The distinctive “dots” of Da Bia and Da Bac
A unique feature of Da Bia village that attracts tourists is the “Tu Giac Quan” model. This is considered the “first supermarket of the Muong people in Hoa Binh”, demonstrating the long-standing culture of the Muong Au Ta people.
People in Da Bia hamlet are always proud of the solidarity of the community and trust the honest nature of the people. Based on that belief, Da Bia hamlet about 30 years ago (1968) had very special shops, where people put the goods they wanted to sell in simple huts built on both sides of the road or in the village. There were no people in the huts, only baskets of goods, because people often spent their time on the hills farming instead of directly looking after them. Therefore, this place was called “self-service shops”. At the self-service shops, the prices of the goods would be listed by the seller, and those who stopped by to buy any item would leave money in the basket. At the end of the day, people would go home from work and go through the self-service shops to get money from the goods that had been bought.
The special “supermarket” sold mainly agricultural products such as fruits such as pineapples, sugarcane, vegetables grown by them or grown naturally in the forest, along with some household items. It was a very interesting sight for passersby to see empty shops with so many unique items. They were very supportive, so the items often sold out very quickly.
Culture and Arts
With the desire to introduce to tourists the traditional culture of the Muong people, the people of Da Bia have established their own art troupe, investing thoroughly in costumes, musical instruments, and performances to serve tourists. When first arriving at the village, the villagers in traditional Muong costumes will welcome guests with gong sounds. The joyful, deep gong sounds represent the host’s invitation to welcome guests into the house.
