At the end of April 2025, Muong Lay was recognized by the Vietnam Records Organization as the locality with the highest traditional stilt house density of white Thai people in the country. This is an important milestone, contributing to affirming the unique cultural values of the Northwest region.
Muong Lay ward currently maintains a high density of traditional stilt houses of white Thai people compared to many localities in the area. With the Thai community accounting for a large proportion of the population structure, the cultural life here continues to be preserved, clearly shown through the living space, architecture and typical traditional customs.
Stilt houses with unique architecture, existing through many generations, are not only living places but also cultural symbols of the community. The houses are arranged neatly and airily along the Son La hydropower lake, creating a unique landscape for Muong Lay.
The process of building stilt houses requires elaborate preparation, from choosing wood for frames to roofing materials such as tiles, black stone or corrugated iron. The stilt house space is also a place where many important rituals take place such as weddings, housewarming and traditional festival activities.
Besides cultural values, Muong Lay also possesses a lot of tourism development potential with a diverse system of relics and natural landscapes. Son La hydropower reservoir is vast, often likened to "Ha Long on high", creating favorable conditions for the development of experiential tourism types.
Currently, Muong Lay owns a rich heritage system with 3 provincial-level relics, including Lai Chau Prison, Pu Vap Historical Relic and Ban Bac Cave; along with 3 national intangible cultural heritages such as Then Kin Pang festival of the White Thai people, Thai Xoe art and folk knowledge about making Khau Xen cake and Chi Chop cake. The establishment of the record opens up more opportunities for Muong Lay to widely introduce its cultural identity, while gradually promoting community tourism development.
