Sa Pa Giay women switch to tourism economy

Giay ethnic women in Ta Van commune (Sa Pa, Lao Cai) have changed their way of thinking and working, shifting their economic model from agriculture to tourism development, contributing to changing their careers and income for themselves and their families.

Ta Van Giay village, Ta Van commune is home to many homestays of the Giay ethnic group with dozens of households running businesses. Along with playing a major role in the homestay business, many women in the village also sell souvenirs, cultural and artistic activities, health care services, etc.

Ms. Vang Thi Giang said: "Previously, the Giay women in Ta Van mainly did agriculture , with growing crops and raising livestock, but now they mainly do tourism services. Therefore, the revenue from tourism is larger than that from agriculture."

Phụ nữ người Giáy Sa Pa chuyển sang làm kinh tế du lịch- Ảnh 1. — *The Giay people in Ta Van commune develop community tourism very strongly.*

The sensitivity, change in thinking and working style, and shift to tourism economy of Giay ethnic women in Sa Pa have helped them form experiences and skills to develop unique tourism, with their own characteristics, which are highly appreciated by tourists.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, owner of Tuan Lien restaurant, shared: “Giay women in Ta Van in particular and Sa Pa in general are very quick in approaching and providing tourism services, especially in areas such as selling souvenirs, medicinal bath services, opening homestays... Even their skills in approaching tourists and understanding tourists' needs are very good, so tourists coming to the Giay village are very satisfied.”

Up to now, participating in tourism services for Giay women in Ta Van has become a familiar job. They set up art troupes in the villages, weekly schedule and assign members to perform, serving the needs of tourists at homestay facilities in a systematic and orderly manner.

Phụ nữ người Giáy Sa Pa chuyển sang làm kinh tế du lịch- Ảnh 2. — *Art troupe of Giay people in Ta Van commune*

Ms. San Thi Vinh, a member of the art troupe in Ta Van commune, shared: "We join the art troupe not only for fun, to improve our spiritual life, but also to serve tourists. There are times when there are many visitors, we can perform a lot, and our income increases significantly. In addition, we can also sell souvenirs and do additional business services. In general, since participating in tourism, our work and income are better than purely agricultural work."

The sale of goods is also very consistent, that is, there is no unfair competition, no stalking of customers, no disturbing tourists and no loss of good image for local tourist attractions.

Ms. Duong Thu Thuy, Head of the Propaganda and Legal Policy Department, Lao Cai Provincial Women's Union, shared: "Giay ethnic women are very good at tourism, they are very sensitive, especially in their ability to grasp the needs and tastes of tourists. From there, they have better methods of approaching and meeting the needs of tourists, creating for themselves a new economic and professional field, more effective than doing business according to the traditional agricultural model. This is a mindset that changes the way of thinking and working quite typical of Giay ethnic women in Sa Pa in particular and Lao Cai province in general".

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