In many remote areas of Quang Ninh - where ethnic minorities have lived for a long time - cultural identity is no longer just a memory or a value that needs to be preserved simply. In the new development flow, culture is gradually becoming an important endogenous resource, opening the way for sustainable economic development through community tourism.
From folk melodies, traditional festivals, customs, and living customs, each village is gradually " awakening" its precious cultural treasure, turning heritage into a unique tourism product, bringing practical benefits to the people.
Cultural materials - the foundation of community tourism
The San Diu Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village in Vong Tre Village, Van Don Special Zone has more than 1,500 people, of which the San Diu people account for over 90%.
Although economic and social life has changed a lot, the characteristics of house architecture, traditional costumes, folk beliefs, wedding customs, and community activities associated with agricultural and forestry production are still preserved and present in the daily lives of the people.
Clearly recognizing the potential for socio-economic development from community culture, the Van Don special- zone government has restored, selected and introduced many rituals, customs, and typical folk melodies such as Soong Co singing and Dai Phan festival; organized a performance of national costumes, introduced traditional cuisine of the San Dau people to serve tourism development.
The center of the San Duu Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village is a 5-room, 2-storey cultural house, with an area of about 300 m2, inaugurated in early December 2024.
This space displays many tools and artifacts reflecting the working life, production and cultural activities of the San Dau people through the ages.
This is not only a place to preserve cultural heritage, but also plays a role as a "cradle" in connecting and forming typical community tourism products, creating a premise for developing experience services, homestays, and traditional cuisine in Van Don.
San Duu Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village in Vong Tre is one of four ethnic minority villages selected by Quang Ninh province to pilot according to Plan No. 161/KH-UBND issued on June 21, 2023 on building, preserving and promoting the value of cultural identity associated with the development of community tourism in mountainous areas in the period of 2023-2025.
The remaining three villages include: Dao village in Po Hen village (Hai Son), Tay village in Ban Cau village ( Luc Hon) and San Chi village in Luc Ngu village (Binh Lieu).
Tourism space contributes to preserving and conserving culture
Quang Ninh currently owns the richest and most diverse cultural heritage treasure trove in the country with nearly 640 historical - cultural and scenic relics; 2 world heritages, Ha Long Bay and the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac relic complex; 8 special national relics; over 360 intangible cultural heritages.
In particular, the province has 19 national intangible cultural heritages, associated with the cultural life of the Kinh, Tay, Dao, San Chay, San Duu, San Chi ethnic communities...
In Dong Ngu commune - where the San Chi people live mainly, the preservation and promotion of the value of Soong Co singing art is being closely linked to the development of community tourism.
Ms. San Moc Phuc (57 years old), Head of Soong Co Singing Club in Khe Luc village, said that the club has proactively connected with travel companies and tourist attractions to bring Soong Co dance closer to tourists.
Tourists are very excited to see and listen to Soong Co sing. That makes us even more proud and aware of preserving the rhythm of our nation. Every time I perform, the club members also earn extra income, Ms. Phuc shared.
Soong Co in San Chi language means "song song", "song song", "song love song", born more than 300 years ago.
The content of the songs vividly reflects the life of working, producing, praising nature, homeland, people and love of the couple.
March 16 every year has become the Soong Co singing festival of the San Chi people.
The homestays in Dong Ngu commune are mainly houses that still retain the traditional features of the San Chi stilt house, with wooden floors, earthen walls, and roofs covered with Yin-yang tiles.
Each homestay has about 5 bedrooms, with a capacity of 1518 guests, accompanied by a large yard to organize cultural exchanges, perform Soong Co singing, Tac Xinh dancing, filming...
Mr. Ninh A Loc, owner of A Loc homestay, Dong Ngu commune, said that tourists especially love the traditional architecture of the San Chi house, experiencing cooking wine, rice fans, soaking feet, bathing in medicine.
Thanks to the development of community tourism, local people have more income and are proud to preserve their national identity, said Mr. Loc.
Community tourism - a lever for sustainable poverty reduction
Thanks to the synchronous implementation of community tourism development solutions associated with cultural preservation, along with policies to support livelihoods, vocational training for people, and invest in infrastructure for remote areas, Quang Ninh has achieved outstanding results in poverty reduction.
The poverty rate in the whole province has decreased from 0.41% (about 1,526 households) in 2021 to the basic level of no more poor households according to national standards by the end of 2023, becoming the first locality in the country to complete the sustainable poverty reduction target for the period 2021-2025 3 years early.
Average income per capita in ethnic minority, mountainous, border and island areas reaches 83.79 million VND/person/year, about 1.4 times higher than the national average. By the end of 2024, the whole province will have only 8 poor households and 1,197 near-poor households according to the province's multidimensional poverty standard.
In particular, by the end of 2025, Quang Ninh will no longer have poor or near-poor households according to the province's multidimensional poverty standards, thereby contributing to significantly improving people's lives and gradually narrowing the development gap between regions, especially ethnic minority areas.
From a consolidated social security foundation, Quang Ninh is shifting its focus from "erymission" to "sustainable enrichment" for people, in which turning folk cultural values into real tourism products is identified as a long-term direction.
Accordingly, Quang Ninh Community Tourism Club is implementing a model of bringing mountainous and ethnic minority culture to major tourism centers of the province, expanding the space for cultural enjoyment and increasing livelihoods for local people.
Mr. Le Minh Thu - Chairman of Quang Ninh Community Tourism Club said: The club is researching and building a cultural space for Quang Ninh ethnic minorities in the Duc Duong Hill area ( Bai Chay Ward) with an area of about 600 m2.
Here, people and artisans from the villages will directly participate in performances and introducing community cultural heritage through 3045-minute mini shows, helping visitors not only watch but also directly experience and interact.
With the right orientation and methodical approach, Quang Ninh is gradually turning diverse cultural treasures into development resources, so that each village is not only a place to preserve memories, but also becomes a vibrant destination in the new development journey.
