Mu Cang Chai - unique cultural features: Corn house as a favourite experiential space for tourists

In recent years, tourism in Mu Cang Chai has seen remarkable growth, unlocking potential and making it one of the most attractive destinations in the Northwest region. Known not only for its magnificent mountains, mysterious forests, and surreal terraced fields that captivate visitors, this land also boasts a rich cultural heritage and unique ethnic identities for travelers to experience and explore.

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Mu Cang Chai - unique cultural features: Charming homestays for tourists

The Mang Mu corn house in Mo De commune, Mu Cang Chai district (Yen Bai province), is a popular stop for many tourists due to its unique decor and cozy experiential space. Located in Mang Mu village, the house stands out with its decor of thousands of corn cobs adorning both the interior and the ceiling, earning it the name "Mang Mu corn house." Even from afar, the house stands out with its roof made from overlapping layers of po mu wood planks and bright yellow corn-cob walls.

Corn is a common agricultural product in Mu Cang Chai, with around 5,000 hectares grown annually on the region's hillsides. This staple crop plays a crucial role in the culture and farming life of the Hmong people, who have crafted unique corn-based dishes with unforgettable flavors, such as mèn mén (corn rice) and pá páo cừ corn cakes.

Every year during the harvest season, corn is stacked everywhere — outside, in courtyards, and inside houses. To preserve it, locals often peel the corn, bundle it, and hang it on the walls, ceiling, and other elevated spots to protect it from animals and moisture, ensuring food supply for winter. Hanging corn also holds spiritual significance, symbolizing hopes for a prosperous harvest and a warm, abundant life.

Inspired by tourists' interest in homes adorned with corn near the terraced fields, Mr. Giang A Sua from Mang Mu village decided in 2017 to design a corn-themed house with an experiential space to attract tourists, generating extra income and promoting his ethnic culture.

According to Mr. Sua, the decor highlights the unique culture of the Mu Cang Chai people, with thousands of golden corn cobs carefully hung throughout the house, each chosen to be uniform in size to create a visually special effect for visitors. The glistening corn racks by the porch are also securely and carefully hung.

Admission to the corn house is only VND 10,000 per person, where visitors can explore, take photos, and check in. Here, tourists can also learn about Hmong weaving and even try their hand at drawing with beeswax on fabric. This wax-drawing art has become a Hmong women’s heritage, a skillful, handcrafted tradition involving natural dyes and materials. Among the most intricate steps, beeswax drawing demands meticulousness, creating a distinctive beauty in traditional Hmong women’s attire.

After guidance on drawing techniques, locals assist visitors in dyeing their designs, which they can take home as souvenirs. In this setting, tourists can also experience local weaving, using stone irons for pressing fabric, or trying out daily tools like rice mills and grain pounders.

Philip, a German visitor, shared that this was his first time in Mu Cang Chai, and the corn house activities were fascinating, offering a simple yet richly cultural experience of the highlands. He and his friends tried various activities, from wax drawing to using daily Hmong tools like the grinding mill.

“I think it’s very labor-intensive,” said Philip. “We had to push, pull, and the process is complex and meticulous, making it very challenging for us. The experience helped us understand local life and how they create items like clothes and food. Their lives are simple but full of happiness, very grounded in nature. I hope they’ll maintain this lifestyle for a long time.”

Sophia, another tourist, noted that drawing with beeswax on fabric was difficult but enjoyable, and she had never seen anything like it before. She was guided by Hmong women, who taught her each drawing stroke and explained how long it takes to make a piece of fabric, sometimes up to a year to complete a full outfit. This experience deepened her appreciation of Hmong traditional clothing and daily life.

Many domestic tourists have also visited this unique corn house, where women enjoy drawing with beeswax, donning traditional attire, and taking photos with the corn-decorated walls and other cultural items. Men find interest in traditional musical instruments, especially the khen (bamboo pipe flute), and receive guidance on playing it and other wind instruments.

Mrs. Mua Thi My from Mang Mu village shared that organizing these experiential activities and guiding tourists in daily chores helps provide stable income for local people, earning between 300,000 – 500,000 VND daily during the tourist season, while also promoting the rich cultural identity of the Hmong to both domestic and international visitors.