One of the most regrettable mistakes when visiting Bình Liêu is: Heading straight to a viewpoint – taking photos – and then leaving. The scenery is only half of Bình Liêu. According to official information from 2026, ethnic minorities make up a very large proportion of the population of Bình Liêu Commune, with the main communities being Tày, Dao, Sán Chỉ, and Kinh. These communities are what create the cultural layers that make Bình Liêu completely different from Hạ Long.
Sán Chỉ and Soóng Cọ
Soóng Cọ is an important form of singing and courtship exchange among the Sán Chỉ people. The 2026 Soóng Cọ Festival was held in the Khe Vằn Waterfall area; the Soóng Cọ singing art of the Sán Chỉ people in Quảng Ninh has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Soóng Cọ is not simply a song for visitors to request someone to “sing a little.” It is a cultural practice connected to the community and communication.
Sán Chỉ Women’s Football
A particularly distinctive feature of modern tourism in Bình Liêu is the sight of Sán Chỉ women in traditional clothing playing football. In 2026, a Dao–Sán Chỉ women’s football exchange continued to feature in the Soóng Cọ Festival program. This is an interesting example of how traditional culture can live on in contemporary life rather than necessarily being “framed” in a museum.
Dao Culture
The Bình Liêu area is also home to festivals and customs of the Dao people, such as the Wind Abstinence Festival, alongside community cultural preservation programs maintained by the local authorities. If you happen to arrive on a festival day, do not enter a ritual on your own simply because it looks lively and crowded.
When entering a village: you are a guest
A few important principles:
Do not enter a house without permission. Stand outside and greet or ask first.
Do not open the doors to private rooms to look inside. People’s homes are not exhibition displays.
Do not photograph people as soon as you meet them. Especially with older people and children, ask first.
Do not try on clothing unless the host has agreed. Traditional clothing is not a communal prop.
Buying local products
If you have the opportunity to buy:
- Arrowroot vermicelli.
- Handicrafts.
- Agricultural products.
- Food.
buying directly from the makers is a better way to support the community economy than simply coming to take photos. In 2026, Bình Liêu continued to pursue community-based tourism development based on resources such as traditional houses, cuisine, the arrowroot vermicelli trade, and ethnic culture.
Do not “reenact” culture for a photo
Do not ask: “Auntie, please put on that ethnic outfit and stand over there for me to take a photo.” if it is not part of an activity organized by the community. A natural photo taken with permission is always more valuable than a staged scene created without respect.
Quick checklist
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Ask permission before entering a house.
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Ask permission before photographing people.
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Do not touch worship objects.
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Do not put on traditional clothing without permission.
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Do not treat a festival as a show.
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Buy products directly from the community where appropriate.
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Keep noise levels down in the village.
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Do not litter.
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Respect border lines and restricted areas.
