VIETNAM – Hoi An – A Day to Learn About the Co Tu Minority

The Co Tu people inhabit in the mountainous regions of Central Vietnam, west of Hoi An and Danang. They are now the smallest of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups, and still live in small villages with a central communal Goul house.

Theme

Art & Culture, Classic, Gastronomy, Sustainable

Country - City

Vietnam - Hoi An

Market segment

Thematic Leisure

Price Level

$$$

Max pax

50

Seasonality

All year round, rainy season from October to December

Arrival city

Hoi An

Departure city

Hoi An

Description

Spending a whole day learning about the Co Tu people will give travelers the privileged opportunity to discover a unique culture and interact with the local villagers. On the journey up the mountain, travelers will not only be immersed in incredible nature, but make stops along the way to experience daily life here, and meet the Co Tu people of the Bho Hoong village. The trip will be end with leisurely relaxation time with the triditional show of ‘Hat Ly’ at the communal house.

Selling points

  • A multi-activity excursion with sightseeing, walking, local interaction, traditional cuisine and culture
  • Easy to include from Hoi An, and a wonderful learning experience about a minority group in Central Vietnam (its customs, communal housing and specific food)
  • Good for nature lovers and people interested in local culture and history

Level Of The Excursion

High – This activity strongly supports local communities and/or helps preserve the culture and environment

The Impact Of This Excursion

Social/cultural Impact

Cultural Conservation

Empowerment and education

Homestays

Involving minorities

Economic Impact

Community benefits

Additional Information

Positive Impact:

This activity provides an in-depth discovery of a region inhabited by the Co Tu ethnic group, helping to maintain and preserve the culture (including the specific food of the region). It provides jobs & income to an impoverished area of Vietnam operating as a kind of Community Based Tourism. 
This activity also helps to train local staff in hospitality, and provides employment to locals who might otherwise be unable to find suitable jobs in this region. For example, the manager of the small hotel is a young woman who studied in Hue; without this project she may have had to work stay in Hue or Danang for work, even though she comes from the Co Tu region. The region has almost no natural resources, therefore developing tourism is a good way for the region to generate income streams
Negative Impact:
The activity is made using a Jeep which is quite negative to the environment, but it’s also possible to do it using regular transportation. 

Time And Transportation

From To Distance By Duration Road condition
Hoi An Bho Hoong village 90 kilometers Car 2h 30min Some ramps

Duration

Full day, depart from Hoi An around 08:00 and come back around 18:00

Min pax

1

Max pax

50

How to sell it

  • For both FIT and Group up to 50 pax
  • For people who are seeking a unique cultural experience and local interactions in a beautiful serene location
  • To learn more about the Co Tu people, the smallest of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups, living not too far from Hoi An
  • Easy to combine with any activities in Hoi An on another day
  • For people who want to spend more days in Hoi An
  • The only option as a day trip to see ethnic minority people around Hoi An

Why this activity

  • To develop more activities and support CBT in the remote area near Hoi An
  • To have more options for clients who want to spend more days in Hoi An
  • To offer a multi-activity outdoor experience and a less touristic activity

Good to combine with

Any activities in Hoi An on another day

Do not combine with

Central Highlands (Pleiku/Kon Tum/ Buon Ma Thuot), where we offer very similar activities, such as interaction with ethnic minority people (Bahnar, Giarai, M’nong …), mountainous sightseeing, visiting communal houses (Rong house, Longhouse), enjoying a lunch with locals…

Market suggestion

AUSTRALIA

FRANCE

CEE

GERMANY

UK

BEST FOR FIT

Competitor comparison

Other DMCs

Pros

  • Easy to organize with the local supplier
  • There are many interesting stops on the way: the Co Tu family, tea plantation, wooden tomb, and community house
  • A day trip with a variety of activities: walking, local interaction, traditional cuisine and culture
  • The team is friendly and gives good services.
  • The on-the-spot local guide is proficient in English and Co Tu, making connecting with the locals easy.
  • Excellent music show; you really feel the Co Tu culture when attending it
  • During our inspection, three older people in the village were still wearing traditional costumes

 

Cons

  • The food is OK, but not amazing
  • The walking tour in the village is relatively quick
  • It’s a lot of transportation, but it’s the only solution to see the minority group while having a good activity.

