Monkey Forest in Dong Muong

(Baonghean) - "Savan" in the Lao language means "paradise". Indeed, Savannakhet is not only fascinating because of its ancient temples and pretty streets dotted with flowers, but is also known as the homeland, the habitat of dinosaurs 110 million years ago. However, what attracts anyone when setting foot in the central province of Central Laos - the homeland of the former General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic: Cay - Son - Phom - Vi - Surely is the surprisingly friendly and close-knit nature of the people and nature on this land.

Tourists play with monkeys in Dong Muong village

We arrived at the “paradise” of Savannakhet on a spring day, before the Laotian Bun Pi May festival. As if understanding the surprise of the first-time visitors to Cay Son Phom Vi Han City, the provincial capital of Savannakhet, our guide, a Vietnamese living in Laos, shared: “There are many interesting things here, not only the dinosaur museum but also the Dong Muong monkey forest in Cham Phon district…”.

Dong Muong village is located in the East, about 50km from Savannakhet provincial capital. There is a primeval forest with tree stumps that are too big for people to hug. But that is not so special to attract tourists. What makes people excited when coming here is to witness the mischievous monkeys and observe their natural life. Actually, in Vietnam, there are also monkey islands with thousands of monkeys living together like in Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) or Can Gio - Ho Chi Minh City. But in Dong Muong village, the monkeys live together with the community. At night, they sleep in the trees, during the day they come down to play and frolic with people.

Mother monkey and baby monkey

Since Dong Muong Monkey Forest became known to tourists, many people visit every day. People coming to the village often bring lots of fruits for the monkeys to eat. They naturally climb onto cabins, car roofs to enjoy the fruits or run around tourists' feet to ask for gifts.

Dong Muong village, Cham Phon district today was formed in 1901 when the first 8 families moved from Tha Muong village to reclaim land and establish a village. According to local people, when they moved to live in Dong Muong village near the forest of the same name, they saw a group of monkeys gathering and "establishing a village" here.

Breast milk

According to the people's belief, this is a sacred forest, a point of connection between heaven and earth, so monkeys are a symbol of "Xoốc đi" meaning luck, so no one chases or kills them. So since then, people and monkeys have lived together in the old forest. The village also has a rule that anyone who harms monkeys will be severely punished, even though they are sometimes very annoying and naughty.

Article: Dao Tuan, photo: Duy Ngoan