Traditional cultural values of Muong people have been preserved well in Chien hamlet, Van Son commune, Tan Lac district.
Located about 4 km away from the commune’s centre and at an altitude of 800 m above sea level, Chien hamlet is known as a peaceful and beautiful Muong village.
Villagers in Chien hamlet perform a Muong dance to serve tourists at Hai Than homestay.
Visitors to Chien hamlet are much impressed by the simple beauty of the stilt houses in a spacious highland scenery and the hospitality of local villagers. Tran Tuan Viet, a tourist from Hanoi said that local people are so friendly and sociable. During his two-day stay in the hamlet, he enjoyed the fresh air, explored Nam Son cave, contemplated three ancient lychee trees, and particularly he had a chance to try delicious local food.
In 2019, Chien hamlet received financial support from the Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific to implement the project "Improving Sustainable Livelihoods through Community-based Tourism Development". Under the project, three households in the hamlet were chosen to develop homestay services namely Hai Than, Xuan Truong, and Thu Bi homestays.
Doing community-based tourism, villagers are engaged more in preserving cultural identities to create attractive products to visitors. Ha Van Hun, Secretary of the Chien hamlet Party cell, said that the hamlet is home to nearly 80 households with about 400 people, most of them are from the Muong ethnic group. Local people mostly do farming work.
Since the community-based tourism model was developed in the hamlet, local people have paid more attention to promoting cultural identity, especially in communications, customs, and costumes. They also care more about protecting the environment and keeping village roads/alleys bright and clean.
Being formed later than other community tourism destinations in the district and province, Chien hamlet quickly became one of the most popular tourist destinations thanks to its advantages in weather and culture.
Coming to the hamlet, tourists can visit the national scenic spot Nam Son cave, the relic site of Nui Kien cave, and learn about biodiversity and natural landscapes. The hamlet is also home to a vast ancient tangerine hill which turns more attractive during harvest season at the end of the year.
Visitors can also explore the Van Son market fair, which takes place every Tuesday and offers agricultural products such as Bac Son purple garlic, Quyet Chien off-season vegetables and fruits, herbs, wild bamboo shoots, tea, chicken, Ngo Luong native pig, and Huop Lung Van wine.
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.
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