Mong people in Pa Co develop community tourism associated with sustainable livelihoods

With its unique natural landscape and cultural identity, Pa Co commune (Phu Tho) is exploiting the strength of community tourism, creating jobs, increasing income, and contributing to building a prosperous life for the Mong people.

Pa Co commune, Phu Tho province was established on the basis of merging 3 communes Cun Pheo, Hang Kia, Pa Co and 3 hamlets of Dong Tan commune, mainly inhabited by Mong people.

The 1st Party Congress of the commune, term 2025-2030, determined to focus on mobilizing all resources for rapid and sustainable economic development.

By 2030, Pa Co commune aims to increase the State budget revenue by an average of 10% per year. The commune continues to develop agriculture in the direction of commodities, improve the quality of OCOP products, develop community tourism associated with national cultural identity to create sustainable livelihoods and improve income and quality of life of the people.

Potential for tourism development associated with cultural identity

Pa Co Commune has mainly mountainous terrain, cool climate, wild beauty of mountains and forests attracting many tourists to explore and learn about Mong ethnic culture. These are favorable conditions for local people to promote community tourism development, thereby opening up the direction of socio-economic development.

Over the past years, thanks to the attention of the Party, the State and the locality, the material and spiritual life of the people of Pa Co commune has improved significantly. Infrastructure has been gradually invested in and built, electricity systems, roads, schools, stations and works serving people's lives have changed the appearance of hamlets and villages.

Pa Co exploits the advantages of nature to develop community tourism. The commune is a favorite tourist destination for visitors, who come to experience and explore, with typical types of tourism being cultural and community experiences.

With an altitude of more than 1,000m above sea level, Pa Co commune has a cool, fresh climate. (Photo: Trong Dat/VNA)

Exploiting advantages, especially cultural characteristics to develop tourism, up to now, Pa Co commune has dozens of households doing community tourism. People here still preserve many traditional cultural features such as linen weaving, indigo dyeing, brocade embroidery, beeswax painting...

Coming here, tourists have many experiences such as cloud hunting, going to fairs, highland night markets, tea picking, linen weaving, indigo dyeing... Tourists not only experience the beautiful natural landscape but also learn about the cultural traditions and life of the people here.

Around 2002, Ms. Sung Y Mua researched and learned from tourism businesses inside and outside the province to design and build accommodation facilities to serve tourists and started welcoming guests.

From the architectural space of a Mong house, Ms. Y Mua has planned and developed more than 10 separate bedrooms and a community guesthouse with full accommodation services and interesting experiential activities.

Ms. Sung Y Mua, Pa Co commune, said that the Mong community has always preserved many unique cultural features of their people. This is a local potential that few other places have.

Exploiting that strength, over the past 10 years, she has continuously made efforts to build a resort to welcome guests, both to increase income and to contribute to the development of local tourism.

The Mong cultural exhibition space of Ms. Sung Y Mua in Pa Co commune is about to open. (Photo: Trong Dat/VNA)

Up to now, every year, there are many domestic and foreign tourists coming to Y Mua's family resort. Y Mua Homestay has become a familiar destination for many tourists from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi... and countries such as France, Germany, Spain, England, Australia...

On average, the homestay attracts about 250 people each month. It creates jobs for 4-7 workers, and during peak times increases to 7-10 workers, with an average income of 4-5 million VND/person/month.

With her thoughts and passion for the community, Ms. Y Mua has contributed significantly to inspiring and being a role model for the village in developing community tourism.

Ms. Sung Y Do, homestay Pa Co Home shared, compared to before, people only focused on agriculture, growing corn, cassava, tea... the economic efficiency of tourism brings income 3 to 4 times higher/year.

Determined to complete development targets

At the 1st Congress of the Pa Co Commune Party Committee, term 2025-2030, Major General Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of Phu Tho Provincial Police, emphasized that the new Executive Committee needs to focus on consolidating and perfecting the government apparatus to operate effectively and efficiently. The commune focuses on developing and improving the quality of party members.

Regarding socio-economic development, the first task is to build suitable economic models, strengthen vocational training and ensure domestic water for people.

The commune focuses on re-planning residential land, forest land, and agricultural land; developing synchronous infrastructure; promoting cultural identity values ​​associated with tourism development; improving education quality; strengthening security and order, contributing to improving people's income and life...

French tourists experience beeswax painting on Mong brocade at Y Mua Homestay in Pa Co commune. (Photo: Trong Da/VNA)

Secretary of the Party Committee of Pa Co Commune, Sung A Chênh, hopes that the Party and State will continue to provide additional funding to support investment in purchasing missing equipment and facilities; repair and build more offices and public houses for cadres and civil servants; strengthen professional training, organize specialized training conferences on Party building and expertise, and guide the implementation of administrative procedures for cadres and civil servants; expand and upgrade the section from National Highway 15 to National Highway 6 and existing roads in the commune to facilitate travel...

Pa Co Commune proactively concretizes and issues many projects and policies to support investment in socio-economic development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction, and construction of essential infrastructure.

The commune focuses on building new and maintaining and repairing infrastructure works; developing economic models and typical products with high income such as black chicken, agricultural products, community tourism homestays, etc.

In the coming time, in order for community tourism in Pa Co commune to overcome its weaknesses, promote its advantages and develop effectively and sustainably, becoming a livelihood for ethnic groups and localities, it is necessary to create consensus, proactiveness, positivity, daring to think and act of the people; the joint support of tourism, cultural and economic experts; the timely and effective attention, leadership and direction through programs and projects of Party committees at all levels, local authorities and the support of society.

With high political determination, the participation of the entire political system and a creative spirit, Pa Co commune has the basis to believe in a breakthrough development.

A land rich in cultural identity and beautiful nature will not only be an attractive destination for tourists from all over the world but also a place where people can confidently build a prosperous and happy life./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dong-bao-mong-o-pa-co-phat-trien-du-lich-cong-dong-gan-voi-sinh-ke-ben-vung-post1063410.vnp