Fate with Ban Lien
5 years ago, not long after graduating from university, Do Ngoc Phuc - a freelance tour guide in Hanoi - had the opportunity to participate in the heartbreaking volunteer English teaching program for the people of Bac Ha (Lao Cai) under the project of the Center for Rural Economic Development (CRED).
The 27-year-old man's students at that time were not children who still stole books to go to school, but were brothers and sisters who were "watery" farmers learning to do community tourism, building homestay services from their own homes.
During more than a month of teaching in Bac Ha, thanks to the enthusiastic introductions of students about Ban Lien, curiosity and desire to explore urged the young man from Hung Yen to find a way to visit the village.
This is truly a place isolated from the world because at the time I visited, there were only a few homestay businesses but there were very few customers. The facilities are still limited and there are not even phone signals, and there are no restaurants around the village, Phuc said.
About 28km from the center of Bac Ha, the road to Ban Lien is difficult to get through, but the poetic, peaceful and fresh climate is rare. In particular, the rustic and primitive cultural features of the Tay ethnic group in Ban Lien make it simple but equally attractive to tourists from afar.
Phuc personally had an extremely strong impression of Ban Lien, feeling like finding a place to escape the world outside without phone signal, without Wi-Fi.
The young man was surprised because although there is a concrete road leading to the village, almost every house is still built in the traditional way with wood and roofed with palm trees. People, whether going to work or out, are proud to wear traditional Tay costumes.
For the people here, whether familiar or stranger, Phuc always receives smiles and welcomes when coming to the village. The warmth, friendliness and genuine hospitality of the Ban Lien people have made Phuc feel like there is a strange connection to this place.
After a period of volunteering, Phuc cherished returning to explore Ban Lien more with his friends. Since then, almost every year the Hung Yen-born boy has returned to the village several times with the desire to introduce this poetic and gentle Tay village to international friends and tourists.
Doing sustainable tourism
Returning to Hanoi as a tour guide, Phuc expressed that he had tried to introduce Bac Ha and Ban Lien to companies and tour agents. However, because these places have not appeared much in the media, they still choose familiar and convenient places like Sa Pa or Ha Giang when wanting to explore the northern mountains.
Phuc has successfully brought tourists here once, even though they were just a couple in Spain. At first, they were still cautious, but after receiving the care and hospitality of the homestay owner Vang Thi Thong, customers became more open and actively participated in experiential activities.
The two Spanish guests canceled their traditional market tour the next morning to stay in Ban Lien to learn how to roof houses with tamarind leaves from the Tay people. Although they only stayed for less than two days, when they broke up, the two guests withdrew all their cash to send a tip to Ms. Thong. They were moved and cried a lot because they had to leave this friendly family.
Phuc realized that the advantage of tourism in Ban Lien as well as Bac Ha lies not only in the natural beauty but also in the hospitality, sincerity and depth of indigenous culture. Households that make homestays such as Ms. Thong, Mr. Binh, Mr. Nang, Ms. Hoan... despite their difficult lives, mainly relying on rice and sweet soup, still maintain the traditional lifestyle of the highlands and let visitors experience that lifestyle.
Recently, Haha Family - a reality show set here, made the name Ban Lien emerge as a "healing" destination. Phuc shared that he was very happy because the effect of the program was like a miracle, a lever for Ban Lien to develop more, get closer to everyone.
As soon as the program aired episodes 1 - 2, tourists rushed to search for information, book homestays until the end of the fall, and orders to buy shank tea also increased significantly.
Having considered Lien Village as a second home for a long time, Phuc has traveled to the village many times over the past few weeks, supporting homestays in answering questions, synthesizing information to advise guests as well as sending gifts and teaching English to children.
"Seeing you guys sleeping all night to make a commitment with customers and having fun" but Phuc's wish is that this optimistic situation will continue, not because of fomo and later Ban Lien will no longer be labeled "Harding place of Haha Family" but as a sustainable tourist destination.
Ms. Vang Thi Thong shared with Lao Dong Newspaper: After fan Giac was broadcast, personal communication channels such as Facebook, Zalo, TikTok all received a series of messages to contact book a room, search for information about the homestay and Ban Lien. The house was full until the end of the fall.
"Thanks to the program that people know me more about, I also have more confidence and confidence to do tourism in a sustainable spirit," said Ms. Thong.
Ms. Thong also introduced other homestays in Ban Lien to those in need. To do sustainable tourism, the couple believes that they cannot run at full capacity to both ensure service quality and a complete experience for customers; and give their family time to rest and do agricultural work.
