In mid-August, when the roads to Y Ty are gradually cleared, the atmosphere in tourist villages is also bustling again.
Along the way, traces of natural disasters are still present with newly eroded embankments, many rocky spots still scattered. But behind that is the familiar image of people busy sweeping yards, drying blankets and mattresses, repairing fences, preparing the first meal to welcome guests.
We just hope the road will clear quickly. Only when there is a road will customers come, and life will return to normal," Mr. Giang A Pao, owner of a homestay in Y Ty, shared while reinstalling the wooden railing.
The recent heavy rain caused the taluy behind his house to collapse, water flooded into the first floor, damaging many items. The whole family spent nearly a week clearing mud, drying blankets and mattresses and replacing part of the wooden floor.
The damage is also very regrettable, but the lucky thing is that people are still safe. Houses can be repaired, broken things can be bought gradually. I just hope customers come back," he said.
What makes Mr. Pao's family excited is that this weekend, a group of guests from Hanoi still decided to maintain the holiday schedule after being updated by the host about the traffic situation and safety measures.
Not only Y Ty, in Nghia Do commune - a place famous for the stilt houses of the Tay people and community tourism models - many households are also racing against time to restore operations.
Ms. Hoang Thi Lanh's family has almost no days off since the water receded. During the day, the whole family cleans up, repairs the kitchen area, replaces damp blankets and mattresses; in the evening, she sits next to the trimming frame to weave brocade panels that have been pre-ordered by customers.
Some people say this year is difficult, so take a few months off, but I can't bear it. Community tourism is not just for guests to sleep. People come to see me weave fabric, cook bamboo rice, listen to Then singing. If I stop, the village will also lose its vitality," she confided.
The revival of homestays comes not only from repaired roofs, but also from the determination to preserve the cultural values that make up the attractiveness of the highlands.
In Mu Cang Chai, Nghia Lo, art troupes have returned to practice. The weaving frames still regularly sound like shuttles. The fire is red every afternoon to prepare traditional meals with local chickens, stream fish, wild vegetables, and five-color sticky rice to serve tourists.
We want that when visitors return, they still see a village with intact culture, not just houses that have just been repaired after the natural disaster," shared an artisan in Mu Cang Chai.
According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province, the heavy rain in early August caused many roads to tourist attractions to be cut off, and some homestays were flooded or damaged due to landslides.
However, immediately after favorable weather, the tourism industry and localities focused on supporting people to overcome the consequences, review safety conditions and gradually restore operations.
The good news is that businesses and households doing community tourism are very proactive in overcoming the consequences. Many homestays have reopened immediately after ensuring safety conditions.
The Department will continue to coordinate with localities to update traffic conditions, promote safe destinations and connect travel businesses to bring tourists back," this person informed.
