Quang Nam: Arouse the dream of the Co Tu mountainous area

(QNO) - The Co Tu community-based tourism project in Nam Giang district (Quang Nam province) sponsored by the Foundation for International Development/Relief (FIDR, Japan) is making a new picture of tourism here.

Cultural values

Visitors are really surprised with the Co Tu ethnic cultural products when they go to Ta Bhing community-based tourism village in Nam Giang. The hospitality of Co Tu ethnic community is shown in the way the Co Tu girls in traditional costumes wait for and welcome visitors to their village right at the village gate.

Welcome to Ta Bhing community-based tourism village. Photo: danviet

The Co Tu ethnic minority is grateful to FIDR for helping them preserve their material and mental values. Coming to Ta Bhing community-based tourism village, visitors can find the hospitality, friendliness and unique cultural values here. There are 300 members in the Co Tu community-based tourism cooperative (Ta Bhing commune).

Giving souvenir to visitors. Photo:danviet

According to Briu Thuong, CEO of the Co Tu community-based tourism cooperative, most of the money earned from tourism here evenly delivered to all the members of the cooperative. The rest is used for preservation and renovation.

There are several hamlets in the village, each place a product. So, visitors are not bored with tourism services here.

Zuong Noonh (70 years old from Pa Rong hamlet, Ta Bhing commune) said that the Co Tu ethnic life was better thanks to FIDR. Their local products have gone beyond the local border and they are sold quickly. Moreover, the Co Tu cultural identity has been preserved.

Tan tung ya ya dancing. Photo: danviet

According to Deputy Director of Nam Giang Department of Culture and Information Nguyen Van Phi, the community-based tourism project in Nam Giang has been very successful. The local cultural values have been preserved and promoted. The local economic life has become better and better. The success of the project has also resulted from the contributions of several local sectors of culture and information, transportation, commerce, and health.

Adding “breath” to the mountainous area

The FIDR’s project of Nam Giang community development aims to improve the locals’ life quality. Therefore, people here have been taught how to read and write, to raise, do farming… since 2001 when the project started. These activities are really difficult to them.

A tourist enjoy weaving Co Tu brocade. Photo: danviet

In 2007, FIDR was asked for helping Co Tu people restore the Co Tu brocade weaving. It was also the beginning of the project of Co Tu brocade weaving development in Nam Giang in 2008, which was also very successful. In 2016, FIDR along with JICA went on helping the ethnic minorities in Nam Giang through the project of rural development based on local potential.

Co Tu brocade. Photo: danviet

Deputy Director of JICA Vietnam Kobayashi Ryutaro said that tourism, especially community tourism development plays an important role in economic development because it can use all the potential and strengths of the local culture, history and habits. Tourism contributes to improving the locals’ income and stabilizing their lives, ensuring the proactive and sustainable development of the local tourism.

In addition, community-based tourism development is also an opportunity for people to look back and understand more about the traditional values of their own community. Then, the locals will convey these values to visitors with their love and respect.