Tak Po aims to become a community-based tourism space imbued with indigenous cultural identity. Photo: Tran Oanh

Clouds along mountainside

“I came to Tak Po by chance, but it was the sincerity and warmth of locals and the beauty of clouds and mountains that conquered me” Ms. Tran Oanh, the owner of May Tak Po Homestay, recalled.

After that, Ms. Oanh decided to stay and open a small homestay as a way to preserve a bit of peace and a place to return for herself and for those who love nature and the simplicity of mountain life.

In addition to clouds, Tak Po is also famous for the tranquil rhythm of daily life in a small Xo Dang ethnic village. Visitors can stroll around the village, listen to children’s laughter, or gather around the fire to hear the elders sharing stories of the past.

During the harvest season, they can follow locals to terraced fields and thresh rice, and carry rice home amid the sound of laughter echoing across the hillsides.

At night, gong music reverberates, bonfires crackle, and jars of ‘ruou can’ (fermented rice wine) are shared in warmth and camaraderie. Simple dishes such as ‘com lam’ (bamboo-cooked rice), grilled chicken, stream fish, and wild vegetables bring travelers closer to the heartfelt hospitality of the mountains.

What makes Tak Po truly special is that all tourism activities are associated with the community. This connection allows visitors not only to admire the scenery, but also to truly live in the highland life, feeling the breath and love of the people in the highlands of Tak Po.

Village in new planning scope

In 2024, Tak Po was selected by the authorities in Nam Tra My District in former Quang Nam Province as a pilot site for a rural tourism development model, with an investment budget of more than VND 2 billion.

In early October, the Da Nang Association of Architects had a direct working trip to Tra Tap Commune to discuss the development orientation of the Tak Po community-based tourism village. It was considered an encouraging signal, showing that urban expertise is now joining hands with the highlands to turn ideas into concrete action.

Local officials reported that since Tak Po’s cloud-hunting experience was honored in Vietnam’s Top 7 most impressive travel experiences in 2024, the number of backpackers has risen significantly. Some community-based homestays have already been established, creating new employment opportunities for residents.

In the coming period, the commune plans to work with planning experts to launch pilot projects, upgrade road access to the village, and provide training in community-based tourism for local youth, women, and social organizations.

"We do not want Tak Po to be just a place for cloud-watching and gong performances. Our goal is to build a community-based tourism space that preserves indigenous culture, protects nature, and ensures sustainable livelihoods for our people” a local leader emphasized.

Translated Mai Dung