“Awakening” Muong Hum

Muong Hum has long been known as a beautiful land with peaceful villages nestled in the mountains, with vast green forests, terraced fields, especially the diverse cultural colors of the Giay, Mong, Ha Nhi, Red Dao people... All of which paint a picture of a landscape - culture that is both vivid and pristine.

The scenery of Muong Hum appears beautiful with mist covering the whole village and a gentle stream embracing the small village.

One early morning, the mist covered the Muong Hum valley, the gentle stream meandered around the small village, the sound of the water hummed like a lullaby of the mountains and forests. On the mountainside, the rustic houses of the Giay and Dao people, the smoke from their kitchens rose, evoking a feeling of peace and wildness that touched the heart. The people here still maintain a slow, soulful pace of life, from the hills to the market, from the terraced fields to the bustling sound of the flute and drums during the festival season.

Tourist Viet Hoang from Nghe An shared: “I have been to Sa Pa, Y Ty, but when I came to Muong Hum, I saw a very unique beauty. The scenery is rustic and pristine, the people are close and friendly. This is truly a great destination for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and find peace.”

When mentioning Muong Hum, we cannot ignore the “fairy silver village” - Seo Po Ho of the Red Dao people. This is one of the few villages that still preserves the unique traditional craft - silver carving. From rough silver bars, through the skillful hands of artisans, they become jewelry: necklaces, bracelets, earrings, buttons... sophisticated and sparkling.

Tan Phu Pao, a young artisan in Seo Po Ho, shared: “Silver carving is not only a livelihood but also a culture and soul of our Dao people. Each pattern and line engraved on silver conveys faith and wishes for luck and happiness.”

Silver products through the talented hands of craftsmen become exquisite works of art. They are pure white silver bracelets, round like the moonlight of the highlands, decorative strings carved with meticulous patterns down to the smallest detail, graceful like a cool stream in the middle of the forest.

No noise, no ostentation - just the concentration, the love for the profession of the people here like the silent belief that: silver carving is not only a livelihood, but also a connection between ancestors and descendants, the past and the present. That perseverance - without praise - still quietly shines in the green forest of Muong Hum, like silver bracelets sparkling with light and imbued with the national soul. The silver carving profession in Seo Po Ho not only brings daily income but also has unique experiential value. If exploited in the right direction, this will be an attractive cultural tourism product, a perfect complement to the journey to explore Muong Hum.

Saying goodbye to Seo Po Ho, you will explore Dragon Waterfall in Trung Ho village. The road from Seo Po Ho village to Dragon Waterfall is about 7 - 8 km, but it opens up many levels of emotions. The road is not too steep, mostly concrete, with only a few sections paved with aggregate or dirt roads, but basically very easy to move... You will go through beautiful villages, meet friendly people, innocent children playing in the sun; the simple houses of the Mong and Dao people next to the green rice fields...

The 7-8 km journey from Seo Po Ho to Dragon Waterfall takes visitors through peaceful villages.

Muong Hum is changing day by day. The infrastructure is gradually being completed, tourists can easily connect from here to Sa Pa, or go back to Y Ty - where clouds surround ancient rocks. The convenience in connection is opening up new opportunities for this land to develop sustainable indigenous tourism. Dragon Waterfall stands tall like a wonder. The water from the top of the high mountain rushes down, creating white foam, like a dragon's head spraying water in the clouds. On sunny days, the light shining through the water creates a magical shimmering rainbow, making anyone standing in front of the waterfall amazed and overwhelmed.

Dragon Waterfall flows from the top of a high mountain, the water foaming white between the clouds and sky.

Mr. Duc Thanh - a tourist from Nghe An, shared: “I have been to many places, but Dragon Waterfall of Muong Hum really surprised me. The wild, majestic, poetic beauty is like a landscape painting. If the infrastructure and services are invested properly, this place will definitely become a check-in point attracting young tourists”.

If anyone has ever been fascinated by the terraced fields of Mu Cang Chai and Hoang Su Phi, then coming to Muong Hum, they will be amazed once again. The rice fields curve along the mountainside, layer upon layer like rice waves. Not only rice, Muong Hum is also famous for its cold-water fish farms. The clear water flowing from Hoang Lien mountain range creates ideal conditions for salmon and sturgeon to grow. The cold-water fish farms here not only provide high-quality food but also open their doors to welcome tourists to visit and enjoy the cuisine.

Muong Hum is located in a prime location: one side connects Sa Pa - "the land of love", the other side connects Y Ty - "the vast cloud forest". Roads have been and are being expanded, connecting these destinations together, opening up opportunities for Muong Hum to become an indispensable stop on the journey to explore Lao Cai.

Mr. Doan Trung Hieu, Head of the Department of Culture and Society of Muong Hum commune affirmed: “Muong Hum has enough potential to develop community tourism, cultural experiences and eco-tourism. The problem is how to preserve the identity and create sustainable livelihoods for the people. We hope to have close coordination between the government, businesses and people so that Muong Hum can truly become an attractive destination.”

“Awakening” Muong Hum is not only a call for tourism development, but also a desire for this land to step out of its quiet state. With the advantage of pristine landscape, unique culture, and rich products, Muong Hum can completely become a unique destination connecting Sa Pa and Y Ty. The important thing is sustainable development. Let visitors not only come once to see the scenery, but also come back many times because they love the culture and people here.

Amidst the whirlwind of massive tourism development, Muong Hum is still like a shy, sleeping mountain girl. But with just a call, a gentle touch, that beauty will awaken, shine, becoming a meeting place for those who long to return to the pristine but vibrant land...

“Awakening” Muong Hum is not only an opportunity to develop tourism economy, but also a journey to preserve, honor and spread the unique cultural values of Lao Cai.

Presented by: Bich Hue

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/danh-thuc-muong-hum-post880641.html