Vi Ro Ngheo village, a homestay village of the Xo Dang, is surrounded by mountains and primitive forests in Dak Tang commune, Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province. The whole area is endowed by nature with a variety of flowers that bloom all year round. The village has attracted crowds of tourists who want to explore Central Highlands culture and nature.
An panoramic view of Vi Ro Ngheo village (photo: baodantoc.vn)
Vi Ro Ngheo sits beside the Dak Snghe river, about 50 kilometers north of Mang Den town. The temperatures here, about 1,200 meters above sea level, ranges from 16 to 25 degrees Celsius. This ancient village of the Xo Dang ethnic group has a peaceful ambience, fresh air, and the most beautiful scenery in Kon Tum province.
The village has 63 houses and more than 300 people. Quite isolated from the outside world, Vi Ro Ngheo retains indigenous architectural features of the Xo Dang.
Pham Thi Hong, a tourist from Hanoi, said: “There are unspoiled forests. The villagers are friendly and cheerful. We stayed a night in the village to experience the local life. It’s very interesting.”
The villagers have stacked tree branches - some straight, some crooked - to make a fence and a village gate. Azaleas and myrtles and many other varieties of flowers bloom in every season along the village paths. Vi Ro Ngheo is a paradise of orchids and every house has anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred pots of orchids. Some houses decorate their fences with orchid pots.
Vi Ro Ngheo villagers have collected and grown around 1,000 pods of orchids. (photo: baodantoc.vn)
A villager named Y Lan said: “In the past orchids grew on the mountain sides and in the forests. When the village began offering homestay services, we started growing orchids in our gardens. During the New Year celebration, the village is beautiful with spring orchids in full bloom.”
Vi Ro Ngheo village’s location is a natural advantage for developing tourism. Pham Van Thang, Vice Chairman of the Kon Plong district People’s Committee, said: “We have encouraged every family to get involved in reviving their culture. We organize groups of families to grow vegetables, raise chickens, ducks, and pigs, and serve meals. We serve tourists local dishes made from home-grown vegetables and fruits, domestic animals, and fish caught in the river. We want the villagers to do tourism and earn more income. We encourage them not to sell their land.”
A Hian, Director of the Vi Ro Ngheo Tourism Cooperative in Dak Tang commune, Kon Plong district, said: "Tourism can significantly boost people's income. If we do it well, more tourists will gradually come. When tourists visit and stay, the local community can earn more income and improve their quality of life."
Rose myrtles bloom in forests around Vi Ro Ngheo village. (photo: baodantoc.vn)
The recognition of Vi Ro Ngheo village as a community tourism village is important in order to orient its tourism services and connect it with other community tourism villages. Pham Van Thang, Vice Chairman of the Kon Plong district People’s Committee, says community tourism will help to preserve and promote the local culture.
“The district is determined to develop community tourism toward the Southeast Asia standard. Investing in tourism and infrastructure in order to preserve and promote Xo Dang culture is an important task. When we do community tourism, the Xo Dang people are the beneficiaries. We have a detailed management plan,” said Thang.
So far 50 of 63 households in Vi Ro Ngheo village are involved in community tourism. The villagers have formed art troupes to perform Xoang dances and play the gongs to entertain the tourists. Staying in the village tourists can explore a nearby lake and waterfalls. The district has sent the villagers to learn from the experience of other community tourism villages.
Vinh Phong