"Sowing seeds" for the gray rock region to "bloom"

Once upon a time when he set foot in the northernmost land, a young man walked 15km of mountain pass from Sa Phin commune to Dong Van town (Dong Van district, Ha Giang province). The path of majestic nature, of enchanting rammed earth houses, of poverty and harshness really attracted him, and then, like fate, it was the beginning of the years of attachment that followed. Starting a business in a difficult land is like a journey of tirelessly "sowing seeds" with the hope that one day, the gray rocky land will "bloom" with happiness and "bear fruit" of prosperity.

Once upon a time, a young man walked 15km along the pass from SA PHIN COMMUNE TO DONG VAN TOWN (DONG VAN DISTRICT, HA GIANG PROVINCE). THE ROAD OF MAGNIFICENT NATURE, OF THE BEAUTIFUL AND ENJOYABLE MOLDED HOUSES, OF POVERTY AND HARDNESS REALLY ATTRACTED HIM, AND THEN, LIKE FATE, THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE YEARS OF ATTACHMENT THAT FOLLOWED. STARTING A BUSINESS IN A DIFFICULT LAND IS LIKE A DILIGENT JOURNEY OF “SOWING SEEDS” WITH THE HOPE THAT ONE DAY, THE GREY STONE LAND WILL “BLOOM” WITH HAPPINESS AND “BEAR FRUIT” OF WARMTH AND PROSPERITY.

That special young man is Nguyen Van Trai, born in 1988, in Thai Thuy commune (Le Thuy). But the tourism community in Ha Giang has become accustomed to calling him by a name that is typical of the highlands: Giang A Phon. He is a part of the rocky plateau land, a true Mong person as Phon understands the culture and is more attached to this place than many genuine Ha Giang people.

During his days as a student of Vietnamese Studies, he had the opportunity to go on field trips to learn about culture and participate in volunteer trips in the northern mountainous provinces. The massive cultural treasure of the 19 ethnic groups in Ha Giang really appealed to him and sowed love and nostalgia in him. So instead of setting foot in big cities or returning to his hometown of Quang Binh , Phon decided to go further, up to the far North and anchor his life in this land.

With only knowledge, passion and determination to overcome difficulties, Phon founded Ha Giang Tre Tourism Company - one of the pioneers in the tourism movement in Ha Giang in 2014-2016. In the early days of his career, he was truly lonely, sometimes alone without family and friends to support him.

Up to now, Ha Giang Tre has had a solid position, growing stronger day by day and truly building a brand, affirming its position as a "wolf leader" in the tourism development movement in Ha Giang. Through Ha Giang Tre's activities, he always promotes the building of sustainable values for the stone plateau by limiting the use of plastic bags, avoiding negative impacts on the environment, supporting the livelihoods of the people...

Talking about Phon, Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ha Giang, expressed his respect: “As Vice President of the Ha Giang Tourism Association for the past two terms, Phon has contributed a lot to the province's tourism, not only in product development and promotion but also in developing human resources for the locality. We see his determination and attachment to Ha Giang as he always considers this his second hometown. He is diligent in developing new tourism products, connecting Ha Giang tourism businesses to become a united and sustainable tourism community”.

During the pandemic break, Phon and his Ha Giang Tre brothers built the Nui Hoa homestay in Cao Ma Po commune, Quan Ba district, which features the popular and long-standing architecture of the people of the rocky plateau. The homestay is a rammed earth house with yin-yang tiled roofs, instead of fibro-cement as chosen by many other accommodations. Despite the dynamism and modernity of young people working in tourism, Phon always emphasizes the role of preserving traditional cultural values.

He said that ethnic minorities possess a huge cultural treasure, but those cultural values not only need to be researched and discovered, but also promoted and enhanced. Therefore, not only at Hoa Mountain but all activities of Ha Giang Tre bring visitors experiences imbued with indigenous culture.

Phởn believes that, more than anyone else, ethnic minorities are the most effective cultural ambassadors to promote their own people. Therefore, every year, Ha Giang Tre always organizes free training courses and creates stable jobs for young people of ethnic groups in the area. Up to now, the majority of Ha Giang Tre's human resources are Mong, Dao, Tay people... They are dedicated and enthusiastic guides with a deep understanding of local culture. "When they introduce their culture with pride, they are preserving their own culture and conveying cultural messages to tourists, especially spreading positive things to their living community," Phởn added.

The afternoon is coming. On the road halfway up the hill, covered in mist, women carry on their backs large shiny stainless steel water tanks. Their thin backs are bent down. Yet on their haggard faces, smiles are as bright as flowers. From now on, many families in the rocky plateau have savings of rainwater tanks, accompanying them through the long dry season. Bare feet will no longer have to climb up each slope, fumble in each water well, and cherish each rare drop. This change was sparked by the project "Giving water tanks to people in the rocky plateau" initiated by Giang A Phon for more than 3 years now.

For generations, the people of the Dong Van stone plateau have lived on the rocks. The jagged rocks that surround their lives have pushed them into harsh living conditions that are rarely found anywhere else. Their main source of livelihood depends on rainwater, while the dry season often lasts for half a year. During his trips back to the people, Giang A Phon understood that water is a precious source of life for the stone plateau. As long as there is water, there is hope for a change in the lives of the people of this gray stone region.

After much thought, Phởn used his own money and mobilized his brothers, friends, and philanthropists to carry out the project of donating water tanks to the people. For nearly 3 years now, more than 8,000 water tanks worth more than 14 billion VND have been brought back to the rocky plateau with the hope of reviving the thirsty land. Even during the days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when all tourism business activities were suspended, Phởn was still diligently engaged in the activities of "carrying water back to the village".

From his tireless efforts over the past 3 years, this humanitarian journey has been multiplied by the enthusiastic support of individuals and organizations. Many tourists after visiting the rocky plateau have voluntarily contributed to the fund. They are also the bridge for kind hearts to turn to the people of the thirsty land.

As the goal set out from the early days of starting the business, Phon has always focused on building Ha Giang Tre into a pioneer in community activities, bringing many social benefits to the people in the highlands. In addition to the program of donating water tanks to the people, Ha Giang Tre also connects with many tourists through tours to award scholarships to students and support poor households. Dozens of children in the highlands have been able to go to school thanks to that valuable scholarship fund. Dreams in difficult lands are no longer worried about being interrupted by poverty.

This spring, many highland families have had water to prepare for Tet, many homes have been warmer thanks to the charitable journeys of young people from the Lao wind region in the far North. And after a harsh, icy winter, the gray rocky land will awaken again, bright with fresh peach blossoms, awaiting the footsteps of travelers.