourists, with clearly defined roles. Ms. Ha Thi Thin, the Party Secretary of Xieng village, in addition to her role as "head chef" overseeing the preparation of dishes such as bamboo rice, grilled chicken, and meatballs, is also the leader of the Thai folk singing club. Ms. Thin recounted: "Although the number of tourists staying in Mon Son is not yet large, everyone leaves with a sense of longing. Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Giang River and the Pha Lai dam, when night falls, by the flickering firelight, tourists can immerse themselves in the traditional folk songs and feel the intoxicating effects of rice wine." Ms. Thin proudly added: "Besides the young and middle-aged people participating in the Thai folk singing club to serve community tourism, many elderly people also participate very enthusiastically, such as Ms. Ha Thi Thuong (78 years old) who sings the Khap folk songs quite well, and Mr. Vi Van Chung (80 years old) whose zither playing still moves people's hearts." Visiting Xieng village is like stepping into a fairytale, where you can see fair-skinned, long-haired Thai girls clacking away at looms beside stilt houses. A handicraft weaving cooperative has been established in Xieng village, offering a diverse range of traditional Thai brocade products such as skirts, blankets, scarves, wallets, bags, and jewelry boxes.

At the Yen Thanh - Luc Da community tourism destination, located near the core area of ​​Pu Mat National Park, a tour has been established starting from Thin village, traversing the primeval forest to Khe Kem waterfall in Yen Khe commune (approximately 4 hours). This tour is relatively adventurous as it follows mountain paths with steep cliffs; tourists need a local guide and should bring tents, snacks, and other supplies to overcome the mountain challenges.

The Khe Rạn community tourism destination in Bồng Khê commune (Con Cuông district) is equally attractive. The cultural identity of Khe Rạn remains undimmed. Besides the basic, pristine stilt houses, the locals still use traditional brocade fabrics. In recent years, Khe Rạn has established a Thai folk song and gong club with over 20 members who can compose, perform the Lam Vong dance, and play the gongs… Both of these community tourism destinations have planned stilt houses for tourists to stay overnight.

Concerns with Pù Mát

Community-based tourism in Pu Mat has significant advantages; however, fully exploiting these advantages and potential is a matter worth discussing. With the local population primarily relying on agriculture and livestock farming, the limited living space in the tourist villages poses many challenges in planning housing and auxiliary facilities to ensure environmental hygiene. The Xieng village community-based tourism site also only partially meets the culinary needs of tourists during festivals. Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong, Deputy Director of Pu Mat National Park, added: Each year, approximately 200,000 people visit Pu Mat National Park, but the four community-based tourism sites have only received about 40 groups of visitors since 2011, including about 20 foreign groups, equivalent to over 400 visitors. The reason for the low number of tourists staying at community-based tourism destinations is the lack of infrastructure; most of the stilt houses designated for accommodation lack enclosed sanitary facilities. In reality, well-invested infrastructure can still attract community-based tourists. For example, in Nua village, many families have invested in better food and accommodation, resulting in a higher number of overnight guests. Furthermore, community-based tourism destinations currently lack qualified local management staff, a professional tourism workforce, and diverse tourism products.

According to Mr. Cuong, the potential for community-based tourism in Pu Mat has not been fully exploited. With investment and development, many more attractive tours and routes could be created. Besides visiting villages in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park, tourists could also venture deeper into the primeval forest to see the largest fir tree in Vietnam, the dwarf forest in Pu Long Tong Chinh, and more.

To develop community-based tourism, contributing to the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities, and gradually improving people's lives, it is necessary to further promote investment in tourism infrastructure development and strengthen the encouragement of tourism socialization in the area. Regularly promote the potential and strengths of local tourism through mass media, websites, participation in tourism fairs and exhibitions, and tourism festivals. Educate local organizations and people about the importance of protecting the ecological environment when participating in tourism.

Text and photos:Van Truong