Ban Ngam develops tourism.

Since the introduction of tourism, the people of Ngam village have welcomed visitors from all over with simplicity, sincerity, and warmth. Here, tourism is not just a livelihood, but also a bond that connects people...

Ngam Village viewed from above.

1. The golden April sun, like honey, pours down on the mountains and forests of the Son Dien border region. The road leading from National Highway 217 to Ngam village is fragrant with wildflowers. Soon, the peaceful Thai village appears before our eyes – where sturdy, well-maintained stilt houses stand neatly arranged, guided by smooth concrete roads like delicate ribbons. Smoke from cooking fires blends with the lingering twilight.

Walking along the road, Do Xuan Ngoc, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Son Dien Commune People's Committee, was engrossed in the beauty of the land and people, and in the story of the Ngam village people doing tourism. He said: "Here, when guests come, the whole village welcomes them. The entire community is involved in tourism."

Nestled on the right bank of the majestic Luong River, tirelessly carrying alluvial soil and the slow pace of life of the border region, Ngam village is blessed with beautiful natural scenery and a clean climate. This beauty is evident in its name, as the Thai people have traditionally called the most beautiful places in the village "Ngam." Throughout its history of survival and development, the most precious asset of the Thai people in Ngam village is the preservation of their traditional stilt house architecture. These houses provide shelter for their lives, and at night, they resonate with the rhythmic sounds of folk songs and dances accompanied by the melodious sounds of flutes and reed pipes echoing through the mountains and forests.

Ngam Village viewed from above.

From Ngam village, with its convenient transportation, tourists can also visit and experience famous historical sites and scenic spots around the area, such as Bo Cung cave, the temple of the national guardian deity, the border general Tu Ma Hai Dao, and the majestic Pha Dua mountain with its romantic love story of the handsome young man and beautiful young woman from Muong Xia and Muong Min (Son Thuy commune). From here, tourists can also cross the Na Meo International Border Gate to enjoy new things in Vieng Xay district, Hua Phan province, Laos, or travel down to Pu Luong to explore...

That potential was soon awakened when the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated the opening of the Quan Son - Vieng Xay tourist tour in Ngam village in 2019. From then on, the people of Ngam village understood that the natural landscape and ethnic cultural identity could be used to welcome tourists and improve their lives. Tourism permeated every aspect of their lives. The villagers encouraged each other to clean up the environment, plant more flowers in front of their houses, repair the steps of their stilt houses, learn how to prepare food, and develop skills in welcoming and serving tourists.

The approach to community tourism here is also different. Instead of superficial promotion, the simplicity, openness, and sincerity of the people towards tourists are incorporated into the village's customs and become the common code of conduct. The section of the Luong River flowing through the village, which is rich in shrimp and fish, is restricted for local fishermen to use for tourists to experience casting nets and fishing. Families with many guests share resources with those with fewer. They also share labor, supplies, and equipment for tourism. The community center is also repurposed as a resting place for tourists visiting the area...

A meal prepared by the homestay for guests.

Tourism, therefore, doesn't change life. It only makes life more vibrant and meaningful. As Mr. Le Thanh An (42 years old), a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City whom we met, said: "I really like the scenery and climate here. But what impressed me most was the openness, sincerity, and hospitality of the people. I felt like a son who had been away and returned home."

2. Among the 11 community-based tourist guesthouses in Ngam village, Loc Kim homestay is consistently crowded. The stilt house, about 30 square meters in size, still smells of fresh wood and is separate from the living area of ​​the hostess - Ms. Loc Thi Kim (born in 1984). On the floor, in the reception area, Ms. Kim has arranged a bamboo table, a few embroidered cushions, some dried reeds... Everything is simple and welcoming, just like the way she welcomes guests. We stayed there, listening to the mountain wind mingling with the sound of the Luong River flowing over the rocks.

Ms. Loc Thi Kim, owner of Loc Kim homestay (far left), introduces tourism in Ngam village.

Before 2020, while working in Taiwan, Kim heard about the development of community-based tourism and began researching and planning to return home to start a homestay business. However, upon returning, she didn't rush, but instead observed and found her own path to developing tourism. She shared: "Community-based tourism is a type of tourism where local people play a central, active role, participating in serving tourists, managing, and defining the value of the destination, not anyone else. Therefore, to develop community-based tourism, first and foremost, we must proactively promote ourselves, build our own brand, and attract tourists."

With that in mind, after building her stilt house in 2023, Ms. Kim began her journey to attract tourists to her village and homestay. Initially, she simply posted pictures of the scenery, traditional dances, meals, and her homestay on social media. Next, she added her address to Google Maps. Later, she promoted it on reputable domestic travel forums and directly connected with travel agencies to bring tourists to her village. Slow, but steady.

In Ngam village, tourists can also experience casting nets and fishing with seines on the Luong River.

"The most important thing is that I always offer guests openness, sincerity, and fresh, energetic experiences. Whether guests stay or not isn't because of what I say... but because they have fun," Kim said with a gentle smile.

And so, many groups of tourists initially stayed at her homestay for one day, then extended their stay. On one occasion, the number of guests exceeded the homestay's capacity, so Ms. Kim proactively shared the guests with other community tourism households in the surrounding area. The most valuable thing isn't the immediate profit; according to her, the greater importance lies in the community's involvement in tourism, and the idea that "community tourism means thinking about the whole village."

3. Ms. Kim plans to travel to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to meet directly with and coordinate with renowned travel agencies to bring international tourists to her village and stay at her Loc Kim homestay. She believes that this will not be far off.

The people of Ngam village are preparing to welcome guests.

I suddenly realized that Ngam village isn't particularly striking in the eye, nor does it have any large-scale, impressive buildings or modern services, but there's something different about it: the way people treat each other, especially visitors from afar. For Ngam village, tourism is not just a livelihood, but also a bond that connects people.

For the people of Ngam village, their warmth, cheerfulness, and attentiveness to tourists are what make it so attractive.

The afternoon sun rested on the stilt house roofs, then blended into the tranquility of the Son Dien mountains and forests. I left the village, carrying with me a feeling difficult to name. Not overwhelming or a fleeting impression, but a quiet warmth. It was as if I had just passed through a place where people had found a way to hold onto each other amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, allowing the village's reputation as a tourist destination to soar and spread far and wide...

Notes by Do Duc

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ban-ngam-lam-du-lich-284366.htm