Hang Dong is one of the mountainous communes of Bac Yen district, with all of its residents belonging to the Mong ethnic minority group. It has a cool climate all year round, and majestic natural scenery. Mua A Cho, Standing Vice Secretary of the commune Party Committee, said that the commune Party Committee has chosen the preservation and promotion of the good cultural identity of the Mong people in association with sustainable tourism development as a breakthrough strategy in the process of hunger eradication and poverty reduction in the locality.

It has led and directed the People's Committees of the commune and its hamlets to actively guide locals to exploit potential and advantages to develop various types of tourism services; and coordinate with schools to bring the cultural beauty of the Mong ethnic people into extracurricular activities, contributing to raising students’ awareness of preserving and promoting their cultural identity.

To preserve and develop the culture in traditional costumes of the Mong ethnic people, the commune has encouraged locals to maintain weaving, embroidery, and decoration of traditional motifs to create beautiful brocade products as impressive souvenirs serving visitors. Sung Y Xoa, from Chong Tra hamlet, said that Mong women all know how to embroider, sew, and make their own traditional costumes. The traditional costumes used in daily life of family members are made by women themselves. Currently, many tourists when coming here also have a need to rent traditional costumes to take pictures, so local women offer costume rental services to both maintain the traditional embroidery and sewing, and have an additional source of income.

Wishing to preserve the ethnic cultural identity and promote tourism development, with his love for the Mong people’s “khen” (panpine), Thao Tong Say in the same hamlet, maintains the making of the instrument. Many people come to buy panpines made by him. He said “Every month, I make and sell five panpines, earning more than 15 million VND. I also teach my children and grandchildren how to play the panpine and how to make it, hoping that they will preserve the traditional cultural identity of the Mong people.

Thanks to the Government’s investment programmes and projects, Hang Dong commune has paid attention and given priority to building and perfecting cultural institutions at the grassroots level and promoting the "All people unite to build cultural life" movement associated with tourism service development. To date, 100% of the hamlets have cultural houses. The whole commune has 10 homestays and community guesthouses, meeting 75% of tourists’ accommodation needs. Particularly in 2022, the commune attracted more than 35,000 tourists, and earned 5 billion VND (213,000 USD) from tourism services.

Hang Dong has the "Dinosaur spine" tourist site in Chong Tra hamlet, which has drawn a large number of visitors. Thao A De, Secretary of the Party cell and head of Chong Tra hamlet, said that the hamlet regularly encourages local residents to preserve the traditional cultural identity; form an art troupe; coordinate in organising cultural activities to introduce and promote the beauty of the ethnic culture, and create a highlight to attract tourists.

Visiting Hang Dong commune, Nguyen Hoang Anh from Hai Phong city, shared: “Coming here, besides being impressed with the majestic natural scenery of mountains and forests and fresh air, I was also impressed with the unique cultural features of the Mong ethnic group”.

The preservation of the traditional culture of the Mong people in association with tourism development in Hang Dong commune has created positive changes in socio-economic development, improved the spiritual life of locals, and effectively implemented the "All people unite to build cultural life" movement at the grassroots level./.