With her love for her homeland and sharp entrepreneurial spirit, Dinh Thi Thin from Bho Hoong village, Song Kon commune, Da Nang City, has become a “bridge” connecting Co Tu culture with the world, helping to transform her once-quiet village into a cultural tourism destination.

From village guide to cultural ambassador

Born in the Truong Son mountains in 1989, Thin grew up surrounded by the sound of gongs, the rhythmic tang tung - da da dances, and traditional Co Tu festivals. This rich cultural environment instilled in her a deep, lifelong love for her ethnic identity.

After graduating in Vietnamese Studies from Dong A College in Quang Nam in 2012, Thin returned to her hometown to work as a community tourism volunteer.

In the early days, she did almost everything herself - welcoming guests, giving tours, and coordinating food and lodging with local families. At the same time, she trained villagers in basic tourism skills so that everyone could take part.

In 2017, Thin moved to Da Nang to work as a tour operator while studying English at the Hanoi Open University’s Da Nang campus. Combining real-world experience with formal training, she soon recognized the cultural value of her people’s traditions and decided to return home to become a cultural connector.

She traveled across Dong Giang and Tay Giang districts to explore unique cultural landmarks such as Quyet Thang tea hill, artisan Y Kong’s house, and Dhroong village. After surveying, she developed them into tourism products and collaborated with travel companies from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Hue.

Believing that “language is the key to connection,” Thin opened free English classes for more than 30 villagers. Thanks to this, many young people and women in Bho Hoong can now communicate with international visitors, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Visitors to the village are diverse - mostly international travelers and young people seeking cultural experiences. Each month, Thin welcomes between 5 and 10 groups, some with dozens of guests.

Tourists can stroll through the village, bathe in streams, trek in the forest, weave baskets, make brocade, and enjoy bamboo-tube rice, grilled meat, and Ta Vat wine. These simple activities allow visitors to truly “touch” the Co Tu way of life.

Unique homestay among the mountains

In addition to developing tours, Thin built ACu Homestay - the first privately owned homestay in Bho Hoong. The house preserves traditional Co Tu architecture with a thatched roof, bamboo walls, and wooden floors, while offering modern comfort. Inside, handwoven brocade blankets and rustic decorations evoke the charm of mountain life.

At night, guests gather around the fire to listen to gongs and dance with villagers under the stars. In the morning, they awaken to mist-covered mountains, flowing streams, and the songs of forest birds. Many describe Bho Hoong as “a village from a fairy tale.”

From the homestay, visitors can join weaving, cooking, and archery workshops or learn traditional crafts. These activities engage the entire community - from elderly artisans to energetic youth - creating shared prosperity.

After years of perseverance, Thin founded her own travel company in April 2025 to manage tours professionally and promote Co Tu culture to more international markets.

“My biggest goal isn’t just to generate income for the village,” Thin shared, “but to let the world know that the Co Tu people have a unique and beautiful culture worth preserving.”

The ‘key’ to preserving Co Tu identity

After more than a decade, tourism has brought a new face to Bho Hoong - a village of nearly 700 residents. Once reliant solely on farming, villagers now earn additional income through tourism and handicrafts. On average, Bho Hoong welcomes more than 100 visitors each month.

Although community tourism hasn’t yet generated large profits, it has created local jobs, built new skills among young people, and instilled pride in traditional artisans. Importantly, Bho Hoong is now recognized as one of Quang Nam’s 12 sustainable green rural tourism sites for the 2023–2025 period.

Locals have become more conscious of preserving their heritage. Once-fading traditions such as the tang tung - da da dance, folk singing, and the new rice festival have been revived through tourism.

“Each time I tell visitors about our culture, I speak not just from knowledge, but from deep love for my homeland,” Thin said.

Thin’s efforts have been widely recognized. In 2023, she received a Certificate of Merit from Dong Giang District (now Da Nang City) and was honored by the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism at the Central Ethnic Cultural Festival. In 2024, the provincial People’s Committee awarded her a Certificate of Commendation for outstanding contributions to ethnic affairs from 2019–2024.

With her vision, language skills, and passion for culture, Dinh Thi Thin has become a role model for Co Tu women - proving that determination and creativity can sustain both livelihoods and cultural heritage. Her journey not only transforms Bho Hoong village but also brings Co Tu culture to the world.

Ha Nam