Nestled among limestone peaks and lush forests, Lam Thuong boasts a pristine, tranquil beauty. The hamlets of the Tay and Dao ethnic communities—defined by traditional stilt houses and earthen homes topped with palm-leaf roofs—are scattered across a landscape of rice paddies and rolling hills. Surrounded by caves, streams, and waterfalls, the area is becoming more accessible as local infrastructure improves. Its slow-paced lifestyle characterized by farming and ancient cultural practices has been a magnet for tourists.
Recognizing the area’s tourism potential, Hoang Van Trang, a 32-year-old Tay man in Kheo Leng hamlet, secured a loan to renovate his family’s stilt house and launch a community tourism venture. In 2023, after overcoming numerous hurdles, Trang opened “Tay Homes”. His 1,000-square-meter homestay quickly began drawing domestic and foreign tourists.
Trang joined the local community tourism management board with an ambitious goal: to build an ASEAN-standard tourism village. He also founded a youth art troupe to entertain visitors with traditional Then singing and musical performances.
“The biggest joy of working in tourism is being able to promote my hometown. Lam Thuong is now a rising destination on Vietnam’s tourism map. Moving forward, I hope to see more support policies for households involved in community tourism. For us, accessing specialized hospitality courses would be desirable,” said Trang.
Trang is not alone; a wave of young entrepreneurs in Kheo Leng hamlet are following suit. Among them is 32-year-old Hoang Thi Ngot. After marrying and moving to Lam Thuong in 2016, she saw the area's potential and began informally guiding visitors and organizing local cultural experiences.
By 2024, Ngot and her husband had fully committed to the hospitality trade and transformed their stilt house into a homestay. Starting with 3 guest rooms and experiential tours, they welcomed their first guests in 2025.
Today, her family hosts dozens of visitors every month, offering tours that feature village trekking, rice harvesting, hat weaving, indigo dyeing, traditional cooking, and cultural exchanges. To better connect with international travelers, Ngot has dedicated herself to learning English.
“Every visitor looks for something different. Some prefer spacious properties; others enjoy beautiful, luxurious homes; and some measure success purely by income,” said Ngot, adding, “Tourism allows me to earn a living and gives me a voice. It makes me feel valued. Meeting people from all walks of life has broadened my perspective on the world. That’s why I’m determined to pursue this path.”
Lam Thuong commune currently has 6 community tourism models, 5 of which are spearheaded by local youth and focus on authentic accommodations and nature-and-culture-based experiences. These homestays welcome around 50 tour groups each month, generating approximately 4,000 USD in total revenue.
This community tourism ecosystem has revitalized the local economy. It generates jobs for cultural performers and experiential guides, and drives demand for local specialties like bamboo shoots, ducks, and “bong” fish—raising local living standards significantly.
The Lam Thuong commune Youth Union has played a pivotal role in this transformation, launching startup initiatives, hospitality training courses, and providing access to preferential loans. Volunteers have been mobilized to improve the local landscape and environmental sanitation, and youth art troupes entertain the guests.
The union aggressively promotes the region on digital platforms, including the "Youth of Lam Thuong Commune" Facebook fanpage and YouTube channel.
Hoang Thi Det, Secretary of the commune Youth Union, told VOV, “In the coming days, the Youth Union will focus on upgrading the skills of our young tourism workforce, accelerating digital transformation for promotion and connectivity, and scaling up successful models—particularly the pilot projects in Kheo Leng hamlet. At the same time, we’ll continue to secure resources to give young people the confidence to launch startups and build successful careers right here in their hometown.”
