Aspirations from the village

With their dynamism, creativity, and love for their homeland, many youth union members in Lao Cai are transforming traditional cultural values ​​into unique tourism products, not only creating livelihoods for themselves but also contributing to preserving cultural identity and awakening the tourism potential of the highlands.

When local culture becomes an "asset" for startups.

Tourists enjoy experiencing traditional cultural activities with the local people.

In previous years, like many other young people in the highlands, Ms. Ly Thi Sam Sung from Ngoi Tu village, Thac Ba commune, also considered leaving her hometown to seek job opportunities elsewhere.

However, the more she traveled, the more she realized that the unique cultural characteristics of the Dao people, the pristine landscape of Thac Ba Lake, and the simple life in the villages were the most valuable resources that not every place could possess.

With that in mind, she decided to start a business using a homestay model linked to community tourism .

The early days were not easy; lack of tourism experience, limited foreign language skills, and management skills left her feeling overwhelmed. But instead of giving up, she proactively participated in training courses, learned more English, researched how to operate a community-based tourism model, and utilized social media to promote the image of her hometown.

Social media has become an effective tool for Ms. Ly Thi Sam Sung to connect with and attract tourists.

Each photograph of Thac Ba Lake and each video showcasing the daily life of the people in the lake region that she posted on digital platforms gradually attracted the attention of tourists.

That perseverance has yielded sweet rewards. Currently, the family's homestay welcomes 500 to 700 guests annually, with over 80% being international visitors. The income of over 200 million VND per year not only provides a stable life for the family but also motivates her to continue expanding her experiential tourism products.

Not content with just developing her own homestay, in 2019, she and many other young people in the village established the Ngoi Tu Community Tourism Development Youth Cooperative. The cooperative members work together to create experiential programs with a strong local flavor, such as exploring the lives of lake dwellers, enjoying traditional cuisine , learning to weave shrimp traps, rowing boats, and participating in folk cultural activities.

"Nowadays, tourists not only want to see the scenery but also want to experience the local life. We want everyone who comes here to be able to feel the beauty of the culture and the warmth of the people in the lake region," Sam Sung shared.

The combined efforts of the cooperative members have contributed to diversifying community-based tourism products in Ngoi Tu.

While many choose to develop homestays in a traditional way, Than Van Duy in Na Hoi Nung village, Bac Ha commune, has found a different path. Driven by his love for horses and recognizing their connection to the life and culture of the people in the Bac Ha highlands, Duy has built a homestay model that combines horseback riding experiences for tourists.

You may also like

Millions of young hearts in Son La beat as one, looking forward to the Congress.On the eve of the 14th Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Son La province, for the term 2025-2030, a spirit of emulation, confidence, and expectation is spreading strongly among the youth throughout the province. Serious preparation and responsible contributions from cadres, union members, and young people demonstrate a shared determination to usher in a new term of innovation, creativity, and development.

Efforts to overcome difficulties in Son Thuy border commune.Faced with the challenging realities of a border locality, the Party Committee and the local government of Son Thuy commune have found a suitable direction and implemented a comprehensive set of solutions to develop the economy and society, improving and enhancing the material and spiritual lives of the people.

"The scent of the forest, the taste of the fields" captivates tourists.(GLO) - For a long time, the cuisine of the Jrai and Bahnar people has been a highlight in the journey of exploring Gia Lai province, offering tourists authentic experiences and contributing to the unique appeal of local tourism.

From horseback riding through the hills and along the small paths leading to the villages to activities exploring the Nung ethnic culture, Duy's model is offering tourists experiences that are close to nature and local life in a very unique way.

The experience of horseback riding amidst the mountainous landscape of Bac Ha leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

On average, his family welcomes over 50 visitors each month who come to tour, stay, and experience the local culture. While not a huge number, it's enough to affirm the appeal of a new tourism product, bearing the unique mark of young people.

Duy's creativity also reflects the new trend in community tourism development today, which is to constantly innovate products to create a distinctive mark and enhance the experience for tourists.

Investing in renovating the rooms has helped Than Van Duy's homestay model attract more and more tourists.

In fact, an increasing number of young people in the province are boldly starting businesses in community-based tourism. From developing homestays and organizing cultural experience activities to promoting OCOP products and exploiting the advantages of natural landscapes, young people are contributing to enriching local tourism products.

According to Mr. Vu Tung Lam, Vice Chairman of the Tan Hop Commune People's Committee, the biggest advantage of young people today is their ability to access technology and digital platforms.

Thanks to their keen ability to apply science and technology, many young people have brought images of their hometowns to tourists through social media platforms, effectively promoting the local tourism potential.

Mr. Vu Tung Lam - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tan Hop Commune.

Giving wings to ideas from the villages.

In recent times, youth union branches at all levels in the province have implemented many practical activities to support young people in their journey of self-reliance and career development, such as assisting them in accessing capital, organizing management skills training courses, guiding them in promoting products on digital platforms, and connecting them with travel businesses. These activities not only help young people confidently start their own businesses but also contribute to effectively exploiting the potential of community tourism in many localities.

The Youth Union has always been a pillar of support and companionship for young people on their journey to self-improvement and career development.

Currently, the province has over 1,000 youth-led economic development models, including hundreds of tourism models run by young people. Many of these models have become attractive destinations for domestic and international tourists, creating jobs and increasing income for local people.

You may also like

Tra Doc - a place that preserves the soul of the vast forests west of Da Nang.From the terraced rice fields of Xa Ro village and the gong sounds of the Ca Dong people to the picturesque Song Tranh 2 lake, Tra Doc commune (Da Nang city) is gradually emerging as a land rich in identity, preserving the pristine beauty of the vast forest and aspiring to develop from its inherent cultural and natural values.

Awakening the "green gem" of Kon Ka Kinh(GLO) - Amidst the vast forests of the Central Highlands, Kon Ka Kinh National Park still preserves almost intact its primeval forests and rare flora and fauna.

Fuel tax may be waived for another 3 months: What will gasoline prices be like from July 1st?The Ministry of Finance has proposed continuing to exempt or reduce certain taxes on gasoline and diesel until September 30th. If approved, gasoline prices could still increase from July 1st due to the reinstatement of the special consumption tax, but the increase would be much lower than the option of completely ending all tax incentives.

Besides economic development models in agriculture, trade, and services, we particularly encourage young people to develop community-based tourism linked to preserving ethnic cultural identity and exploiting the scenic advantages of the locality. In reality, many models have created a strong attraction for tourists, contributing to the creation of sustainable livelihoods for young people in mountainous areas.

Mr. Dong Manh Linh, Deputy Secretary of the Lao Cai Provincial Youth Union

Through the support of the Youth Union and the daring spirit of young people, more and more startup ideas are being realized. Not only do these community-based tourism models bring economic benefits, but they also contribute to preserving traditional cultural values ​​and bringing the image of highland villages closer to friends both domestically and internationally.

Young people are becoming a bridge, bringing national cultural identity closer to the community and tourists.

From ideas sparked in their villages, many young people are becoming "cultural ambassadors" of their homeland. They not only enrich the land where they were born but also contribute to creating a new face for the highland countryside – where cultural identity is preserved, tourism potential is awakened, and the aspirations of youth are reaching further every day.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/khat-vong-tu-ban-lang-post902315.html