"Previously, my old house always had 2-3 guests staying and experiencing the family atmosphere. They were like strangers returning to their hometown to rediscover familiar memories, but now the house has to be upgraded and transformed into a purely rental accommodation," said Mr. HQK (an official at a government agency in Hoi An).
A lackluster experience.
In Hoi An, the Thanh Dong, Thanh Nhat, Thanh Nhi areas, and the communes of Cam Thanh and An My (Cam Chau) are where homestay services are most flourishing. In 2017, homestay signs could be seen everywhere in the alleys and residential areas.
Many homeowners who usually work in the fields, growing rice and vegetables, also learn how to smile, how to speak, and even learn English to welcome foreign guests into their homes for meals and accommodation.
The owner of a homestay in Thanh Nhat village, Cam Thanh commune, told us in 2017 that renting out three rooms on the second floor of their house to guests generated an income of about 20 million VND per month.
That was the period when every household in Hoi An opened a homestay. Hoi An's tourism industry, at its "peak," welcomed an average of 4-5 million visitors per year, leading to a surge in demand for accommodation and experiences of local life.
But now, returning to the owner's house in Thanh Nhat village, things have changed. The house is still used for rentals; the sturdy two-story concrete house sits deep in an alley densely packed with homestay signs, peacefully nestled under rows of betel nut trees. The only difference is that there are far fewer guests than before.
Visitors come only occasionally, and their travel habits have changed. They're no longer the "luxurious Westerners" of the past, but mainly budget travelers. Their choice of accommodation is no longer driven by the desire to learn about the local life and culture, but simply by finding a place to stay.
"Guests who stay here rarely interact with us. We just rent out rooms, clean them, and rent motorbikes for them. It's just that simple; it's not as enjoyable as it used to be," said Ms. HKL, the owner of a small homestay in Thanh Dong, Cam Thanh.
Walking into the residential areas that used to be densely populated with homestays in Hoi An reveals a similarly bleak scene. For various reasons, the guest experience has gradually faded, leading to fewer homestays than before.
Locals still welcome guests, but it's no longer a homestay; it's simply rooms or houses for rent. The locals are no longer the service providers or tourism products, but rather owners who rent out their properties.
Experimenting with homestays in old houses.
With the ancient town of Hoi An and its community possessing unique beliefs, customs, personalities, and culture, homestays in Hoi An are the right choice to promote local cultural values and improve the lives of the people. This is partly why the city of Hoi An recently wanted to pilot the use of houses in the ancient town as accommodation options.
This idea was expected to provide a unique tourism experience, further exploit the value of the heritage space, and bring more joy and income to families who have lived in the old town for generations. However, upon its initial pilot implementation, it immediately received mixed reactions.
Chairman of the Hoi An People's Committee, Nguyen Van Son, stated that Hoi An's goal is to promote the values of its historical sites, especially the ancient houses in the narrow alleys. The experience of eating and staying with residents in the ancient town complex is also a unique offering not found anywhere else. However, in response to public feedback, flexible adjustments are necessary to create a model homestay in Hoi An.
Homestays are on the verge of being deformed.
According to statistics from the People's Committee of Hoi An City, there are currently about 300-400 homestays in the entire city. In 2017, the number of homestays in Hoi An was 297. After 7 years, compared to the previous number, the increase is insignificant.
Posing as tourists visiting Hoi An to find accommodation, we went to the An Hoi area on the other side of the Hoai River. This is a "version of the old town," formerly a residential area but now planned to become a nightlife entertainment zone for visitors.
I was quite overwhelmed when a homestay owner invited me to stay and said that his homestay had dozens of rooms, even though the land area was only around 100 square meters .
"This area is close to the old town, so it's very popular with visitors. We've been running this homestay business for a long time, welcoming guests whenever they arrive. It provides both income and enjoyment," said the homestay owner.
Along the roads on the other side of the An Hoi bridge, there are quite a few homestays with dozens of rooms, even employing staff. Despite the name homestay, in reality, they are no different from apartments rented by the day, a budget-friendly accommodation option for the tourism industry.
An Irish tourist who visited Hoi An complained to us that he was somewhat disappointed with his homestay experience.
“My wife and I booked a week-long stay to explore Hoi An. After seeing pictures online, we were very interested in the culture and people of Hoi An, so we chose a homestay in Cam Nam to stay in.”
"But in reality, we rarely met the hosts, and they didn't speak English. When we asked for help, they only came to assist like a servant. We decided to leave early because we didn't experience anything about the culture or the people in the house we stayed in," the Irish guest said in disappointment.
Ms. Pham Thi Linh Chi, head of the Hoi An Homestay & Villa Association, also expressed disappointment with the homestay model in Hoi An. Ms. Chi stated that many homestays, which have been licensed since the early days, have in reality transformed into budget accommodations for tourists.
"There were many homestays we visited that were… surprising. The plot of land was only about 100 square meters, but they built up to 20 rooms crammed together. How can guests have a real experience with the host family with that many rooms? This is very common, which is why homestays are no longer attractive," said Ms. Chi.
According to Ms. Chi, if understood correctly, homestay is a type of experience with depth. If done correctly and exploited effectively, it can be just as valuable as villas and resorts.
“European guests really enjoy experiencing the culture, lifestyle, and people of the place they visit. The host should just live as they are, simply, genuinely, and maintain cleanliness and a welcoming attitude. Even just cooking them a meal with freshwater fish and garden vegetables is enough to make a difference. But if you just welcome guests and then don't interact, separating them from the host, then it's no longer a homestay,” said Ms. Linh Chi.
Another reason why homestays are less attractive, according to Ms. Chi, is the proliferation of villas in Hoi An. These villas are not only affordable but also clean, private, and often have swimming pools and gardens, making them very popular with guests. Meanwhile, a weakness of homestays is the lack of swimming pools, leaving guests without amenities during hot weather.
Despite numerous workshops, policy adjustments, and measures to strengthen management and restrict licensing from the authorities, homestays in Hoi An have yet to truly realize their potential.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/homestay-bay-gio-con-khong-3142266.html
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