Coi Da Village – Tourism paves the way for a new life

Nestled in a vast valley, Coi Da village (Ngan Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province) is like a hidden gem amidst the great forest. Located just 45km from the center of Dong Hoi City, it possesses a completely unique beauty – wild, quiet, and deeply imbued with the spirit of the mountains. Towering limestone mountain ranges enclose the village, surrounding crystal-clear streams flowing day and night. The Cha Loi cave system, with its expansive interior and pristine stalactites, forms magical shapes like marks of time etched onto rock walls over millions of years.  

The Van Kieu people have been attached to this land for generations, working hard to stay rooted in the forest and streams for their livelihood. The village has over 80 households, and more than half of them have gradually escaped poverty. Life is still full of hardship, but optimistic smiles and hopeful eyes for a brighter future can be seen in every stilt house. Nature has endowed Coi Da village with clear blue lakes, winding streams, and magnificent caves, but above all, it is the people here who create the vibrant vitality of this land.  

Coi Da village remains there, simple and quiet amidst the mountains, waiting for steps to arrive and listen to the stories of the mountains, the streams, and the people building a new life day by day in this remote frontier area.

Like a fresh stream flowing through the wild forest, tourism has brought new vitality to Coi Da village, awakening the hidden beauty of the remote frontier. If previously the village was submerged in the silence of primeval forests and streams running day by day, now groups of tourists arrive, bringing hustle, curiosity, and a desire to explore.  

In the heart of Phong Nha – Ke Bang, the cave system here shines like raw gems in the earth. Cha Loi Cave (General's Cave), Van Cong Cave, Van Cave, Kieu Cave, Khe Nuoc Lanh (Cold Water Stream)... are not only beautiful for their magnificent stalactites but also tied to historical stories and traces of a heroic era. Notably, amidst that vast nature, the "Valley of Love" – an immense grassland like a green steppe – has become an ideal stopover for those wanting to immerse themselves in the vast sky and earth.  

Since 2018, Quang Binh province has piloted the tour “Exploring nature, learning about Bru - Van Kieu community culture” in Quang Ninh and Le Thuy districts, opening new opportunities for the village. Visitors come to Khe Nuoc Lanh in Coi Da village, where pristine beauty is preserved, to enjoy sweet folk melodies and unique dishes rich in mountain flavors. In the 10th lunar month every year, the village springs to life with the new rice festival, a long-standing cultural feature of the Bru - Van Kieu people, where visitors can immerse themselves in the sacred and warm atmosphere of the locals.  

Every year, Coi Da village welcomes about 1,000 tourists, a modest figure but enough to show that the rhythm of life here is gradually changing. Footsteps come and go, leaving behind echoes of connection and stories of a village rising above hardship. To fully appreciate the beauty of this land, many visitors choose to trek along Nuoc Lanh stream, listening to the sound of flowing water under the canopy of ancient trees and enjoying peace amidst grand nature.  

Here, there are only simple stilt houses of the Van Kieu people, but that very simplicity creates a unique accent on the vast natural canvas. Destinations like the A72 Information Gate Station, Hang Nuoc (Water Cave), and Ho Tien (Fairy Lake) are gradually becoming new landmarks on the Quang Binh tourism map, steering Coi Da village out of quiet isolation into a new journey – a journey of development and hopeful changes.

Tourism in Coi Da village is not merely a trip; it is a journey to detach from the bustling world and immerse oneself in the unique identity of the Bru - Van Kieu people, who have been bound to the forest for generations. No traffic noise, no city dust, only deep green forests, clear streams, and mystical caves hidden within limestone mountains.  

As night falls, beside the flickering campfire, we sing Bru - Van Kieu folk songs with the locals and savor dishes imbued with mountain flavors, from fragrant bamboo-cooked sticky rice and grilled meat marinated in wild leaves to warm jars of can wine. The feeling is neither luxurious nor elaborate, but filled with sincerity and warmth, making one's soul settle as if returning to deep values within oneself.  

Coming to Coi Da village, we not only discover majestic nature with Cha Loi Cave, Khe Nuoc Lanh, and Ho Tien, but also feel the slow, gentle rhythm of life in a village transforming with the breeze of tourism while preserving the purest elements of the mountains and forests. Amidst this place, we are no longer rushed tourists, but travelers rediscovering themselves in the pristine beauty of heaven and earth.

Tourism has brought new vitality to Coi Da village, not only promoting economic development but also creating conditions to preserve and spread the cultural identity of the Bru - Van Kieu people. The pristine natural landscapes gifted by nature are now not only the pride of the local people but also a beloved destination for domestic and international travelers. Coi Da village is changing day by day, yet retaining the most rustic and authentic qualities of the forest. Community-based tourism opens a new path for this land and serves as a bridge bringing people closer together – between village and city, past and present, and simple yet valuable things.