Visiting Cu Lan village, Lam Dong province

Cu Lan is a peaceful village of the K'Ho ethnicity in Lam Dong province. Tiny stilt houses, pure air, and warm-hearted people attract tourists to the village.

Cu Lan is a peaceful village of the K’Ho ethnicity in Lam Dong province. Tiny stilt houses, pure air, and warm-hearted people attract tourists to the village.

Cu Lan village is named after a local plant species that flourishes between the rows of pine trees. Cu Lan is also the Vietnamese word for a sloth that lives near the village.

The village is nestled in a forest at the foot of Lang Biang mountain in Lac Duong district, 20km from Da Lat. Here, the K'ho, one of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam, live in stilt houses that lean against the steep slope.

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Impressed by the region, Van Tuan Anh wrote a song about the village which established it as an ecotourism village.

Doan Truong Son, a tour guide with the Viettravel Company, said, “Each of us has our own impression of the name of the village. For me, the name of the village expresses its pure beauty. This village demonstrates the harmony between man and nature. It’s a destination for anyone who wants to escape the dust and noise of the city”.

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Some visitors like to walk along the small paths connecting the small thatched-roof houses. Others prefer to venture over rush bamboo bridges to meadows of purple, violet, and yellow daylilies.

Others choose to take a jeep to explore the hillside roads.

Trinh Thi Ngot from Ho Chi Minh City said, “Driving a jeep here is really sensational. The slopes are incredibly dangerous and before today I had never tried. It's really impressive”.

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Cu Lan village offers numerous activities: kite flying, hiking, boat rowing, fishing, picnicking, folk games and gong performances. There's even an art gallery.

Minh Lan from Radio and Television of Lam Dong shared,“After travelling particularly winding roads, we arrive in this romantic village. Don’t miss the small open-air market in Duoc hamlet or the exhibits of Vietnamese and foreign artists”.

The village’s rows of houses on wooden stilts are reflected by a large lake as if in a a mirror. On holidays, boat races are held. At night, glowing lanterns give the village an air of mystery.

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Songwriter Van Tuan Anh noted, "Tourists are increasingly demanding. They want to discover a vibrant culture. Cu Lan village has preserved its identity."

"Tourists really enjoy visiting small houses with domestic animals and vegetable gardens around the house. When night falls, we gather around the fire and dance to the rhythm of gongs," he added.

No one forgets a visit to Cu Lan, one of the most fascinating villages in the Central Highlands.

(Source: VOV)