Pa Vi Ha – The Mong Village That Turned Heritage into Pride

(TITC) – In the heart of the rugged Dong Van Stone Plateau, where the mountains shimmer in shades of gray and the wind carries the sound of flutes through the valleys, lies Pa Vi Ha Village  –  a community that has learned to make tourism not only a livelihood, but a way of honoring its roots.

This year, at the Vietnam Tourism Awards 2025, the Mong Ethnic Community-Based Cultural and Tourism Village in Pa Vi Ha (Pa Vi Commune, Meo Vac District, Tuyen Quang Province) was named “Best Community-Based Tourism Destination”, a recognition of its remarkable efforts to preserve culture while developing sustainably.

Pride of the Stone Plateau

At the awards ceremony on September 27 at the VinPalace Co Loa Convention Center (Dong Anh, Hanoi), village head Giang Mi Vang stood humbly before the crowd, holding the award that symbolized the dreams and labor of his entire community.

“This award is a great source of pride for our Mong people,” he shared. “It’s the result of our unity, of our determination to protect our culture and to build a model of green, sustainable tourism.”

The recognition shines a spotlight on the collective effort of local authorities and villagers  –  those who have worked tirelessly to preserve traditional architecture, safeguard customs, revive handicrafts, and create tourism products rooted in Mong identity.

With its golden rammed-earth houses, ancient yin-yang tiled roofs, and misty mountain backdrop, Pa Vi Ha today is not only a symbol of beauty but also of resilience  –  the beating heart of the Meo Vac plateau.

A Mong Village in the Heart of the Rock

Nestled along the legendary Happiness Road (National Highway 4C), Pa Vi Ha is a picture of both serenity and vitality.

Golden-walled houses line narrow stone-paved lanes; fences twist like ribbons between clusters of blooming buckwheat. The sound of the Mong flute floats above the valley, and the swirling skirts of young women bring color to the gray stone landscape.

Here, tourism is more than business  –  it’s storytelling. Visitors can join the villagers in pounding sticky rice cakes, cooking thang co, weaving linen, or tasting corn wine brewed with forest leaves. Under the moonlit sky, the laughter of the villagers mingles with the rhythm of gongs and the haunting melody of the flute  –  a scene that feels timeless, untouched by the rush of the modern world.

Tourism Rooted in Culture

The Pa Vi Ha community-based tourism model began in 2017, with guidance from the Meo Vac District government and the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Today, over 30 households participate in tourism, including 15 homestay owners and 10 families offering food, performances, and experiential tours. The village welcomes around 60,000 visitors each year, with 15% being international travelers from Europe, North America, and Asia.

Its signature tourism products celebrate local life  –  homestays built in the Mong architectural style, rock-corn farming experiences, visits to Gau Tao Festival or Meo Vac Market, and the popular experiential program “A Day as a Mong.”

Pa Vi Ha has also become a pioneer of green tourism. The community collectively adopted a Green Tourism Convention, pledging to eliminate plastic waste, avoid deforestation for firewood, and prevent the spread of concrete structures that might spoil the village’s traditional charm.

This balance between conservation and development has become a model for the entire region.

From Tourism to Sustainable Livelihoods

Community tourism has transformed Pa Vi Ha from a modest highland village into a vibrant example of local empowerment. The average household income has now reached over VND 90 million per year, with many families escaping poverty sustainably.

Young villagers are trained as local guides, women join weaving cooperatives and cooking groups, and children grow up in a clean, beautiful environment where learning and cultural pride go hand in hand.

A community tourism management board, elected by the villagers themselves, oversees operations  –  ensuring that the benefits of tourism are shared fairly, while protecting the soul of Mong culture.

Through this model, Pa Vi Ha shows that sustainable tourism is not just an economic choice, but a cultural commitment.

Affirming the Tuyen Quang Tourism Brand

For Tuyen Quang Province, this award marks an important milestone. It affirms a strategy that places culture and community at the heart of tourism development.

Pa Vi Ha’s success adds a new star to Tuyen Quang’s tourism map and strengthens its emerging brand: “Tuyen Quang – A Destination of Culture and Experience on the Stone Plateau.”

The province continues to replicate this model in other iconic highland villages  –  Lung Cu, Sung La, Pho Bang, and Du Gia  –  creating a connected network of cultural tourism destinations along legendary routes such as “The Road of Happiness,” “The Buckwheat Flower Route,” and “The Northeast Arc.”

When Culture Becomes Light

The story of Pa Vi Ha is a reminder that when people become the heart of tourism, culture doesn’t fade  –  it flourishes.

The 2025 award for “Best Community-Based Tourism Destination” is not only a well-earned recognition but also a beacon for other highland communities  –  an inspiration to build tourism that is green, humane, and rich in identity.

Amid the endless gray of the Dong Van cliffs, Pa Vi Ha shines  –  a small Mong village whose warmth, resilience, and spirit have turned stone into pride, and heritage into hope.

Tourism Information Technology Center