After graduating with a law degree and working in Hanoi for some time, Ho Thuong Liu (born in 1993) decided to return to A Luoi 1 Commune to start his own business. Drawing on the A Lin Stream that was part of his childhood, he developed a community-based tourism model centered on stilt houses, local cuisine, and the cultural traditions of the Bru - Van Kieu people. From a once-pristine and lesser-known destination, A Lin Stream has gradually attracted visitors, contributing to the livelihoods of local residents in the highlands.

The culture and way of life in the highlands possess a unique charm. This appeal comes not only from the distinct customs, cuisine, and lifestyle, but also from the unique stories of the mountains and forests preserved by ethnic minority communities, as well as their cultural identities passed down through generations.

By preserving Co Tu cultural traditions in everyday life and integrating indigenous values into visitor experiences, residents of Doi Village have carved out a distinctive path for community-based tourism in the western area of Hue City. The village is gradually emerging as a favorite destination for travelers seeking community-based tourism activities in Khe Tre highland area.

As part of the 1st Festival of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Ethnic Groups in Mountainous Areas, on the morning of May 30, the Highland Culinary Festival and Traditional Cooking Contest officially launched at A Luoi 2 Commune Market.

On April 26, at the Ethnic Cultural House of Khe Tre Commune, the program “Khe Tre Highland Market - First Session of 2026” took place under the theme “A Return to the Roots”, drawing large numbers of residents and visitors. This marked the second market session held by Khe Tre Commune since its administrative merger, further affirming its direction of linking economic development with the preservation and promotion of the traditional cultural values of the Co Tu ethnic community.

Immaculate martial arts uniforms still scented with new fabric, together with handwritten letters carrying coaches’ messages, are essential items that Mr. Le Van Loc, head coach of the Hue City Karate Team, prepares for each recruitment trip to the A Luoi highlands.

Before flowing into neighboring Laos, the A Sap River gathers alluvial deposits that enrich the riverbanks, creating a vast watershed for the A Luoi region. From this advantage, “fishermen” in the highlands have developed capture fisheries and aquaculture, contributing to the formation of a riverside community - future prosperous “fishing villages” along the river.

On February 25th, the Social Charity Committee of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, in coordination with the Youth Union of the Party Agencies of Hue City, the People’s Committee of Long Quang Commune, and the Long Quang Commune Youth Union, organized a Lunar New Year “lucky money” and gift-giving program for students of Thuong Quang Primary School.

No one has captured the Vietnamese sense of living away from one’s homeland better than poet Nguyen Khoa Diem when he wrote: “They carry the names of their communes and villages on every migration journey.” In the highland city on the Lang Biang Plateau, this sentiment holds true as well. Many people from Hue left their ancestral land to settle here nearly a century ago. Though four or five generations have now been born on this new land, the “Hue spirit” in these distant Hue communities has never faded.

In the days leading up to the Tet, the schoolyard of Tran Hung Dao Secondary School (A Luoi 3 Commune, Hue City) became vibrant and warm as teachers and students joined hands to organize a Traditional Tet Experience Day.