In Na Tong village, Thuong Lam commune, the air is crisp in the November chill. The village is subtly nestled beneath clouds that swirl around 99 towering peaks shaped like a Phoenix's wings. Anyone who visits Na Tong feels time slow down.
Here, the Tay ethnic people have fully preserved their distinct cultural heritage: from language, beliefs, costumes, music, to cuisine. Na Tong Cultural Tourism Village is also one of 130 APEC village models selected for promotion on the APEC website.
Tourists experiencing tourism in Na Tong village
The Whole Village Embraces Tourism
Visiting Na Tong today, few can imagine that this was once one of the most disadvantaged villages in the province. Many believed Na Tong would forever stagnate, as the local economy primarily relied on agriculture.
Mr. Ma Cong Kham, Chairman of the Thuong Lam Commune People's Committee, recounts that in 2014, Ms. Trieu Thi Xuong’s family in Na Tong pioneered the development of community-based tourism with the "Hoang Tuan Homestay." After receiving consultation and support on homestay operations and encouragement from the local authorities, Ms. Xuong proactively renovated her house for service. Since 2014, her family has welcomed over 500 visitors per month on average.
Ms. Xuong revealed that she never thought the resources readily available in her village could become a tourism asset. Her family now also operates three boats to transport tourists visiting the Na Hang - Lam Binh ecological reservoir.
In 2019, a group of young Tay men from "Tai Ngao in Thuong Lam Fairy Land" came up with the idea of establishing a youth-style homestay. With a ready plot of land covering nearly 2,500 square meters located right on the main road to Ben Thuy Wharf, they received over 400 million VND from the National Employment Fund, combined with members’ contributions. After nearly a year of construction, the Tai Ngao Homestay officially opened in May 2019.
The initial days of welcoming guests were fraught with challenges and worries for the young men. Relying on friends’ referrals and smartphones, they researched tourism practices online. They quickly established the "Homestay Tai Ngao" Fanpage, uploaded photos, advertised the beautiful scenery of the reservoir, promoted community tourism images, local attractions, and specialty dishes.
Today, Tai Ngao Homestay welcomes about 250–300 guests per month on average. Mr. Hoang Van Minh, the homestay owner and village Party Secretary, told the reporter that they also set up Facebook and Zalo groups for online exchange, sharing information about their family’s and the locality’s tourism products, and assigning roles to households in the village to serve guests. This approach has helped visitors experience high-quality and professional services.
Targeting Sustainability
Visitors to Na Tong not only stay in century-old stilt houses of the Tay people but also enjoy traditional folk songs and the simple, authentic cuisine of the local community. To date, the entire village has established 12 art troupes that perform for visiting tourists and retreat guests.
Traditional crafts such as weaving, embroidering patterns on ethnic costumes, making silver jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, head scarves), com (green sticky rice flakes), and banh day (round sticky rice cakes) have also been restored. Tourists can also visit the Na Hang - Lam Binh ecological reservoir and share meals rich in ethnic identity with the host families—creating truly unforgettable experiences.
Na Tong village maintains the operation of the art troupe to serve tourists
Mr. Hoang Van Minh enthusiastically revealed: To ensure tourism benefits are shared equitably, the village has organized and established interest-based household groups to professionalize each stage and enhance service quality. Specifically, the village has groups specializing in supplying clean vegetables and livestock/poultry; groups specializing in cooking, where each household prepares a different dish for guests; groups hosting fabric weaving and souvenir-making experiences; and groups making banh day for guests to enjoy and experience the process.
Livelihoods Thrive Due to Tourism
Mr. Ma Cong Kham, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, noted that since the initiation of community tourism, the locals' awareness of environmental hygiene has significantly improved. Homestay households voluntarily clean and maintain their homes, paying close attention to personal hygiene and daily food safety. The food served to guests mainly consists of local specialties like upland vegetables, pond fish, chicken, and pork, all raised, grown, or caught by villagers, ensuring safety.
Currently, homestay operators in Na Tong village collaborate with each other and with other villagers, creating stable employment and increasing income.
Ms. Hoa Thi Hien, one of the village's "millionaires," shared: Since 2018, her family invested in livestock development and now maintains 30 goats, 6 cows, 20 pigs, and over 100 chickens, ducks, and geese. All homestay facilities in the village source her products, bringing her family a net profit of nearly 200 million VND annually. Ms. Hien delightedly said that thanks to tourism, the village has changed, and all their farm products now have a steady market.
For generations, the Tay people of Na Tong linked their livelihoods to firewood, rice paddies, corn fields, and fish and shrimp from the reservoir and streams. Now, these very people have become the owners of a promising form of rural tourism. And thanks to tourism, Na Tong today has no poor households.
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
Vietnamese source on Tuyenquangonline
