(VOVWORLD) - Nestled at the foot of the Lung Cu Flag Tower, the northernmost point of Vietnam, Lo Lo Chai village in Tuyen Quang province, is famous for its moss-covered yin-yang tiled roofs and ancient earthen walls, and the unique lifestyle of the Lo Lo ethnic people. The village has been honoured as one of the best tourism villages of 2025 by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. This is thanks in part to village head Sinh Di Gai, a pioneer of community-based tourism in the locality.
 Sinh Di Gai, head of Lo Lo Chai village (Photo : The Hung/ VOV5) |
More than a decade ago, community-based tourism was still an unfamiliar concept to the residents of Lo Lo Chai, who relied mostly on raising buffalos and growing maize for their livelihood. After studying successful tourism models in other localities, Sinh Di Gai envisioned a new path: turning the local way of life into a tourist attraction.
He began by opening a homestay in his family’s traditional earthen house. Rather than rebuilding it with concrete or otherwise modernizing it, he chose to preserve its authenticity, from its yin-yang tiled roof to the hearth at the center of the house.
“Ten years ago, Lo Lo Chai village was still very poor and underdeveloped. Only a few children were able to attend school. Before we began to develop tourism, visitors would come, take a few photos, and leave. Later on, some local families started renovating their home so tourists could stay overnight,” Sinh Di Gai recalled the challenges he encountered in the beginning.
Then other villagers began to follow Gai’s lead. Families cleaned and improved their bathrooms, turned their granaries into guest rooms, and made new traditional clothes for visitors to wear in photos. Soon, tourism became their main source of income, and raising livestock became a secondary business.
“Now we earn decent money. It feels good to serve visitors,” Vang Thi Day, a local resident, said.
Nguyen Trung Ngoc, Director of the Tuyen Quang provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, praised Sinh Di Gai’s pioneering work, noting that he went far beyond simply opening a homestay. He introduced a new economic mindset to the village, said Ngoc.
 The yin-yang roof tiles, a traditional architectural feature of the Lo Lo people, are preserved in their homestays. (Photo: The Hung/VOV5) |
Lo Lo Chai’s recognition as one of UN Tourism’s 52 “Best Tourism Villages in the World” for 2025 owes much to the dedication and leadership of its village chief, Ngọc said. “We’ve been encouraging local people to develop community-based tourism, following the lead of Sinh Di Gai. He has been a pioneer dedicated to guiding the community in developing tourism.”
For travel businesses, Gai’s homestay has become a cornerstone of their tour programs. International visitors enjoy staying in an earthen house, tasting corn cakes, sipping corn liquor, and listening to family stories around the fire, said Nguyen Van Huu of the Tasco Travel Company.
“Gai focuses on preserving the authentic lifestyle of the Lo Lo people at his homestay. Visitors don’t just take photos. They get to experience local life firsthand. That’s exactly the kind of experience today’s travelers are looking for,” Huu added.
 Many households in Lo Lo Chai shift from raising livestock to developing tourism. (Photo: The Hung/VOV5) |
After many years working in tourism, village head Sinh Di Gai remains devoted to preserving and promoting Lo Lo culture to visitors.
“We have preserved our ancestral worship rituals, traditional folk songs and dances, and the architecture of our houses, the earthen walls and yin-yang tiled roofs. Villagers are very proud that tourists love our earthen houses,”Gai said.
Today, Lo Lo Chai is no longer a poor village. Its children go to school and its families earn a stable income from homestays. Behind this remarkable transformation is Sinh Di Gai, who laid the foundation for community-based tourism there.