Nam Nghiep - From a forgotten land to a Northwestern tourist destination

In March 2025, the first concrete road connecting Nam Nghiep village with the center of Ngoc Chien commune was officially completed. This event not only eliminated the geographical gap but also opened a new chapter for the small village deep in the mountains and forests of the Northwest - a place that, before, very few people knew about. However, what is most noteworthy is that the local people promptly seized the opportunity, building a solid foundation for the indigenous community tourism industry.

The Son Tra Flower Festival begins an awakening

Before the road was opened, Nam Nghiep had participated in two Son Tra Flower Festivals organized by Ngoc Chien Commune. Despite extremely difficult traffic conditions, hundreds of tourists still crossed mountains and forests to see the white-blooming flowers and experience the unique culture of the local Mong people.

Former Commune Party Secretary Bui Tien Sy at the groundbreaking ceremony for the bridge in Nam Nghiep village.

Mr. Bui Tien Sy, former Secretary of the Party Committee of Ngoc Chien commune before the administrative unit arrangement, shared: “We determined from the beginning that if we only waited for infrastructure, we would fall far behind. The Son Tra flower festival is the way for Nam Nghiep to 'appear on the tourist map' even though there is no road. And the wonderful thing is that the people did not stand aside, but confidently accompanied us right from the first steps.”

Many tourists trek through the forest to see with their own eyes the blooming Son Tra flowers covering the sky.

Young cooperative – rapid steps

In January 2025, in the middle of the budding flower season, Nam Nghiep Community Tourism Cooperative was officially established, with the first 12 members - all of whom are children of the village who love nature and aspire to do tourism professionally.

Thao A Vang, Director of Nam Nghep Cooperative, cuts bamboo to make a flagpole in preparation for National Day September 2.

Village chief (middle) Khang A Say and villagers make a flagpole to celebrate National Day.

In just a few weeks, the cooperative has promptly launched nearly 20 indigenous tourism products to serve tourists during the flower festival season: from flower viewing tours, trekking tours, homestay services, porters, cooking groups, tour guides, media groups...

Mr. Thao A Vang, Director of Nam Nghiep Cooperative, confided: “We don’t wait for anyone to help us. The villagers have to be self-sufficient for tourism to go the long way. At first, it was very difficult, but with the support of the commune, the whole village worked together, so when there were products, we promoted them, and when there were customers, we served them wholeheartedly.”

Nam Nghiep is always a fresh inspiration for artists.

The village was dyed a dark red in the sunset.

The cooperative also quickly coordinated with photographers to organize a Son Tra flower photography tour - contributing to widely promoting the village's image on social networks.

From salmon hunting to summer camps – unexpected new products

After the festival, the cooperative did not “rest on the flowers”, but proactively diversified its products. In the summer of 2025, the cooperative launched a series of unique tours: peach picking tour, cold stream salmon catching tour, Son Tra apple picking tour, and especially Ngoc Chien Art Summer Camp for students in the lowlands - a model combining education , art and nature, held for the first time here.

Tourist Nguyen Cam My, from Hanoi , shared after joining the salmon fishing tour in Nam Nghiep: “I have been to many places, but nowhere have I been able to directly build banks, straighten streams, and catch fish by hand in the middle of a crystal-clear cold stream. Lunch by the stream with grilled fish and fresh sashimi is truly a rare experience. Everything is rustic but full of emotions.”

Forest keeper, pathfinder

Behind the initial success of Nam Nghiep tourism is the consensus and solidarity of the people - the people who understand best the beauty of their village.

These terraced fields will help people have enough rice to eat for a year.

Mr. Khang A Say, Party Cell Secretary and Head of Nam Nghiep Village, said: “We agree that doing tourism is to preserve the forest and the mountains. No one is allowed to destroy the forest, no one is allowed to litter. Tourists come here and see the clean village and beautiful forest, then they will come back. And the next generation will have something to be proud of.”

From a poor, sparsely populated village, Nam Nghiep now has a team of professional porters, a dynamic communications team, and a well-trained logistics team - all trained by the villagers themselves.

Art and nature blend

Tourists and children in Nam Nghiep.

Photographer Tran Duyet, who has spent many years taking photos of Nam Nghiep apple forest, emotionally said: “I have been to Moc Chau, Sa Pa, Ha Giang… but Nam Nghiep is one of the places that haunts me because of its pristine beauty, not yet industrialized. The beautiful scenery is one thing, but the sincerity of the people is what keeps me going for a long time. Here, I not only take photos, but also feel like I can slow down and truly connect with nature.”

New bright spot of Northwest community tourism

In the coming time, from September 2025, the Cooperative will continue to develop trekking tours to conquer high mountain peaks, ensuring safety standards, with detailed maps and specialized logistics teams. Each season, Nam Nghiep has a new coat: spring has flowers, summer has fruits, autumn has mountains, winter has fog. And visitors, no matter when they come, are welcomed like returning friends.

The 10km concrete road connecting the remote Nam Nghiep village with the commune center will be inaugurated in March 2025.

The rapid but sustainable development of Nam Nghiep is a living proof of the model of “local people doing tourism” – when given the opportunity and trust, people can completely write their own development story for the land they are attached to.

From a remote village in the middle of an apple forest, with no roads, no phone signal, and no name on the tourist map, in less than a year, Nam Nghiep has risen to become one of the new bright spots of community tourism in the Northwest highlands.

The newly opened concrete road is only a necessary condition. The self-will, love for the village and the dedication of the people of Nam Nghiep are the sufficient conditions to create a turning point.

“The village is no longer backward. Our village now has roads, visitors, and hope. But the most precious thing is that our village is still our village – honest, clean, and loving the forest,” said Mr. Khang A Say, the village chief, amid the sound of the flowing stream and the cool wind of the forest.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Tieu-diem-van-hoa/nam-nghiep-tu-vung-dat-bi-lang-quen-den-diem-du-lich-tay-bac-i775430/