Sitting by the fire, telling stories of the mountains and forests.

Amidst the stunning Ba Be Lake – the emerald gem of the Northeast region – a Dao man left the mountains and boldly embarked on a community-based tourism venture. From his simple stilt house in Coc Toc village, Dang Van Hung – affectionately known as Hung Man – has transformed his dream of eco-tourism into reality, introducing international visitors to the unique ethnic identity and allowing them to experience sitting by the fire and sharing stories of the mountains and forests.

Ba Be Farmstay - a touch of tradition amidst the mountains and forests.

Coc Toc is a lakeside village in Ba Be commune that has remained peaceful for many years amidst the vast forest. Now, thanks to tourism , this village is gradually coming to life. And the person most mentioned in this story of transformation is Hung Man - one of the first Dao people to bring Western tourists to the village.

More than a decade ago, Hung Man was just a Dao boy devoted to farming in Na Nghe village. One May afternoon, while he was plowing, a group of Western tourists on a trekking trip passed by. They stopped to take pictures, chat, and then said, "You have such a beautiful house, why don't you open a homestay?" At that time, Hung didn't understand what "homestay" meant, and just smiled. But those words planted a bold idea in him: if foreigners like coming here, why not try welcoming them?

Based on that idea, Hung borrowed 100 million VND from the bank – almost all of his family's assets – to renovate the stilt house, add wooden beds, build a bathroom, learn a few English phrases to greet guests, and begin his journey in community tourism.

"The Dao people are used to living on the mountain slopes, but for tourism, you have to be near water," Hung recounted. So he decided to descend from the mountain and choose Coc Toc village, which has the most beautiful view overlooking Ba Be Lake, to start over.

Ba Be farmstay is equipped with modern amenities while still preserving its local character.

With the hands and willpower of a highlander, Hung built Ba Be Farmstay – an eco-friendly accommodation model deeply rooted in local identity. Traditional wooden stilt houses nestled amidst vegetable gardens and grass-covered stone paths create a peaceful scene where humans and nature harmonize. His farmstay is not just a place to rest, but also a place where visitors can experience local life: picking vegetables, cooking, plowing fields, harvesting rice, learning folk songs, or sitting by the fire sharing stories of the mountains and forests.

As the number of visitors increased, Hung realized that to retain international tourists, it was necessary to combine traditional identity with modern amenities. He boldly invested in expanding Ba Be Farmstay, renovating the stilt houses, installing solar energy, building an eco-friendly swimming pool amidst the trees, and constructing modern restrooms while still preserving the rustic wooden architecture.

Now, visitors to Ba Be Farmstay can swim in a pool surrounded by mountains and forests, eat organically grown vegetables, and participate in community activities such as making sticky rice cakes, brewing corn wine, weaving brocade, or enjoying campfires while listening to traditional Tay, Nung, Mong, and Dao folk songs and flutes. This harmonious combination makes it a special destination: both familiar and novel, deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture yet also professional and international.

The menu is visually appealing and delicious.

Despite welcoming thousands of visitors each year, Hung's farmstay only accepts a moderate number of guests to ensure a peaceful atmosphere and a sustainable environment. Hung and the villagers have agreed to minimize plastic waste, use traditional handicrafts, grow their own organic vegetables, raise fish, and provide green tourism services.

Today, Ba Be Farmstay welcomes mostly tourists from Europe, America, and Australia – people who love nature and local culture. Many tourists, after returning home, have recommended the place to their friends, and even written articles and shared photos of Ba Be Lake on international travel forums.

"When Western tourists return, they tell others about Ba Be Lake and about Vietnam. That's how we introduce our homeland to the world without needing a large-scale advertising campaign," Hung said, his eyes shining with pride.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/du-lich-thai-nguyen/202511/ngoi-ben-bep-lua-ke-chuyen-nui-rung-6294988/