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 At the foot of Lang Biang Mountain in Lam Dong Province’s Lac Duong District finds the village of the ethnic Lat people, located about 15 kilometers north of the province’s famous tourist center Da Lat Town.
An ethnic stopover
The village is one of Da Lat’s two ethnic villages that still preserve its traditional culture.
Arriving at the village, visitors are instantly struck by the sight of an impressive wooden church.
The church, built in the 1940s by the French, features simple unadorned architecture with several colored glass panes.
Inside the church, the symbol of the Lat tribe – a young couple carrying tools in their hands – is prominently displayed.
A giant copper bell also hangs in the front yard of the structure’s tower.
Upon venturing deeper into the village compound, guests will approach a large communal house where they will be received by a man named Krajan Hai, around 60 years of age, who is fluent in both English and French.
Sitting down to enjoy a sip of ruou can, a traditional wine stored in a porcelain pot drank with one or more straws, tourists will hear Hai introduce the origin of the Lat tribe and the legend of Lang Biang Mountain via oral translations of the Lat people’s epic verses and songs.
Weaving brocade, a traditional handicraft of the Lat ethnic minority, is a daily life routine.
Villagers sell brocade souvenirs like hats, handbags, wallets, blouses and skirts for VND20,000-50,000 (US$1.3-3.1) each.
Visitors can also ask villagers to teach them how to weave brocade and take photos in action.
After visiting the village, tourists can climb the 2,167-meter Lang Biang Mountain, which features fir forests home to many species of orchids and birds – especially the rhododendron and the Lang Biang nightingale.
From one of the mountain peaks, tourists can take in a panoramic view of Da Lat in the fog.
During an overnight camping stay on the mountain, visitors can hire a gong band from the Lat Village to give a musical performance costing around VND1-2 million ($62.5-$125).
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