I've spent two summers doing fieldwork in a rural village in Vietnam where tourism money has started flowing in, and the shift in how locals talk about their own traditions is striking. Some families now stage 'authentic' weaving demonstrations for visitors while wearing clothes they'd never wear at home, which makes me question whether cultural preservation is really about keeping practices alive or about performing them for an audience. Is tourism actually helping these communities maintain their heritage, or is it quietly turning living cultures into commodities that exist for outsiders' consumption? My hosts were split—some laughed at the tourists' fascination with things they consider outdated, while others saw it as a lifeline to keep younger generations interested. I'm genuinely torn because I saw pride and cynicism mixed in the same conversation, often within the same person. What do you think—can cultural tourism ever be a net positive for the communities it claims to support?