Experience life as a local in Ca Mau.

(CMO) When you type the keyword "Grandma's Homestay" on Facebook, you'll see photos and heartfelt messages from the owner to her guests. This place creates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, offering visitors many interesting experiences that truly reflect the lifestyle and daily life of the people in the Ca Mau river region.

Experiencing the simple lifestyle of the people of Ca Mau leaves many positive impressions on tourists visiting Ba Ngoai Homestay.

After completing his military service and graduating from his Pharmacy program, Tran Van Bi, born in 1993, residing in Tan Thanh hamlet, Phong Lac commune, Tran Van Thoi district, took a different path in his future when he unexpectedly embarked on a 65-day cross-Vietnam backpacking trip in 2022. The "Grandma's Homestay" (Tan Thanh hamlet, Phong Lac commune, Tran Van Thoi district) was born from his passion and the interesting experiences he gained in the regions he visited.

Anh Bì shared: “I participated in several travel groups and also worked as a guide for many tours in the Mekong Delta. Then, I created a Facebook page called Bà Ngoại Homestay with the initial idea of ​​wanting my friends to come to Ca Mau to have a place to stay and experience activities in the riverine region. Surprisingly, not only domestic friends but also international visitors came. After operating for a while, Bà Ngoại Homestay has welcomed many guests from the US, UK, France, Germany, Denmark, and more.”

Grandma's Homestay has welcomed many tourists from the USA, UK, France, Germany, and Denmark.

When building the accommodation, Mr. Bi avoided excessive concrete construction to preserve the simple, authentic charm of the Mekong Delta. The houses are semi-permanently roofed with corrugated iron, the occupants sleep under mosquito nets, use electric fans, and have to bathe and wash themselves... yet they attract many foreign tourists.

Mr. Bi explained: “Many foreigners, when choosing Vietnam as a tourist destination, want to experience activities that are authentic, simple, and true to the local culture of the region they visit. Here, we let them experience everything that life is like in Ca Mau. We are very happy to have attracted foreign tourists to Ca Mau, so they can enjoy the local specialties and experience the life of the people here.”

Mud baths in Ca Mau.

Walking around the village, picking your own vegetables, experiencing the beauty of Thi Tuong Lagoon; learning to be a farmer raising shrimp, catching fish and then grilling them yourself... or even wrapping banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), participating in weddings and memorial services... these are all very interesting experiences when you come to Ba Ngoai Homestay. Although simple, foreign guests are very enthusiastic to participate, because the simple lifestyle of the people of Ca Mau truly matches their desire for exploration .

“All the foreigners who come here are backpackers who want to experience the life of the people in the Mekong Delta firsthand. They ride their motorbikes all the way here, or sometimes walk to find their way. Seeing them come to me makes me very happy because of their friendliness. Whatever I do, they follow suit; whatever new food I try, they are always willing to sample it to experience it...", Mr. Bi shared.

Picking vegetables and grilling fish by hand is a fun experience for Makenzie.

Because there are no fixed tours, foreign visitors can experience many interesting things about the local culture and cuisine. Mr. Bi might take them to catch blood cockles, harvest water spinach, go boating and fishing, feed shrimp, attend weddings, or participate in memorial services in Ca Mau... All these activities are not scheduled; they are experienced whenever the opportunity arises.

“In the future, I will build thatched houses along the riverbank; plant more fruit trees; raise more fish, chickens, and ducks; and grow organic vegetables… I want foreign visitors to experience the rural lifestyle, reflecting the generous, kind, friendly, and affectionate nature of the people here. I don't accept too many guests at once; currently, I only take about 5 guests. With fewer guests, I can be more proactive and attentive so they can experience the daily life of the people of Ca Mau,” Mr. Bi shared.

Hang My

Source: https://baocamau.vn/trai-nghiem-lam-nguoi-ca-mau-a26216.html