With the advantage of having a poetic and charming natural landscape next to simple stilt houses, imbued with the Muong ethnic identity, along with the customs, lifestyles, and rich culinary culture of the local people, it is a favorable condition for Mo village, Binh Thanh commune, Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province to develop community tourism. On July 30, 2024, the Chairman of the Hoa Binh Provincial People's Committee signed Decision No. 1419/QD-UBND on recognizing Mo village as a Community Tourism Destination.

Panorama of Mo village, a community tourism destination

Mo village community tourism destination, Binh Thanh commune, Cao Phong district, located in the development space of Hoa Binh Lake Tourist Area, about 10 km from the center of Hoa Binh city, is an attractive destination, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. The beauty of the mountain scenery, of the simple stilt houses, the vast fruit gardens make visitors feel the peaceful and warm life of the Muong ethnic people here every time they set foot in the Mo village community tourism destination.

Mo village is located in a valley, above and below are terraced fields that change color with the seasons, surrounded by hills and mountains. This is a village of the Muong ethnic people living with traditional stilt houses, fruit-laden orchards. The village has 195 families and 767 people. The highlight that creates the attraction for Mo village is the ancient turtle-shaped stilt houses of the Muong people. These stilt houses are associated with the customs, habits and daily life of the Muong people, and are also a special feature in the community tourism model here. Normally, the stilt houses of the people here are built against high ground such as hillsides and mountainsides to receive the fresh air and be drier, convenient for daily life and activities. The stilt houses of the people here are divided into three areas: The part close to the roof is made of large bamboo trees to store food and household items, the middle space is the place for living and resting, receiving guests, and the bottom part is where livestock is kept and production tools are stored. Nowadays, to adapt to the new lifestyle, ensure hygiene and welcome tourists, the livestock and poultry farming area has been separated, the lower part of the stilt house is designed to be high and clean, a place to store utensils or a place to welcome guests, a place for family activities. The kitchen is also an important part of the Muong stilt house here. The kitchen is considered the soul of the house and is not only a place to prepare food, but also a place where the main activities of the family take place. The kitchen is always respected and preserved by the Muong people to welcome tourists and conduct intimate conversations, invite meals in a cozy space by the fire.

Muong culture is still preserved intact by local people

In 2021, the Mo Village Community Tourism Cooperative was established with 30 members. Currently, the cooperative has two clubs that are operating quite effectively: a club to collect and introduce traditional folk culture of the Muong people and a club to teach folk songs and dances of the Muong ethnic group. Since its inception, the Mo Village Community Tourism Cooperative has welcomed more than 40,000 domestic and foreign tourists. Tourists coming to Mo Village can enjoy the quiet space with fresh air; Tourists can walk to visit the village, check in next to the terraced fields or visit farms, and see the daily life of local people. Guests can stay overnight at homestays equipped with basic amenities such as communal rooms with clean sheets and pillows, bathrooms with hot water, clean toilets, and meals served in a variety of ways according to guests' needs, including traditional dishes such as steamed sticky rice, Lam rice, stream fish, pork, local chicken, homegrown vegetables, etc. Mo village has welcomed tourists since the 1990s of the last century. With its convenient geographical location and beautiful landscape, it has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to visit and learn about the Muong ethnic culture. In particular, with the attention and support of Hoa Binh province and Cao Phong district, Mo village's infrastructure has been gradually invested in and built to serve tourism development, such as connecting roads from Highway 435 to the village, roads around the village, parking lots, bridges over streams, ethnic art group, and instructions on guest reception and foreign languages ​​for the locals. The recognition of Mo village community tourism site by the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province will contribute to preserving traditional culture, maintaining and developing the tourist site better and better.