Top 6 Tips for Exploring Vietnam's Ethnic Minority Cultural Villages

Spanning 125.22 hectares, this central area boasts stunning landscapes, nestled among rolling hills and the serene Dong Mo Lake. It serves as a hub for cultural, sports, and recreational activities, all while maintaining a strong ethnic cultural identity. The area is designed to include several key attractions such as a park with gardens, a bird sanctuary, butterfly garden, aquarium, traditional and modern dining areas, a sports activity center, wellness and relaxation center, shopping mall, extreme sports zones, as well as performance venues like a stage, theater, exhibition hall, and cinema. This multifunctional complex offers both entertainment and cultural immersion.

World Heritage Area:

• This 46.50-hectare zone features replicas of iconic global landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, Eiffel Tower, and the Pyramids, serving as a lively cultural hub to showcase the world's unique heritage.

Comprehensive Service and Tourism Area:

• Covering 138.89 hectares, this large-scale complex offers a wide range of tourism, sports, and recreational services, maximizing the use of the natural landscape and enhancing the site's appeal to investors and visitors.

Boat Dock Park:

• Spanning 341.53 hectares, with 310.04 hectares of water from Dong Mo Lake, this area provides tourism and recreational activities related to the lake, as well as services near the entrance B of the Cultural Village.

Dong Mo Lake Green Space:

• This 600.9-hectare area encompasses Dong Mo Lake's scenic beauty and is used for eco-tourism activities that support sustainable development while enhancing the region's natural attractions.

Administrative and Management Zone:

• Covering 78.5 hectares, this zone includes office facilities for management, staff housing, accommodations for ethnic visitors, and spaces for welcoming international and local guests to the Cultural Village.

The current entrance fees for the Vietnam Ethnic Minority Cultural Village are as follows:

• Adults: 30,000 VND per entry
• Students from universities, colleges, and vocational schools: 10,000 VND per entry
• Schoolchildren from primary and secondary schools: 5,000 VND per entry
• Free entry for children under 6 years old

The village is quite large, so visitors can opt for electric vehicles to explore the entire site without getting too tired.

Electric vehicle tickets are available at the entrance ticket booth, with service running daily from 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM. The fare for adults is 40,000 VND per ride, while students, senior citizens, and war veterans pay 25,000 VND. Children under 1 meter in height ride for free.

Additionally, the village offers bicycle rentals, including both single and tandem bikes. Please note that a deposit of 200,000 VND per bike is required. Single bike rentals cost 30,000 VND for a half-day (50,000 VND for a full day), while tandem bikes are 50,000 VND for a half-day (70,000 VND for a full day).

Located just over 40 kilometers from Hanoi, this cultural village is part of the Dong Mo - Ngai Son tourism area in Son Tay, Hanoi. The village offers a unique glimpse into the traditional lifestyles of Vietnam's ethnic groups, built atop a small hill surrounded by valleys. The region's diverse landscapes provide an enchanting backdrop for visitors to learn about the rich cultural practices and customs of Vietnam's various communities.

Covering an area of 1,544 hectares, the Vietnam Ethnic Minority Culture and Tourism Village (LVH) is a project by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism with an investment of 3,200 billion VND. It was inaugurated in October 2010, and although several areas are still under development, it remains a popular and ideal destination for weekend or holiday trips, offering an immersive cultural experience.

Getting to the Vietnam Ethnic Minority Culture and Tourism Village from Hanoi:

• Drive along the Thang Long Avenue for about 36 km until you reach the sign for the Vietnam Ethnic Minority Culture and Tourism Village. Take the first exit at the roundabout to arrive at the village.
• Alternatively, start from Hoan Kiem Lake, cross Trung Ha Bridge, head towards the National Convention Center, or take a bus from My Dinh Station to the National Convention Center. Turn right onto Lang Hoa Lac Road and continue for 30 km to reach Hoa Lac. This route also leads to Tay Phuong Pagoda and Thien Duong Bao Son, two popular attractions you may wish to visit if you have time. At the Hoa Lac intersection, turn right towards Son Tay, then proceed to Duong Lam. If you turn left, head towards Xuan Mai and continue straight for another 4-5 km to the village.

Bus Routes to the Village:

• Take Bus 75: from Yen Nghia Station to Huong Son Station, ticket price 25,000 VND per ride.
• Take Bus 71B: from My Dinh Station to Xuan Mai Station, ticket price 20,000 VND per ride.
• Take Bus 71: from My Dinh Station to Son Tay Station, ticket price 20,000 VND per ride.
• Since December 21, 2017, Bus Route 107 has been running from Kim Ma to the Vietnam Ethnic Minority Culture and Tourism Village, offering a more convenient travel option for visitors.

• Ethnic Village Cluster I: Features cultural landmarks and landscapes representing 28 ethnic groups from the mountainous, valley, and midland regions of the Northeast, Northwest, and North Central regions, speaking Tày-Thai, Tạng-Miến, Mông-Dao, Việt-Mường, and Ka-Đai languages.
• Ethnic Village Cluster II: Displays the culture and landscapes of 18 ethnic groups from the Central Highlands and Southern Central regions, including Trường Sơn and Tây Nguyên, speaking Môn-Khmer and Southern Island languages.
• Ethnic Village Cluster III: Represents the Cham, Khmer, Chơ Ro, and Chu Ru ethnic groups from the lowland, midland, highland, and riverbank areas of Southern Central and Southwestern regions, speaking Môn-Khmer and Southern Island languages.
• Ethnic Village Cluster IV: Features cultural sites and landscapes of four multi-ethnic groups residing in various landscapes such as lowland, highland, riverbanks, coastal, and towns from regions including Kinh, Hoa, Ngái, and Sán Dìu, with Hán and Việt-Mường languages.