The melancholic sound of the khen flute drifts through the mist along the mountain slopes, whispering in harmony with the babbling streams and the rhythmic clatter of looms, creating a mystical melody that captivates travelers. The village of A Luoi today bustles with visitors from afar, as the local people have learned to leverage their cultural identity for tourism. Behind these transformations are the tireless footsteps of a Pa Co woman who loves her homeland - That is Ms. Le Thi Them, the former Head of the Culture and Information Department of the former A Luoi District, now the Head of the Party Building Committee of A Luoi 1 Commune.

In the mountainous commune of Khe Tre - newly born from the merger of Khe Tre Town and the communes of Huong Phu, Huong Loc, and Thuong Lo - a night concert titled “Ngan Ngo” (A Thousand Reveries) unfolded amid forest breezes, lights, and melodies. With no tickets and no grand stage, the night concert still etched itself in the memory of everyone who attended.

The recent floods caused severe damage not only in lowland areas but also in mountainous regions. Local authorities are making every effort to repair infrastructure and supply food and clean water to isolated communities.

On October 17, Hue Odonto-Stomatology Hospital, in coordination with A Luoi Medical Center, organized a training course titled “Enhancing knowledge for school oral healthcare staff in 2025”, for school healthcare staff from the communes of A Luoi 1, 2, 3, 4, and A Luoi 5.

The stretches of forest in A Luoi not only shelter the villages, but also have now become the livelihood foundation for locals. The Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) in the North Central Region has helped people in the mountainous areas gain stable extra income, and more importantly, changed their perspective: Protecting the forest is not just a responsibility, but a right associated with their daily lives.

Amid the majestic Truong Son Mountain, the Pa Co people continue to preserve a sacred festival, where the sound of gongs and drums blends with the flickering red flames. A Rieu Piing is a time to honor ancestors, a communal celebration that illuminates the unique cultural values of the Pa Co community.

The Co Tu people in hamlet 5, Nam Dong commune (merged from Huong Xuan, Thuong Nhat and Huong Son communes) still call Village Elder Tran Dinh Lua (72 years old) the “living treasure” of their village. To this day, he is one of the few remaining people who preserve the sacred sound of the gong that has been intertwined with generations of the Co Tu people.

The sound of gongs echoing through the mountains, the graceful spins of Pa Co and Ta Oi (ethnic groups) dances, once thought to belong only to the memory of old festivals, are now alive again in A Luoi 2. Here, a Co Tu girl named A Rel Thuy Linh, along with local youth, continue to nurture their passion, bringing the heritage of their homeland to life with vibrant performances that immerse audiences in the atmosphere of a true festival.

Together with the Huong River - Ngu Mountain, the conical hat and the purple ao dai of Hue Women are also a symbolic cultural combo that is deeply connected with the locals in the Ancient Capital. And the poet Bui Giang once “fell in love”: The poetic conical hat / Taking you to Hue City / Sunshine pierces the rim / Revealing the soul of homeland in poetry… (Taking you to the city).

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Truong Son mountain range, Doi village (Khe Tre commune) resembles a peaceful and lush green valley. There, a Co Tu girl quietly tells the story of her village day by day, with all the pride she holds for her ancestral culture.