(Baonghean.vn) - This autumn, it's a delightful visit to Na Ngoi border commune. Not only is the scenery poetic and captivating, but you can also immerse yourself in the peaceful rhythm of life and witness the many changes in the villages of the Mong, Khmu, and Thai ethnic groups...
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| Na Ngoi has 11 out of 19 villages located on the border belt, such as Phu Kha, Ca Noi, Tong Khu, Ka Tren, Ka Duoi, Buoc Mu, Xieng Xi, Kieu Bac… These villages are perched precariously on mountain slopes, where terraced rice fields are now dyed a golden yellow. |
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| In Na Ngoi, Buoc Mu village is considered one of the coldest areas in Nghe An province, and also one of the coldest regions in the country during winter. In some years, the snow cover is as thick as in Europe. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong. |
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| A familiar sight here is the mossy peach trees by the verandas of the stilt houses. In autumn, the peach trees are budding. Not only are they beautiful, but they are also a sought-after commodity among people from the lowlands. Responding to market demand, the locals have started cultivating peach trees for sale. |
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| Plum blossoms have also begun to display their white petals, adding to the picturesque scenery... |
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| This remote border region is also blessed with many picturesque and majestic natural landscapes. Here is a waterfall cascading with white foam amidst the green of the forest and the gray of the mountain rocks. This waterfall also serves as a source of irrigation water and supplies for the daily lives of the local people. |
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| Along the route from Nam Can to Na Ngoi, in this border region, it's not difficult to spot waterfalls flowing relentlessly. |
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| On the roads winding along the mountain slopes, the clouds hung down so thinly that they seemed almost within reach, as if you could touch them. |
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| Perhaps amidst this picturesque setting, the people here also possess a romantic and poetic spirit. Beneath the roofs, one can often hear the enchanting and captivating sound of the Hmong flute. The flute has a long history and is deeply rooted in the cultural identity of the Hmong community in Nghe An. |
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| To make a perfect khaen (a type of bamboo flute), people usually choose old bamboo branches, clean off the knots, and dry them in the kitchen attic for 2-3 months. Then, they take them down and drill a small, equally sized hole at the end of each tube. The main khaen tube is made of mahogany or cypress wood, smoothed on the outside and hollowed out inside. Using a sharp knife, holes are carved to assemble the five smaller tubes, creating the shape of the khaen. |
During the rice harvest season, the atmosphere in the village becomes lively and bustling. The villagers thresh the rice in wooden troughs like these, doing it by hand. As a commune inhabited by ethnic minorities, with 757 households (over 80% of the total population) being Hmong people, and the rest being Thai and Khmu people, Na Ngoi still preserves many unique traditional cultural features passed down through generations. Sticky rice is a specialty of this border region. |
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| The rice is bundled into small bunches and then carefully hung on the roof or kitchen ceiling to dry. |
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| Beyond simply farming, people today are gradually adopting scientific advancements to develop their economy. Currently, more than 300 households have partnered with Team 10 to develop clean vegetable farming areas and specialized tea cultivation areas. |
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| They have boldly diversified their occupations, developed their household economic potential, and are getting closer and closer to their dream of escaping poverty. |
Thanh Quynh
