In recent years, the land at the head of the Fatherland with majestic rocky mountains, steep passes and villages hidden in clouds has been a dream destination for hundreds of thousands of tourists. On the map of the northernmost region, Ha Giang Loop - a tourist route around the Dong Van stone plateau - has become a symbol, attracting a large number of tourists who love to explore, especially foreign visitors.
A backpacking trip on the Ha Giang Loop usually lasts 3-5 days, passing through famous landmarks such as Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Nho Que River... International visitors travel mainly by motorbike, guided by local drivers, both ensuring safety and helping them understand more deeply about the culture, people and indigenous life.
It is from their trips through countless homeland roads that travel has opened up opportunities to change the lives of many ethnic minority young people - those who have lived all year round on rice fields.
From the fields to the backpacking route
Mr. Hoang Van Khanh (27 years old, Pa Then ethnic group, Tuyen Quang) is one of the young people who have changed their lives thanks to their attachment to Ha Giang Loop. Previously, the family's economy encountered many difficulties. In addition to farming, Mr. Khanh has to take on additional manual labor jobs to "carry" spending, but his income is still unstable and not enough to cover expenses.
The turning point came when a friend introduced him to driving a motorbike carrying foreign tourists to explore Ha Giang Loop.
The joy of having a new job quickly comes with a lot of pressure. In the first days of taking foreign passengers to the back of the car, Mr. Khanh almost did not dare to talk to them because he did not know English. Every time tourists ask him something, he asks other drivers who are fluent in foreign languages to help.
Not wanting to be self-conscious, he started to self-study from the smallest things. From foreign language learning applications on the phone, to simple communication requests on the road, he took advantage of learning directly from his own tourists. He also attends training courses organized by the company to improve communication skills and serve customers.
Thanks to his perseverance, Mr. Khanh's current income is two to three times higher than before. He has paid off all the debt due to previous business losses, bought a new car for his wife, bought household items such as refrigerators, TVs, washing machines, renovated the house and built roads for the family.
"Life has changed a lot. Not only do I have money, I also learn to think differently, Mr. Khanh shared. Currently, all my plans revolve around my two young sons. I want my children to have full education and have the opportunity to go further than their parents.
The journey to adulthood of young people
Also choosing to stick with Ha Giang Loop, Mr. Nguyen Duy Anh (28 years old, Muong ethnic group) is currently a driver and independent tour guide.
According to his mother from Hoa Binh who came to Ha Giang as a child, born into a difficult family situation, Duy Anh was soon aware of his responsibility to become an economic pillar.
Participating in Ha Giang Loop tours, he and his colleagues were trained in short-term courses on tour guide skills, communication, behavior with guests and handling situations on the road. In addition, the local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also regularly organizes skills training classes for local tour guides.
The rest was self-study, drawing experience from reality and supporting each other in work, Duy Anh said.
His work often lasts continuously, each tour lasts 3-4 days, especially during peak season when there is almost no time to rest. Even before his wedding, he still ran tours close to the date to save money.
However, thanks to this job and a stable salary, I was able to take care of the wedding ceremony myself even though it took about 6 months, he shared.
Currently, Duy Anh's basic salary ranges from 10-12 million VND/month, with additional income during peak seasons such as November and December - the time when the Ha Giang stone plateau enters the buckwheat flower season or year-end bonuses. With this salary, he became the main pillar of the family to take care of his parents and wife and children.
The most valuable thing, according to Duy Anh, is the big change in thinking and life skills: In the past, I admired the brothers in the group for speaking English well and confidently communicating with foreign tourists. At that time, I thought secretly, I didn't know when I would be able to do that. But when I started working, interacted a lot, learned a lot, I realized: Ah, I can do it too!.
Now, Duy Anh proactively chats with tourists, learning more about culture, history and professional behavior. When communication is better, work is also more favorable, and he himself handles situations on the road much more confidently.
Tourism - the key to sustainable development in mountainous areas
The development of Ha Giang Loop not only brings in large revenues for local tourism but also creates thousands of jobs for local people, especially ethnic minority youth. From those who were once only familiar with the fields, many people have become drivers, tour guides, accommodation staff, homestay owners... with stable income and an increasingly expanding mindset.
Mr. Lai Quoc Tinh, Chairman of the Tuyen Quang Provincial Tourism Association, said: In the locality, we have recorded many ethnic minority personnel participating in tourism activities. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tuyen Quang province always creates conditions to open classes to foster skills and knowledge as well as prepare travel handbooks so that you can be confident and professional at work".
Ha Giang ward alone has nearly 30 establishments providing tourism services, including travel, accommodation, motorbike rental and motorbike taxi driver services for tourists.
In order to provide a safe and convenient experience, these facilities regularly conduct maintenance and periodic inspection of rental vehicles. After each trip, the motorbike is carefully checked for engine and braking system and cleaned. This is a mandatory process in the process of providing services, to ensure quality and safety for each trip.
Efforts to improve service quality, especially in the transportation and accommodation sector, have contributed significantly to attracting tourists to the locality. It is the professionalism, focus on safety and customer experience of tourism service businesses that have created the image of a friendly and attractive destination in the eyes of domestic and foreign tourists.
In the context of Ha Giang Loop increasingly attracting a large number of international tourists, the problem is not only the growth of the number of visitors, but also the quality and sustainability of tourism activities. When local people are given the opportunity to learn a trade, improve their skills and become the subject of services, tourism is no longer an external flow, but an endogenous driving force to help the highlands develop long-term.
Tourism development opens the way to help young people in mountainous areas change their lives, escape poverty and rise up with their own abilities. On the winding roads of Ha Giang Loop, there are not only wheels rolling over the rocky mountains, but also dreams that are gradually taking shape, lasting and as strong as the land at the head of the Fatherland.