Information

08:00 Depart from Hoi An to the mountainous area of Quang Nam province

09:30 Arrival a local Co Tu family, enjoy tea and local coffee. Continue with a short visit the tea plantation, wooden tomb, and community house

10:30 visit Droong village of the Co Tu minority, spend our time to enjoy the brocade weaving and the wicker rattan craft – the traditional craft of Co Tu people

11:45 Arrival at Bho Hoong village, short time to relax with a welcome drink, then join the traditional cooking demonstration and have lunch at the Goul house

13:30 Enjoy traditional folk song performance named “Hat Ly”

14:30 Walk to explore the village before transfer back to Hoi An

18:00 Arrival Hoi An

 

Important information

  • Sensitive Activity – Notes for the Sales
  • This region never receive money from the tourists and is not developed; bringing travelers there also brings better work conditions
  • The project helps and brings work to local people; for example, the manager of the small hotel is from the village nearby and studied in Hué; having this kind of business helps to keep the young generation in the town.

Price range

$$$

Quotation guideline

ERP – Hoi An – Activity – Co Tu CBT tour – A day to learn about Co Tu people

Inclusion

  • On-spot English-speaking guide
  • Traditional cooking demonstration and local lunch
  • Folk song performance

Exclusion

  • Transportation
  • Personal expense
  • Travel Insurance

Remark

Must include Easia’s guide

Important notes

For reservation in charge: Provide any information about travelers’ food allergies or dietary restrictions

Special Guide notes

  • Make sure to cooperate and coordinate with the local guide
  • Call the supplier one day in advance to reconfirm the tour

Sensitive Activity – Notes for the guide:
It’s necessary to emphasize that the region is changing quickly, and bringing tourists can help to maintain some traditions in the village

Contact

Co Tu CBT tours

Add: Dong Giang, Quang Nam

Contact: Mrs.Thin/ 0396997077 or 0378634019

Email: [email protected]

English

A day to learn about the Co Tu minority

Your morning begins with a drive west of Hoi An towards the village of the Co Tu minority people. After passing many rice fields and stunning mountainous areas, you will stop to meet a Co Tu family for coffee, and meet an old Co Tu man, the head of the village. He will invite you into his house and introduce you to the traditional values of Co Tu culture by showing you a miniature museum. Afterwards, you will take a short walk to visit the tea plantation, where you may meet some locals working on the farm. Continue on driving to visit a traditional wooden tomb and the village’s communal house, to learn about the sculptures of Co Tu people and have a glimpse into the practices of the Co Tu culture, before arriving at Bho Hoong village. At noon, you are welcomed at the village, and after a short break with tea, you will join a cooking demonstration to learn about the specific dishes and traditions of this ethic minority tribe. After having lunch at the communal house, you will meet a group of Co Tu men who will play a few folk songs, called ‘Hat Ly’. You can then walk around the village to explore local handicrafts and talk with some of the villagers. Ending the tour, you will return to Hoi An in the late afternoon.

Meal included: lunch

Distance and duration: 90 kilometers – 2h 30min

French

Une journée à la découverte de la minorité ethnique Co Tu

Le matin, vous vous rendrez à l’ouest d’Hoi An afin de rejoindre le village de la minorité ethnique Co Tu. Vous passerez par les rizières et les montagnes avant de vous arrêter chez une famille Co Tu pour partager un café. Vous rencontrerez un vieux monsieur, chef du village, qui vous présentera les valeurs traditionnelles de la culture Co Tu en vous faisant découvrir un petit musée dans sa maison. Après cela, vous ferez une courte promenade pour visiter la plantation de thé où vous pourrez peut-être rencontrer des habitants y travaillant. Vous poursuivrez votre route puis vous visiterez un tombeau traditionnel en bois ainsi qu’une maison communale afin de découvrir les sculptures des Co Tu et leur culture. Vous arriverez ensuite au village de Bho Hoong. À midi vous serez accueilli au village puis, après une courte pause-thé, vous participerez à une démonstration culinaire pour mieux comprendre les spécificités des plats et des traditions de la minorité. Après avoir déjeuné dans la maison communale, vous rencontrerez des musiciens Co Tu qui vous joueront quelques musiques folkloriques, nommées « Hat Ly ». Puis vous marcherez à travers le village pour découvrir l’artisanat local et échanger avec les locaux.Fin du voyage, vous retournerez à Hoi An en fin d’après-midi.

