Khuoi Khon hamlet inhabited by the Black Lo Lo ethnic group is a hidden gem in the forests of Cao Bang province. It captivates visitors with its unspoiled landscapes and the warm, welcoming spirit of the local people.
Khuoi Khon hamlet of the Black Lo Lo in Cao Bang province. (Photo: caobang.gov.vn)
Khuoi Khon hamlet sits on a hill. Its 60 stilt houses, spaced about 10 meters apart, all facing the same direction. Narrow paths wind between the houses made of wood and bamboo and roofed with traditional yin-yang tiles. A typical house has five rooms, with its main entrance at the center. Villagers dry rice in their front yard. During the fifth lunar month all the villagers work together planting their fields.
Visitors to Khuoi Khon like to climb nearby "Howling Wind" peak to get a breathtaking panoramic view of the village. The peak is a lofty hill where a breeze sweeps through ancient trees, creating a sound reminiscent of ocean waves. The land is adorned with a variety of wildflowers.
The Lo Lo people in Khuoi Khon have preserved their traditional food, clothing, folk songs, dances, and festivals.
Le Thanh Diep, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Bao Lac district, said the Lo Lo are one of 16 ethnic groups with a very small population.
“The Black Lo Lo branch in Khuoi Khon has retained their traditional customs and lifestyle. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has implemented a project to preserve the Lo Lo traditions, including their folk arts, weaving and embroidery crafts, and stilt houses, which are being upgraded for homestay tourism,” he said.
A Lo Lo woman in traditional clothes. (Photo: Cong Luan/VOV)
Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute, said only about 300 tourists a year come to Khuoi Khon.
“Khuoi Khon was the first community tourism village in Bao Lac district. After the first household launched a successful homestay, many others followed suit. This sparked interest from numerous tourism agencies, who came to survey the area and support the development of community tourism.”
Nong Van Toan of Kim Cuc commune’s Culture-Society Office said Khuoi Khon aims to combine tourism with cultural preservation.
“The government and local authorities have launched a program to preserve and promote the culture of the Lo Lo ethnic group in every household. We pay special attention to revitalizing folk songs and music. We have worked with local people to preserve their cultural values and their stilt house architecture,” said Toan.
In Khuoi Khon hamlet visitors can watch the local women weave fabric and create intricate costumes, and participate in the daily activities of the community. In the evenings, hosts and guests gather around a fire to listen to the elders share stories about the history of the Lo Lo people and the land they’ve occupied for generations.
Khuoi Khon, on the northeastern tourist route, is linked to other famous destinations like Ban Gioc waterfall, Pac Bo National Special Relic Site, Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park, and the Tran Hung Dao Forest National Special Relic Site.
Vinh Phong
