A Visit to Vi Rơ Ngheo – A Historic Village Nestled Among Four Mountains in Kon Tum

Nestled amidst the stunning Ngọc Ruông mountain range, the ancient village of Vi Rơ Ngheo is truly a sight to behold. This majestic range is actually comprised of four distinct peaks: Ngọc Ruông, Nhong Năng, Ngọc Chăng, and Văng I Nó. The village recently received an important recognition, proudly designated as a Community-Based Tourism Village by the Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee.
Vi Rơ Ngheo Ancient Village – A Poetic "Orchid Kingdom" Amidst the Central Highlands' Vast Forests, Home to the Xơ Đăng People
Surrounding the ancient village of Vi Rơ Ngheo is the Ngọc Ruông mountain range, composed of four peaks: Ngọc Ruông, Nhong Năng, Ngọc Chăng, and Văng I Nó. Recently, the village proudly received a decision from the Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee, recognizing it as Vi Rơ Ngheo Community Tourism Village.
Vi Rơ Ngheo Ancient Village is located in Đăk Tăng Commune, Kon Plông District, approximately 100km from Kon Tum City center. This ancient village comprises just over 60 households with about 300 residents, all of whom are from the Xơ Đăng ethnic minority. The village is surrounded by terraced rice fields and cool, refreshing streams.
The village is nestled in a basin, encircled by the Ngọc Ruông mountain range with its four peaks: Ngọc Ruông, Nhong Năng, Ngọc Chăng, and Văng I Nó, a landscape intertwined with legends from the village's founding.

Vi Rơ Ngheo Ancient Village is nestled in a basin, home to approximately 63 households.
Ngọc Ruông Peak, considered a 'heaven's gate,' stands at an altitude of approximately 1,200m above sea level. From here, visitors can admire the entire mountain range, which undulates majestically like a soaring dragon, embracing Vi Rơ Ngheo village.
Vi Rơ Ngheo Ancient Village's humid and cool climate fosters a rich and diverse flora. Notably, the Ngọc Ruông mountain range is a treasure trove of wild flowers, including terrestrial orchids, rhododendrons, rose myrtle, and melastoma, which bloom in vibrant colors throughout all four seasons. Even more precious are the centuries-old five-needle pine trees found on Ngọc Ruông Peak.

The Xơ Đăng people utilize driftwood and decaying wood to construct simple, rustic house gates.
Leveraging the village's location amidst majestic, beautiful, and poetic nature, the Xơ Đăng people of Vi Rơ Ngheo are developing their village with unique characteristics. Additionally, the villagers of Vi Rơ Ngheo diligently preserve many cultural aspects that reflect their ethnic identity, community spirit, unity, and cohesion within the village.
What makes this small village particularly special and ancient is its meticulous preservation of traditional stilt houses from bygone eras. These stilt houses are entirely free from any modern concrete or steel reinforcements. Furthermore, the Xơ Đăng people utilize driftwood and decaying wood, carried down from the upstream, to construct simple, rustic house gates, adding to the village's ancient charm.

From Ngọc Ruông Peak, one can admire the pristine, wild primary forests, sometimes appearing, sometimes disappearing behind the clouds.
From the village gate to each home, every household boasts a garden of wild orchids, exuding fragrant blossoms. About two years ago, these wild orchids were collected by the villagers from fallen forest trees and replanted in their gardens and along their fences. Today, all 63 households in Vi Rơ Ngheo village proudly cultivate fragrant wild orchid gardens.
Orchids are not only grown by the villagers as fences around their homes; when the rainy season arrives, they also carry them up to Ngọc Ruông Peak, the 'heaven's gate,' to replant them, returning them to the forest. This practice is one of the ways they raise awareness about protecting the genetic resources of indigenous orchid species. This is the most distinctive and unique characteristic of Vi Rơ Ngheo compared to other villages in Kon Tum.


Vi Rơ Ngheo Ancient Village is blessed by Mother Nature with wild flowers that display their beauty and fragrance throughout all four seasons.
A Kiểu (born 1993, a Xơ Đăng resident of Vi Rơ Ngheo village) shared: For over 30 years, he and the villagers have collectively protected every tree and orchid on Ngọc Ruông Peak, the 'heaven's gate'.
"From December to April each year, this entire mountain range is covered with various terrestrial orchids. The villagers dare not pick the orchids, fearing punishment from Yàng (the local deity). Many tourists, captivated by the orchids, ask to pick them, but the villagers firmly refuse. Every rainy season, villagers bring orchids from their homes back to the forest to plant them, aiming to propagate the species," A Kiểu explained.

Specialty Dishes of the Xơ Đăng People in Vi Rơ Ngheo Ancient Village
During our journey exploring Vi Rơ Ngheo Ancient Village, we consistently experienced the warm hospitality of the Xơ Đăng people. The villagers are always conscious of working together to maintain cleanliness and plant flowers throughout the village roads and alleys. Buffalo and cattle are kept separately in the fields and not brought into the village for rearing, ensuring hygiene.
Blessed with beautiful scenery and well-preserved traditional culture, Vi Rơ Ngheo village was included in Kon Plông District People's Committee's development plan in 2020, aiming to transform it into a cultural and community tourism village. By May 2023, the Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee officially recognized Vi Rơ Ngheo village as a tourist destination, offering various specialized tourism types such as indigenous cultural tourism, ecological tourism, outdoor excursions, and retreats. Concurrently, the Kon Plông District People's Committee was assigned the responsibility of managing Vi Rơ Ngheo village as a tourist destination in accordance with current regulations.

Homestays for Guests in Vi Rơ Ngheo Village
The Kon Plông District People's Committee also selected nearly 20 out of 63 spacious and sturdy houses to renovate and upgrade into homestays for visitors. These homes all offer beautiful views and are designed in the traditional style of the Xơ Đăng people, with windows opening onto rice fields, vast plains, and flowing streams. When visiting this ancient village, guests can immerse themselves in the daily life of the Xơ Đăng people.
Quang Ngai 5582 view
Update day : 16/09/2023
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