(HBO) - When the fog covering the town of Mai Chau gradually disappears, a small village with rustic houses on stilts show up, It is Pom Coong village imbued with characteristics of Thai ethnic people. Coming here, visitors can immerse themselves in the poetic natural scenery, enjoy traditional Thai ethnic food, grow rice and cook meals with ethnic people.
Tourists choose souvenirs in Pom Coong village, Mai Chau town, Mai Chau
district.
Pom Coong
means a village of hills lying on a big drum like the bronze one.
Currently,
Pom Coong is home to 70 households with 359 people and seven big families
living in harmony. Up to 89 percent of households are recognised as cultural
families. Pom Coong has been recognised as a cultural village for five
consecutive years. Local residents began providing homestay services in 1998, with
the first three families of Ha Thi Chung, Kha Van Vuong and Kha Van Hung. To
date, 15 households have engaged in this business. Up to 70 percent of visitors
are foreigners and the remaining are Vietnamese keen on Thai ethnic
characteristics. Pom Coong is attracting more and more tourists, earning locals
higher income. Last year, the village earned more than 2 billion VND from
tourism, or nearly 20 percent of the total revenue.
To lure
more visitors, local authorities and people always preserve special
characteristics of Thai ethnic culture, from stilt houses, traditional crafts
and costumes to folk dances. Thai ethnic people’s stilt houses are high, under
which, Thai young girls and women sit by the loom and weave brocade products.
Bows and
crossbows are also made available as souvenirs. When darkness falls down,
visitors could enjoy special music performances staged by local art troupes. In
the light of fire, flexible dances by beautiful Thai girls enchanted visitors.
The
village is well arranged and local residents abide by regulations of the
campaign "All people stand united to build cultural lifestyle in residential
areas”. There are not any social vices such as gambling, drug and prostitution.
Environment hygiene is ensured while garbage is classified and treated.
Chiho from
Japan said: "It is the first time I have visited
Vietnam.
Staying together with local family and joining in activities such as cycling,
rice growing, cooking ethnic food made me satisfied and impressed. Images of
Thai women next to the loom and pipe wine jar are unforgettable to me. After
returning home, I will introduce friends to Pom Coong village and return to the
village again”./.
The 10th art festival for the armed forces, youths and students of Hoa Binh province celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and 35th anniversary of the All People’s Defence Day wrapped up on April 25.
Xoe dance, an unique art form of the Thai ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province has existed for a long time and passed down through generations. Xoe dance is not only a popular dance in the Thai community but also a unique cultural feature, an indispensable part in the Thai ethnic minority people's cultural and spiritual life.
The Bac Son pre-school in Hung Son commune, Kim Boi district is effectively implementing a model of preserving and promoting cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group.
Through ups and downs, many unique cultural features of the Muong ethnic minority group are facing risks of falling into oblivion. However, with a strong determination, Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province has deployed synchronous solutions to preserve and promote the locality's cultural heritage values.
If Tan Lac is considered the core of the cradle of Muong culture in Hoa Binh, Phong Phu commune is the cultural centre of Muong culture in Tan Lac district. Luy Ai hamlet in Phong Phu commune is where customs and traditions of Muong Bi are preserved. Luy Ai hamlet was chosen to build a space to preserve Muong ethnic culture. The district is seeking support from the province and coordinating with relevant agencies to devise a plan on preservation of Muong cultural spaces associated with developing tourism products and improving the lives of local residents.
Nguyen Manh Tuan, a Muong ethnic man in Ba Hang Doi town, Lac Thuy district, is known as a young, dedicated, and outstanding artisan who has made significant contributions in collecting, restoring, and preserving national cultural values.
