Opening the way to sustainable tourism.

- In recent years, community-based tourism has become an important direction in the development of tourism in Lang Son. In community-based tourism villages throughout the province, many people have proactively applied technology, exploited cultural identity, and linked to markets to transform existing potential into stable livelihoods. Along with these good practices, the wishes and expectations of the people directly involved in tourism are also becoming important suggestions for the sustainable development of community-based tourism in the province.

Mr. Duong Cong Trong, Homestay owner at Quynh Son Community Tourism Village

"For me, community tourism is not just a business, but a mission to bring our ancestors' heritage back to life in the digital age."

My family is fortunate to be one of the homestays that regularly welcomes international guests in Quynh Son Community Tourism Village. We invite visitors to directly experience life "eating together, living together, working together" right in our traditional stilt houses, which have been preserved in their original state.

However, to get tourists to know about Quynh Son, I couldn't just sit and wait. Therefore, I proactively posted images of the countryside on platforms like Booking, Instagram, and TikTok. I feel I have an advantage over previous generations because the telecommunications infrastructure in Lang Son is now very well-invested. With strong internet access and readily available professional check-in points, I've been able to capture the most beautiful moments to share with international friends.

Regular interaction with foreign tourists has helped me understand their needs, thereby improving my professional tourism skills. As a result, from 2025 to the present, my family's homestay has welcomed an average of 100-200 guests per month. For me, the fact that Quynh Son Community Tourism Village has been awarded the title of "Best Tourism Village of 2025" is just the beginning. In the future, I will continue to focus on strongly promoting the beauty of the village on social media. In addition, I am also supporting and advising villagers who want to engage in tourism to spread and develop community tourism. I want my fellow villagers to have a stable income right on their homeland.

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Mr. Hoang Vu, owner of Son Thuy Homestay, official partner of UNESCO Lang Son Global Geopark (Huu Lien commune).

"Digital transformation is the path for Huu Lien tourism to reach international standards."

Having started in tourism in 2018, I quickly realized that relying solely on transient visitors in the old way wasn't sustainable. As the Secretary of the Youth Union in Huu Lien commune, I decided I had to take the lead in changing the mindset. Instead of waiting for tourists to find me, I proactively invested in cameras and drones to capture and share the beauty of my homeland. Images and videos of the Dong Lam grassland and Khe Dau waterfall, when posted on social media, attracted nearly 10,000 followers, helping Son Thuy Homestay secure a stable stream of customers.

2023 marked a significant milestone when my establishment was selected as a partner of the UNESCO Lang Son Global Geopark. Currently, the homestay has two large stilt houses with 13 rooms, accommodating approximately 40-45 people. On average, we welcome 80-100 guests per week, and during peak seasons, this number can reach 200-300. To meet the increasing demand, I am both the homestay owner and directly work as a tour guide and photographer for guests, while also learning cooking skills to tailor dishes to suit each group. Besides accommodation services, we have also developed additional activities such as bonfires, cultural exchanges, and the traditional Dao herbal foot bath experience, contributing to enriching community tourism products in Huu Lien.

Alongside promoting on social media, I proactively connect with travel companies and international tourism websites to bring the image of Huu Lien to a wider market. However, there are still limitations in environmental infrastructure and nighttime experiences. Therefore, I hope that during the implementation of Resolution 19, the State will pay attention to supporting the construction of heritage information points with multilingual QR codes; opening training courses on digital marketing and green homestay management; and providing preferential loans for tourism households to invest in wastewater treatment systems, ensuring that tourism development does not harm the core heritage area.

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Mr. Duong Thoi Deu, owner of Deu Luyen Homestay, Vu Le commune.

"Preserving our identity is key to retaining tourists."

In my opinion, community-based tourism is not just about opening your doors to guests, but more importantly, about preserving and promoting the cultural essence of your homeland. My homestay is conveniently located next to a pristine stream flowing through Hoan Trung village, creating a natural attraction for tourists. Taking advantage of this, I have focused on beautifying the grounds around the house, creating miniature landscapes with waterwheels, rock gardens, etc., characteristic of the mountainous region of Lang Son.

Furthermore, my family and I pay special attention to incorporating dishes with the unique flavors of the Tay and Nung people into the menu, prioritizing clean food from our own garden and food supplied by villagers. Beyond the beautiful scenery, I want our cuisine, lifestyle, and genuine hospitality to help visitors feel the difference when they come here. On average, my homestay welcomes about 500 guests each year, mostly small groups who enjoy exploring and seeking the pristine atmosphere of the mountainous region.

In my journey of developing community-based tourism, I've also faced numerous challenges related to human resources; training courses on tourism skills haven't been organized regularly, so most homestay owners have to manage on their own. During peak times, my family has to cook, clean, and guide guests simultaneously, resulting in a huge workload and potential overload. I hope the government will continue to organize more systematic training courses on community-based tourism and homestay operations; and provide support for digital transformation so that businesses can promote their products more effectively. We have favorable natural conditions and unique cultural identity; with improved infrastructure, more knowledge, and more support, we will have the motivation to develop more quickly and sustainably.

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Mr. Phan Van Mon, Owner of Lang Giang Homestay, Yen Thinh village

"The strength of tourism comes from the hands of the local people."

Born and raised in Giang Village, I started community tourism in 2020 almost from scratch. Coming from a farming background, my family's economy mainly depended on rice cultivation, so I had no capital and had never been exposed to running a homestay properly. But when I saw the green valleys, clear streams, jagged limestone mountains, and the unique tranquility of my homeland, I believed that this place could become an attractive destination. Based on that belief, I decided to renovate my family's stilt house to welcome guests. By 2025, as the number of guests increased, I continued to build another stilt house, increasing the capacity to about 40 people.

My greatest advantage isn't capital or technical expertise, but my understanding of the local culture and way of life. Every house, road, meadow, or mountain in Giang Village is connected to the memories and daily lives of the people. Thanks to this, I can tell tourists the most authentic and simple stories, allowing them to experience this land from the perspective of an insider, not just a visitor.

However, my biggest challenge lies in communicating with foreign guests – a significant portion of the clientele in Yen Thinh. My limited foreign language skills force me to use gestures, both spoken and nonverbal, as well as translation apps. Promoting the homestay on social media is also limited due to a lack of skills. Limited capital makes it difficult to upgrade facilities and expand guest experiences.

Based on that reality, I want the opportunity to participate in training courses on communication, learn basic conversational English, and access preferential loan sources. As local people involved in community tourism, we have a long-standing connection to our homeland, a strong sense of preserving our cultural identity, and a desire for sustainable development.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/hanh-trinh-mo-loi-cho-du-lich-cong-dong-ben-vung-5072906.html