Aur Village rests peacefully amidst the deep green of the great forest. To arrive here, visitors endure about a five-hour trek through the woods. After this long journey, one is rewarded with the simple joy of discovering a gentle, unspoiled natural space, where life seems happily untouched by the rushed pace of time.
During the early days of August, the atmosphere in Aur Village grew a little more bustling than usual. Having recently returned from a study tour to Hoi An to learn about community-based tourism, the villagers welcomed and served their very first guests from afar. This initiative was organized by the Co Tu – Truong Son Cooperative, with support from the Innovative Tourism Marketing Ideas Program of the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development (ST4SD) project in Vietnam. Without the need for luxurious amenities, it was simply the sincerity, gentle smiles, and warm hospitality of the villagers that made the visit memorable.
Culture as the Quiet Breath of Life
Over three days, the visitors became a part of the village, sharing humble local meals, conversing by the warm hearth, and immersing themselves in the rich spiritual life of the Co Tu people.
One endearing trait that touches the hearts of those who visit Aur is the earnest way the villagers cherish and preserve their traditions. Here, the echoing rhythms of gongs, the sacred Gươl communal house, the New Rice Offering ceremony, and the rhythmic Tung Tung – Yá Yá dance are performed with wholehearted devotion. These are not merely performances, but rather their faith, their very breath, and their most sincere expression of gratitude to Mother Rice, the mountains, the rivers, and the heavens that have sheltered the community.
Preserving a Rough Gem Amidst the Great Forest
To protect the peace and sustainability of the village and the Co Tu traditions, the Co Tu – Truong Son Cooperative, the A Vuong commune authorities, along with security forces and Border Guards, signed a shared pledge: to nurture Aur into a sustainable and safe destination without ever losing its true identity.
A few principles have taken shape: guests are kindly asked to seek permission before arriving, join hands in protecting the environment, respect nature, and interact thoughtfully with the local culture. The villagers hold a simple hope: that tourism will not only provide a modest income to improve their daily lives but also serve as a way for the Co Tu culture to be shared truthfully and beautifully right within their own homes.
Aur Village is quietly writing its own little story—a story told through the green of the leaves, the smiles of its people, and a culture that beats vividly with each passing day. There is a humble hope that in the near future, tourism will not only open new livelihood opportunities for the community but also help the cultural values of the Co Tu people be shared properly, cherished, and kept alive within the very living space of the locals, deep in the great forest.