Mu Cang Chai preserves traditional culture in combination with tourism development

  •  Monday, May 15, 2023

YBO - Along with beautiful natural landscapes, Mu Cang Chai district of Yen Bai district is also home to the unique cultural identities of Mong and Thai ethnic minority groups, and various traditional values of local communities’ traditional customs, festivals, crafts, costumes and cuisine.

Artisan Giang Su Giang (right) from Hang Phu Loa of Mo De has made great contributions to maintaining Khen culture of Mong people.
Artisan Giang Su Giang (right) from Hang Phu Loa of Mo De has made great contributions to maintaining Khen culture of Mong people.

As a mountainous locality, Mu Cang Chai has cool weather throughout the year. Famous natural landscapes in the district include Lung Cung Mount and La Pan Tan Mount, providing ideal conditions for tourists who love to explore the nature.

Particularly, the beauty of terraced fields and different flowers in four seasons, along with stunning check-in destinations such as Pung Luong bamboo forest, Lao Chai ancient rocks, De Xu Phinh "dinosaur back”-shaped mountain and Nam Khat cave also help Mu Cang Chai lure visitors.

Trinh The Binh, Head of the Culture and Information Division of Mu Cang Chai, said that with more than 90% of the local population being Mong people, the district has a lot of unique traditional customs, habits and special cultural identities.

Over the years, the district has focused on preserving and restoring traditional festivals and folk culture and ancient crafts to serve tourism development, he said.

Every year, the district organises many special festivals, including "To day” Flower (wild flower belonging to the peach blossom family) Festival, Com Moi (new rice) Festival, Khen (panpipes) Festival, and Doc Lap (Independence) Festival, with folk games and festive activities, attracting a large number of visitors.

Meanwhile, Mu Cang Chai has also paid great attention to developing local art troupes in community-based tourism villages, helping to promote traditional arts.

Recently, seven additional local residents have been recognised as folk art artisans, while many new clubs have been set up in schools and villages to preserve traditional culture.

Giang Su Giang, an artisan in Hang Phu Loa hamlet of Mo De commune, said that with 40-year experience in Mong people’s Khen (panpines) production and performance, he has worked hard to teach the art to local youngsters with the aim of preserving and promoting the art with this traditional music instrument. He has also worked as an instructor in Khen making classes in communes.

New tourism products in combination with the diverse traditional cultural values that have been well preserved and promoted have brought Mu Cang Chai closer to its goal of becoming a "green - typical - safe - friendly" tourist destination./.

Chau A

Other news
Each year, the New Rice Festival at Dong Cuong Temple is held with numerous cultural activities, drawing large crowds of visitors.

Recognizing spiritual tourism and ecological tourism as two key potentials and strategic directions for tourism development, Van Yen District has implemented a range of practical and effective measures in recent years. These efforts have helped preserve cultural and historical values, leverage the district's majestic natural beauty, create unique tourism products, and open pathways for sustainable economic growth.

The procession of the Mother Goddess crossing the river at the Dong Cuong Temple Festival

According to the plan set by the People's Committee of Van Yen District, the Dong Cuong Temple Festival 2025 is scheduled for February 2-3, 2025 (the 5th and 6th days of the Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake) at Ben Den Hamlet, Dong Cuong Commune, Van Yen District.

To Day flowers bloom in radiant pink, captivating visitors to Mu Cang Chai.

December marks the arrival of Mu Cang Chai’s dreamy transformation as the vibrant To Day flowers bloom. This flower, a signature of the Northwestern mountains, thrives in the crisp winter sunlight, its radiant petals contrasting beautifully with the clear blue sky, evoking a sense of wonder and fascination.

Artisan of Luc Yen gemstone craft creating paintings.

Tourist arrivals to Yen Bai reached 1,883 groups, marking a 4.6-fold increase, with a total of 2,581 days of stay, a 4.2-fold rise compared to 2023.

News by days:
In: This category All categories