Ho Chi Minh Trail's hidden treats
19:51 04/03/2009

  Enjoying a sip of local wine   Once the lifeline of the liberation movement, the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail has transformed into a novel attraction for tourists seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure to discover the authentic minority culture.

A sample travel itinerary takes tourists on the trail to visit historical sites such as the Ro village, Giang wharf, Kham Duc airport, Hoi village, Lo Xo hill, and Monique waterfall.

Along the route, visitors have the chance to experience the many traditional carnivals and customs of resident ethnic minorities as well as witness unique cultural performances featuring “Cong Chieng” gongs and bamboo instruments.

Highlights of the various cultural festivals include: the sacred-offering ceremonies of the Gie Trieng, Co Tu, and Ca Dong people to commemorate a successful harvest; the special buffalo sacrifice ceremony of the Cor people in Tra My District and the victory festival of the Bh’nong people in Kham Duc District which puts on display the custom of “seizing husbands” with pole decorations.

At Giang wharf and Ro village where the Co Tu and Gie Trieng people live, tourists are treated to exquisite ethnic dances that local girls perform in their traditional costumes.

In the Gung village, 80 kilometers east of Da Nang City, tourists can visit the village's Guoi house and attend artist Ating Veh's lectures about the preservation of traditional art.

The 80-year-old man also excels at several traditional instruments, and captivates audience with his performances on a whim.

Lastly, a successful trek cannot be completed without visitors treating their palate to local culinary delights such as “lam” rice cooked in bamboo, “ba kich” medicinal wine, and “ta vat” wine made from fermented “ta vat” fruits in Nam Giang and Dong Giang Districts.

Against the backdrop of the Truong Son Mountain overlooking the newly launched Ho Chi Minh highway, tourist can conveniently make multiple stopovers at other sites of interest such as Lo Xo hill, Monique waterfall, and several forests.

Reported by An Dien

Source : thanhniennews.com