Repas inclus : déjeuner
Transport : 90 kilomètres – 2h 30min

Spanish

Un día para conocer a la minoría Co Tu

La mañana comienza con un viaje en coche al oeste de Hoi An hacia el pueblo de la minoría Co Tu. Después de pasar por muchos campos de arroz e impresionantes zonas montañosas, se detendrá para tomar un café con una familia Co Tu y conocer a un anciano Co Tu, el jefe de la aldea. Le invitará a entrar en su casa y le presentará los valores tradicionales de la cultura Co Tu mostrándole un museo en miniatura. Después, dará un breve paseo para visitar la plantación de té, donde podrá conocer a algunos lugareños que trabajan en la granja. Continuaremos conduciendo para visitar una tumba tradicional de madera y la casa comunal del pueblo, para conocer las esculturas de los Co Tu y tener una visión de las prácticas de la cultura Co Tu, antes de llegar al pueblo de Bho Hoong. A mediodía, le recibirán en la aldea y, tras un breve descanso con té, participará en una demostración de cocina para conocer los platos específicos y las tradiciones de esta tribu étnica minoritaria. Después de almorzar en la casa comunal, conocerá a un grupo de hombres Co Tu que tocarán algunas canciones folclóricas, llamadas “Hat Ly”. A continuación, podrá pasear por el pueblo para conocer la artesanía local y hablar con algunos de sus habitantes. Terminando el recorrido, regresará a Hoi An a última hora de la tarde.

 

Comidas incluidas: almuerzo

Distancia y duración: 90 kilómetros – 2h 30min

Italian

Una giornata alla scoperta della minoranza Co Tu 

La mattinata inizia con un viaggio in auto a ovest di Hoi An verso il villaggio della minoranza Co Tu. Dopo aver attraversato numerose risaie e splendide zone montuose, vi fermerete presso una famiglia Co Tu per un caffè e incontrerete un anziano Co Tu, il capo del villaggio. Vi inviterà a casa sua e vi mostrerà i valori tradizionali della cultura Co Tu mostrandovi un museo in miniatura. In seguito, farete una breve passeggiata per visitare la piantagione di tè, dove potrete incontrare le persone locali che lavorano nella fattoria. Continuate a guidare per visitare una tomba tradizionale in legno e la casa comunale del villaggio, per vedere le sculture Co Tu e conoscere le pratiche culturali Co Tu, prima di arrivare al villaggio di Bho Hoong. A mezzogiorno sarete accolti nel villaggio e, dopo una breve pausa con il tè, parteciperete a una dimostrazione di cucina per conoscere i piatti e le tradizioni specifiche di questa tribù etnica minoritaria. Dopo aver pranzato nella casa della comunità, incontrerete un gruppo di uomini Co Tu che eseguiranno alcuni canti popolari, chiamati “Hat Ly”. In seguito, si può passeggiare per il villaggio per vedere l’artigianato locale e parlare con alcuni abitanti. Il tour si concluderà con un pediluvio caldo sul fiume che scorre vicino al villaggio.Fine del giro, rientrerete a Hoi An nel tardo pomeriggio.

Pasti inclusi: pranzo
Distanza e durata: 90 chilometri – 2h 30min

German

Ein Tag mit der Co Tu-Minderheit

Ihr Morgen beginnt mit einer Fahrt westlich von Hoi An in Richtung des Dorfes der Co Tu-Minderheit. Nachdem Sie an vielen Reisfeldern und atemberaubenden Bergregionen vorbeigefahren sind, halten Sie an, um mit einer Co Tu-Familie Kaffee zu trinken und einen alten Co Tu-Mann, das Oberhaupt des Dorfes zu treffen. Er lädt Sie in sein Haus ein um Ihnen die traditionellen Werte der Co Tu-Kultur näher zu bringen, indem er Ihnen ein Miniaturmuseum zeigt. Danach machen Sie einen kurzen Spaziergang zur Teeplantage, wo Sie einige Einheimische treffen werden, die auf der Farm arbeiten. Fahren Sie weiter, um ein traditionelles Holzgrab und das Gemeinschaftshaus des Dorfes zu besichtigen, die Skulpturen des Co Tu-Volkes kennenzulernen und einen Einblick in die Praktiken der Co Tu-Kultur zu erhalten, bevor Sie im Dorf Bho Hoong ankommen. Mittags werden Sie im Dorf willkommen geheißen, und nach einer kurzen Teepause nehmen Sie an einer Kochvorführung teil, um die spezifischen Gerichte und Traditionen dieses ethischen Minderheitenstammes kennen zu lernen. Nach dem Mittagessen im Gemeinschaftshaus treffen Sie eine Gruppe von Co-Tu-Männern, die einige Volkslieder, “Hat Ly” genannt, spielen werden. Anschließend können Sie einen Spaziergang durch das Dorf machen, um das lokale Kunsthandwerk zu erkunden und mit einigen Dorfbewohnern zu sprechen. Ende der Tour, Am späten Nachmittag kehren Sie nach Hoi An zurück.

Mahlzeiten inklusive: Mittagessen
Strecke und Dauer: 90 Kilometer – 2 Stunden und 30 Minuten