May Village Preserves The Traditional Culture Of Sapa

On the 10th Anniversary of building the Fansipan cable car, Sun World Fansipan Legend officially inaugurated May Village (Ban May), with 11 ancient houses brought from different villages. This destination gathers all 5 ethnic minorities in Sa Pa, with the desire to preserve and promote highland cultural values in tourism.

Traditional houses of ethnic groups in May Village, Sa Pa, Lao Cai. Photo: Laodong

Stepping through the rustic gate with thatched roof on the mountainside of the Hoang Lien Son range, travelers will feel like they are lost in a cozy Northwest village. There is an old house where Red Dao women sit on the porch embroidering dresses and another where the H’mong people cook meals for the guests. From the house of the Xa Pho people, travelers can hear the sound of a mother singing a lullaby. The scene is as tranquil as daily life in the villages of Sa Pa people.

People coming here for the first time are amazed by the fact that May Village contains the spirit of ethnic minority culture in Sa Pa, and is only 10 minutes away from the town centre. Since it is not easy for tourists to meet ethnic minorities, this place is a wonderful way to preserve the traditional activities of the groups, festive atmosphere, and delicious foods.

Stepping through the rustic gate with thatched roof on the mountainside of the Hoang Lien Son range, travelers will feel like they are lost in a cozy Northwest village. Photo: Laodong

Chris, a tourist from Germany, was taken aback by the local culture. “I was impressed to see the traditional dances and music of the ethnic groups here. I feel like I really learned something new in the village. This is the most exciting thing we can do on a vacation."

The village recreates the most authentic living space imbued with Northwest traditions and stilt houses from different remote villages in Sapa, combined to form a poetic traveling stop at the foot of Fansipan mountain. The special residents in the main village are the young generation, indigenous artisans from the 5 ethnic minorities H'Mong, Tay, Giay, Xa Pho, and Red Dao who maintain their simple daily lifestyles.

Ly Man May, a Red Dao girl, is fascinated with the architecture of May Village, where she introduces to travelers the culture, spirituality, and identity of her people. This is like the new home of ethnic minorities, where they proudly showcase daily activities, Northwest cuisine, spiritual culture, and traditional festivals.

Foreign tourists enjoy their time visiting May Village. Photo: Laodong

It brings together all the essence so that visitors can meet 5 ethnic minorities and have the most unique experience in just one day. The village is even more bustling every weekend or Tet holiday. Visitors can witness the traditional wedding of the Red Dao people, enjoy the Tay people dancing and singing, and the H’mong people playing the flute.

In the midst of the tourism development in Sapa, May Village contributes a unique highlight to the highland, adding colors to the Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area. Tran Xuan Binh - Deputy Director of the Lao Cai Department of Tourism, assessed that May Village not only plays a role in preserving and conserving but also creating a world for storing tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Each gift and souvenir also takes indigenous cultural values as the core. Photo: Laodong

Each gift and souvenir also takes indigenous cultural values as the core. For example, brocade patterns contribute to spreading and promoting traditional crafts and weaving of ethnic minorities.

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