Standing out and vibrant amidst the northeastern mountains and forests, the mural village in Po Hen border village delights Quang Ninh tourists with its large, vivid wall paintings.
Traveling to Quang Ninh, impressed by the borderland mural village
After the 1979 border war, 15 Dao households with the surname Tang came here and established a new hamlet in Po Hen village, now known as Dang Hamlet. It is likely called Dang Hamlet because the pronunciations of Tang and Dang are quite similar.
Dang Hamlet. Photo: VnExpress.
A corner of the mural village in Dang Hamlet. Photo: La Nghia Hieu/Thanh Nien Newspaper.
In 2016, Mong Cai City developed Hai Son Commune into a community-based tourism destination. Consequently, buffalo and cattle sheds were relocated away from houses to maintain hygiene throughout the hamlet. In addition, to create a highlight, local residents were encouraged to allow murals to be painted on their walls, forming a mural village.
Revitalized houses. Photo: VnExpress.
Under the skillful hands of talented artists, moldy concrete walls have turned into extremely beautiful and vivid paintings depicting border life and people, helping attract more tourists visiting Quang Ninh to the border area of Po Hen, Mong Cai.
Photo: VOV.
Paintings depicting the lives of border people. Photo: Environment Magazine.
Photo: vov.
The themes of the murals include the harvest season in the Dao village; a green frog; villages with terraced fields; and colorful nature adorning the hamlet's scenery. In addition, many paintings depict the lives of working people in the borderland, helping visitors better understand the local cultural identity.
The frog painting is one of the hamlet's famous artworks. Photo: VOV.
Photo: VOV.
Photo: VOV.
Photo: Quang Minh.
In Dang Hamlet, where over 90% of residents belong to the Dao ethnic group, local authorities had to spend nearly half a year campaigning house-to-house to obtain their consent for wall paintings. Initially, hamlet officials led by example; later, seeing how beautiful it looked, more and more people gradually agreed.
Photo: Quang Minh.
Aside from harvesting crops and working on hillside fields, local people here had almost no other jobs. Revitalizing the hamlet has helped them learn how to provide tourism services to visitors and earn additional income. Many residents also raise bamboo rats and wild boars, and sell golden camellia tea to cater to the needs of travelers from afar.
Photo: VOV.
Traveling to Quang Ninh, Po Hen, visitors can not only hear heroic stories from the 1979 border war at Po Hen Border Guard Station, but also have the opportunity to admire the mural village and explore the lives of the local people.
Photo: Quang Minh.
Previously, very few tourists visited both Dang hamlet and Po Hen village, but since the mural village was developed for community-based tourism, the village's appearance has turned a new page.
Photo: VOV.
Terraced fields in the Northeast. Photo: VnExpress.
In addition to the mural village, visitors here can also visit Cao Lan waterfall, Trang Vinh river, Po Hen border gate, Po Hen martyrs memorial... And enjoy stream fish, black Muscovy duck meat or ca say, and buy local specialties such as golden camellia, khau nhuc, purple sticky rice chung cake, brocade...
Photo: VTC News.
Besides overly familiar destinations, when traveling to Quang Ninh, try visiting Dang hamlet, Po Hen village, Mong Cai city once to learn more about the nature and people of this northeastern borderland. And do not forget to check out the latest articles on the iVIVU blog for a wonderful vacation!
