The local people we meet at various destinations are intimately familiar with the slopes, trees, hills, streams, and even the local dishes, as these are all part of their homeland. In their role as tourism hosts, they share stories about their culture, emphasize the importance of respecting nature, and help shape their region's identity on the tourism map.

Co Tu people in Hoa Phu commune (Hoa Vang district) are actively involved in tourism at Toom Sara village. Photo: Toom Sara

Co Tu People: The Bearers of Local Culture and Tourism

"Co Tu people who work with us at Toom Sara take great pride in their culture, reflected in the traditional garments they wear, the dishes they prepare, the melodies they perform, and the stories they tell. I often remind them that they are the true representatives of Co Tu culture."

Mr. Huynh Tan Phap, the Executive Director of Toom Sara Village (Phu Tuc hamlet, Hoa Phu commune, Hoa Vang district), is at the forefront of tourism development in the mountainous region of western Da Nang. Since taking over Suoi Hoa tourism area in 2019, he explains that the name Toom Sara in Co Tu language also means "flower spring", evoking the image of wildflowers blooming abundantly by the stream. In this new yet familiar eco-tourism destination, with its historical name Suoi Hoa and its current identity as Toom Sara, Mr. Phap and his team are dedicated to promoting the unique culture of Co Tu people while also preserving and showcasing the beauty of the green landscapes in the western part of the city.

In this framework, Co Tu people are the core and the "ambassadors" of the destination. Serving as an advisor to Toom Sara from its inception is elder Briu Po (from Lang commune, Tay Giang district, Quang Nam province) - a prominent figure in Co Tu community of the Quang mountains. He was instrumental in facilitating the relocation of the ancient Guol house from Aroh village to Toom Sara for restoration by the artisans.

Additionally, elder A Lang Doi travels from P'rao town (Dong Giang district, Quang Nam province) to Hoa Phu to share knowledge and support the development of Co Tu culture. There is also Le Van Nghia, the secretary of Phu Tuc hamlet, who is passionate about traditional rice wine jars. Furthermore, most of the staff working at Toom Sara, including cooks, service providers, and those assisting tourists with accommodations, are primarily from Co Tu community.

At Toom Sara, the "Co Tu Show" takes place every Saturday as an artistic event that showcases traditional elements such as the "Dance of offering to the sky" (Tung tung da da), gong performances, folk songs, and storytelling that depict the lives of the Co Tu people. This allows visitors to immerse themselves in the experience. The local identity is distinctly highlighted, with 90% of the performers being Co Tu community members from Phu Tuc hamlet, while the remaining artists come from Dong Giang district. Among them, there are over 50 artists from Phu Tuc hamlet.

According to elder A Lang Dung, Co Tu people proudly view the Co Tu Show as a significant change in their community. During the day, they venture into the forest to plant trees and clear weeds; in the evenings, they practice their performances, invite visitors to gather around the fire and share stories from the vast wilderness. As Zoram Thi Nguyet (from Phu Tuc hamlet), a representative of the dance troupe, shared, the local community's life has become somewhat more stable thanks to the income generated from promoting their cultural heritage.

During the winter months in Da Nang, the mountains and forests of Hoa Phu are enveloped in rain, leading to a decline in tourist foot traffic. Co Tu people from Toom Sara accompany Mr. Phap to the city.

In the heart of An Thuong, a "Western-style" neighborhood in Ngu Hanh Son district, they operate a small culinary corner called "Village Kitchen Goes to Town". Here, visitors delight in a miniature representation of a Co Tu village, featuring a service counter resembling a Moong house, along with traditional elements like a ceremonial pole, a cooking fire, and a rice mortar. The menu consists entirely of dishes made from 100% mountain ingredients with unique names such as frog stew, cassava rice, fried cassava, chicken, and stir-fried cassava leaves.

One of the chefs is Brou Hai (from Dong Giang district). At the age of 40, this Co Tu woman emphasizes her stories of bringing the authentic flavors of her mountainous homeland to visitors in the coastal city, including many international tourists.

According to Mr. Phap, bringing the flavors of the mountains to the city primarily aims to create jobs for everyone during the low tourist season. Additionally, it establishes a space to promote Co Tu cuisine and culture to visitors in one of the city's busiest tourist areas—An Thuong. This initiative connects tourists with Toom Sara specifically, and the western tourism region of the city more broadly. “Our goal is to bring Co Tu cuisine from the forest into the city and connect tourists from the urban area to the mountains, where they can experience pristine natural landscapes alongside the welcoming Co Tu community,” Mr. Phap shared.

Under the forest canopy, Co Tu community at Toom Sara will soon have the opportunity to participate in a project called "Breath of the forest" — a program that combines sustainable reforestation with musical performances and artistic exchanges. This initiative aims to share their love for nature with visitors.

Sustaining forests for tourism

Resolution No. 82/NQ-HĐND dated December 17, 2021, from the Da Nang City People's Council, regarding the pilot exploitation of tourism services combined with agricultural, forestry, and aquaculture development in Hoa Vang district, along with the recently amended Land Law effective from August 1, 2024, serves as a "launchpad" for local residents to utilize agricultural land for service purposes. This initiative aims to create ecological and rural tourism areas to invest in modular facilities that support tourism services and enhance local potential.

The Bana Rita Glamping Farm, an eco-tourism site that combines agricultural development, is set to officially become Da Nang's first OCOP tourism product with a 4-star rating in 2024. Located at the foot of Ba Na Mountain, where the borders of Hoa Phu, Hoa Ninh, and Hoa Nhon communes meet, this project was born from the passion of local nature enthusiasts who envisioned a pioneering model that merges eco-tourism with experiential agriculture.

According to Mr. Tuan, tourists visiting Da Nang previously only knew about attractions in Hoi An (Quang Nam) and later Hoa Bac, while the city lacked well-structured and formal eco-tourism experiences despite its potential. This type of tourism, especially glamping, is becoming popular in many places both domestically and internationally, such as in Da Lat (Lam Dong). This is why Mr. Le Thanh Tuan, representing Bana Rita and his team, transformed a 5-hectare area to harmonize with the surrounding landscape of Hoa Phu's mountains and forests, incorporating a zoo and fruit orchards.

The natural landscape is preserved in its near-original state, with minimal concrete development. Most of the staff working here are locals who are intimately familiar with the slopes, trees, hills, and streams, as these are part of their homeland. They understand and share the management team's philosophy: "Do not interfere with or disrupt the beautiful elements of nature; instead, enhance their beauty."

The spirit of community is shared with visitors, including families, students, and guests from travel agencies. During his first visit to Bana Rita with his family, Le Hoang Vu (from An Hai Nam ward, Son Tra district) expressed, “We are accustomed to the city's strong tourism development around the beach, Son Tra Peninsula, and Han River... and we rarely have the chance to explore the outskirts of Hoa Vang district. There is so much to discover here—beautiful scenery, lush greenery, delicious food, and fresh air... Without the passionate locals promoting these areas, they might remain unknown forever.”

The local people we meet at various destinations are intimately familiar with the slopes, trees, hills, streams, and even the local dishes, as these are all part of their homeland. In their role as tourism hosts, they share stories about their culture, emphasize the importance of respecting nature, and help shape their region's identity on the tourism map.

Reporting by XUAN SON – Translating by HONG VAN