The highlands are bustling with springtime.
In the remote western border region of Nghe An, the arrival of spring is not only a moment of transition between seasons, but also a time when villages burst with life through cultural and spiritual activities. Amidst the lingering mist and the vibrant green hues of spring covering the mountains and forests, the people here both preserve traditional customs and foster warm human connections within the new rhythm of life in the vast wilderness.
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We returned to the remote highlands on a spring day, a place still known as the "Sa Pa of Nghe An province". At an altitude of over 1,500m above sea level, Muong Long is cool year-round, with mist enveloping the mountains, creating a landscape like a watercolor painting amidst the vast Truong Son mountain range.
"Perhaps it's because of their love for the nature and people of this place that many tourists chose to celebrate Tet in Muong Long this past year?"
This year's tourist numbers have surged compared to previous years, with an estimated more than 350 overnight guests and nearly 1,400 visitors.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Luong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Muong Long commune, happily shared:
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Now, the locals have learned to create tourism from their traditional way of life. The wooden samu houses, the glowing hearths, the warm cups of corn wine… have become emotional touchpoints for tourists every spring.
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In particular, with the completion and commissioning of the inter-communal road connecting Muong Long, Bao Nam, and Huu Lap, the "gateway" to regional connectivity has been opened wider than ever before.
The new road not only shortens the long, arduous stretches of road but also connects the lowlands with the highlands, opening up opportunities to attract investment and develop socio-economic activities, especially ecotourism and experiencing local culture. Therefore, this spring in the mountainous region seems to carry many new hopes.
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That joyful, vibrant atmosphere also spreads along the roads leading to Muong Xen during the Spring Festival. For the Mong people here, Spring is the season of festivals, of the heartfelt calls of the khene flute, and of the pao throwing game to find a life partner.
The small pao boat carries so much unspoken meaning. Amidst the rhythm of the pao, young men and women sing in simple yet heartfelt call-and-response style, sharing stories of family, dreams, life philosophies, and romantic love.
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Watching the pao festival, Mr. Vu Y Mai (80 years old) from Huoi Giang 3 village, Muong Xen commune, shared that young men and women come to the festival not only to celebrate the Spring Festival, but also to get to know each other. Each song is a heartfelt confession, a way of expressing feelings. If they find they are compatible, the young man will take the girl home and then inform her family to prepare for the wedding.
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The age-old customs of the Hmong people are simple yet enduring. Amidst the ever-changing pace of modern life, these community cultural activities are preserved as a space to affirm their identity and pass on values to future generations.
Spring in the highlands of Nghe An province is therefore not only marked by plum and peach blossoms covering the mountain slopes in white, but also by pao fruits flying through the air, carrying with them aspirations for love and the hope of building a prosperous life in this remote border region...
