Nestled amidst the peaceful mountains and forests of Ban Lien (Bac Ha, now part of Yen Bai province), the simple, rustic houses of the local people have become an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists.
Tourists visiting Ban Lien can experience activities to understand the culture of ethnic minorities in general and the Tay people in particular, such as: visiting terraced rice fields, planting rice, herding buffalo, picking tea and making organic tea, bathing in waterfalls, having meals by the stream, going to the forest to collect bamboo, making traditional chopsticks, weaving conical hats, making puffed rice, playing traditional games, etc.
BanLien Pine Homestay, owned by the family of Ms. Vang Thi Thong, is a destination deeply rooted in local culture, constructed from wood with a thatched palm leaf roof. Ms. Thong's small stilt house has become an attractive destination for tourists from all over. With a spirit of daring innovation, she transformed a traditional house into a homestay, offering a glimpse into the agricultural life, culture, and tranquil scenery of the Tay people.
Before 2019, her life revolved around farming and livestock. Ms. Thong recalls that there were times when she didn't even have 20,000 dong in her pocket, but she remained determined to get rich and improve her life. The idea of developing community tourism came to her during a village meeting introducing the GREAT project, which supports highland people in starting tourism businesses. On her first day attending the village meeting, she didn't even understand what "homestay" meant. Her Vietnamese was still broken, she mispronounced words, but that very initial awkwardness became her motivation to persevere in learning, never missing a training session.
Ms. Thong recounted that, initially, she simply thought, "My house has a kitchen, food, and stories. If guests come, I just need to open the door." She started with small things: cleaning the house, renovating the bathroom, buying bedding, curtains, and preparing every little detail for the homestay.
Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to their homestay business, she remained undeterred. She and her husband persevered, meticulously renovating every corner of their house, tending to the garden, repainting the stilt house, and cleaning every kitchen counter and room corner so that guests could have a comfortable experience.
"I just thought that if guests came, we would have a decent place to welcome them; if not, we could just renovate it for our family to live in," Ms. Thong shared.
During the periods without guests, she used the time to study online tourism skills, homestay management, and English communication. Each lesson was a step in preparing for the day BanLien Pine Homestay reopened. At that time, the internet was not yet widespread in the village, and sometimes she had to walk several kilometers to get a signal for online classes. Her efforts were gradually recognized with certificates and awards, a testament to her perseverance and dedication.
What makes BanLien Pine Homestay special is its experiential tourism model. Guests not only stay and sleep but also participate in the daily activities of the local people: planting, harvesting, preparing traditional dishes, tending the vegetable garden, learning how to make sticky rice cakes and other traditional pastries, or harvesting tea. They can even join the family in organizing small ceremonies according to local customs. These experiences help guests get closer to Tay culture and understand the peaceful rhythm of life of the local people.
Her efforts during the early years of her business finally began to pay off. When the "Haha Family" program chose BanLien Pine Homestay as a filming location, her homestay suddenly became famous. From then on, the number of guests gradually increased, including foreign tourists. To ensure quality and avoid being overwhelmed, she still maintains the habit of leaving a few days each week empty, both to arrange and prepare the homestay and to take care of the farm produce.
Mr. Vang A Vuong, head of Hamlet 3 in Ban Lien commune, shared that Ms. Thong is very quick-witted, perceptive, lively, and always learning to improve her communication skills. Her tourist spot is very popular with many visitors, and many return for a second or third time.
In early 2025, Ms. Thong's family was awarded a certificate of commendation by the Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province for their outstanding achievements in tourism activities in Lao Cai province and Yen Bai province (before the merger).
“Although roads and communication facilities are still difficult, the potential for community-based tourism development in Ban Lien is still very great thanks to its beautiful natural landscape, cool climate, and the well-preserved traditional culture of the Tay people. This also gives the people more opportunities to develop their economy and increase their income. However, if tourism development is not linked to cultural preservation, it's easy to lose its unique character. Ms. Thong often tells the villagers that they must preserve their stilt houses, their way of dressing, and their language. These are the attractive highlights that draw tourists to the village,” said the head of Hamlet 3, Ban Lien commune.
Tourist Le Hoang Phuong Vy (25 years old), from Hanoi, said: “I booked my room early after the effect of the Haha family program, but it was fully booked. I only had the opportunity to come to Ban Lien in September. I came here because I found the scenery beautiful, but I want to stay longer because the people here are very friendly and hospitable.”
When her homestay started operating, Ms. Thong knew that to stand out in the competitive experiential tourism landscape, adopting digital technology was essential. She learned how to create a fan page, write introductory posts, shoot videos, edit them using CapCut, and plan her communication strategy using ChatGPT. Thanks to this, she could tell the story of her village, her small kitchen, and the warm cup of tea offered to guests from afar in a vivid and intimate way, without being afraid of the camera.
Ms. Thong's joy comes not only from her personal success but also from connecting with other families in Ban Lien who welcome guests. After gaining recognition through the Haha Family Program, she didn't keep her secrets but proactively promoted all the other homestays in the village. She regularly posts pictures and shares the experiences of tourists at the homes of Ms. Can, Mr. Nang, and the couple Mr. and Mrs. Binh, while skillfully connecting these families with visitors to the village.
Thanks to this approach, homestays in Ban Lien have the opportunity to reach customers, attract a stable stream of visitors, and allow regular visitors to experience many different places within the village. This uniform promotion not only helps each household develop economically but also creates a sustainable ecotourism network, while also preserving Tay culture and promoting clean agricultural products.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ban-lien-diem-den-hap-dan-nhieu-du-khach-giua-nui-rung-yen-binh-post1073499.vnp
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