Kon Tum, a majestic land in the Central Highlands, is renowned not only for its untouched natural landscapes but also for preserving the unique traditional cultures of ethnic minority communities. In recent years, community tourism has emerged as a promising direction, helping to conserve local culture and offering meaningful and immersive travel experiences. Join “Du lịch khắp thế gian” (Travel the World) to discover the beauty and charm of community tourism in Kon Tum, where culture and nature intertwine to create unforgettable journeys.
Kon Tum – A Golden Opportunity for Community Tourism
Kon Tum boasts a rich and diverse cultural treasure, shaped by the interaction of various ethnic groups such as Ba Na, Xơ Đăng, Giẻ Triêng, Brâu, and Rơ Măm. Each ethnic group carries unique cultural features, from Rong house architecture and traditional festivals to costumes, gong music, and distinctive cuisine. Moreover, Kon Tum is blessed with stunning natural landscapes, from vast primeval forests and majestic waterfalls to poetic rivers and streams.
Community tourism in Kon Tum fully utilizes these advantages, offering visitors the opportunity to explore and experience the life and culture of local people in the most authentic way. Unlike conventional forms of tourism, community tourism puts local residents at the center; they are the service providers, from accommodation and dining to tour guides and cultural experiences. This not only provides tourists with unique, immersive experiences in local culture but also contributes to generating income, improving livelihoods for residents, and preserving and promoting valuable traditional cultural values.
Vi Ro Ngheo community tourism village in Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province, Vietnam
Kon K’tu Village – A Pioneer in Community Tourism
Nestled along the legendary Đăk Bla River, Kon K’tu community tourism village (Đăk Rơ Wa commune, Kon Tum city) is one of the first and most successful community tourism destinations in Kon Tum province. This Ba Na village still preserves its unique traditional cultural features, attracting visitors with its rustic beauty, authenticity, and the hospitality of its people.
Visiting Kon K’tu, tourists will immerse themselves in a rich cultural atmosphere with traditional festivals, captivating gong and xoang dances. Visitors can explore the village architecture with ancient Rong houses and solemn communal houses, learn about traditional wood carving and brocade weaving, or experience riding a dugout canoe on the poetic Đăk Bla River.
In particular, the friendliness, hospitality, and open-mindedness of the Kon K’tu people always leave a positive impression on visitors. Mr. A Kâm, head of the Kon K’tu village tourism cooperative group, shared: “Currently, over 40% of households in Kon K’tu village participate in community tourism. People cooperate to develop tourism, and many households have boldly invested in building guesthouses and attractive experiential tours such as gong performances, xoang dances, traditional handicraft experiences, and boat trips on the Đăk Bla River…”. The enthusiasm and professionalism of the Kon K’tu people have transformed the village into a 3-star OCOP tourism destination, affirming the quality and attractiveness of community tourism here.
Vi Ro Ngheo – A Sustainable Community Tourism Model
Besides Kon K’tu, Kon Tum also has Vi Ro Ngheo community tourism village of the Xơ Đăng people in Kon Plông district. The Vi Ro Ngheo community tourism cooperative was established with 53 members, providing accommodation, dining, restaurant services, and experiential activities in local farming and agricultural production.
Mr. Phạm Văn Thắng, Vice Chairman of Kon Plông District People’s Committee, stated that after more than 3 years of developing Vi Ro Ngheo village into a community tourism village, the village has completed the phase 1 goals. The next goal is to develop Vi Ro Ngheo into an attractive ASEAN standard destination. To achieve this, the government and people of Vi Ro Ngheo village focus on preserving a green, clean, and beautiful environmental landscape; preserving and promoting traditional cultural values; managing service quality; establishing operating regulations; and restoring traditional crafts such as weaving, knitting, and sculpting.
Tourists experiencing community tourism activities with local people in Vi Ro Ngheo village, Kon Tum
Vi Ro Ngheo attracts tourists not only with its pristine natural beauty but also with unique cultural experiences and strong community bonds. Visitors can participate in agricultural production activities with local people, explore the traditional culture of the Xơ Đăng ethnic group, enjoy local cuisine, and relish the peaceful and fresh atmosphere of the Central Highlands mountains and forests. The community tourism model in Vi Ro Ngheo is a testament to sustainable development, harmonizing economy, culture, and environment.
Diverse Community Tourism Destinations in Kon Tum
In addition to Kon K’tu and Vi Ro Ngheo, Kon Tum also boasts many other attractive community tourism destinations, offering diverse experiences for visitors:
- Kon Pring Community Cultural and Tourism Village (Măng Đen town, Kon Plông district): Famous for its year-round cool climate, beautiful natural landscapes, and the traditional culture of the Mơ Nâm ethnic group.
- Kon Trang Long Loi Village Tourist Site (Đăk Hà town, Đăk Hà district): An ideal destination to explore the culture and enjoy the cuisine of the Gia Rai ethnic group.
- Bar Gốc Village (Sa Sơn commune, Sa Thầy district): Offers unique eco-tourism and cultural experiences in a peaceful rural setting.
These community tourism destinations not only create a network of cultural and tourism connections but also offer visitors diverse and rich experiences, helping them discover the colorful life of ethnic minority communities in Kon Tum.
Peaceful scenery in Kon K'tu community tourism village, Kon Tum city, Vietnam
Cultural Preservation – The Foundation for Sustainable Community Tourism Development
Kon Tum province clearly recognizes the importance of culture, especially the traditional culture of ethnic minorities, in socio-economic development, viewing it as an opportunity for people to escape poverty. In recent years, Party committees and authorities in Kon Tum province have actively implemented numerous programs, plans, and projects to preserve and promote traditional cultural values. Project 6 “Preserving and promoting the good traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development,” under the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2030, has created significant resources for Kon Tum to invest in promoting its cultural and tourism strengths.
According to statistics from the Kon Tum Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in 2022, Project 6 disbursed nearly 2.3 billion VND to implement programs for researching, restoring, and preserving traditional musical instruments of the Mơ Nâm people, restoring traditional cultural identities such as festivals of the Rơ Măm and Giẻ Triêng ethnic groups, establishing folk culture clubs, supporting traditional art troupes, organizing traditional sports competitions, and supporting equipment, cultural promotion, and tourism promotion.
Thanks to these efforts, Kon Tum has restored 33 typical traditional festivals, collected and documented epic stories, folk songs, and fairy tales, preserved 2,500 sets of gongs, and hundreds of gong and chỉnh chiêng teaching classes.
Mr. Phan Văn Hoàng, Deputy Director of the Kon Tum Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized: “Along with preservation efforts, Kon Tum province focuses on promoting the advantages and values of traditional cultures of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development, especially community tourism. In the future, the province will continue to strengthen communication, especially to the younger generation, so that people understand the value and importance of national culture, thereby raising awareness of self-preservation and promoting community resources in managing, preserving, and promoting traditional culture associated with community tourism development, contributing to promoting sustainable socio-economic development of the locality.”
Conclusion
Community tourism in Kon Tum is not just a form of tourism but also a cultural bridge, an opportunity for visitors to discover the natural beauty and unique culture of the Central Highlands, while contributing to the sustainable development of local communities. With its potential and continuous efforts, community tourism in Kon Tum promises to grow further, becoming an attractive destination on the Vietnamese and international tourism map, offering meaningful and unforgettable experiences for every visitor. Are you ready for a journey to explore Kon Tum and experience this unique community tourism?