(HBO) – We visited the family of Bui Thi Su in Ai hamlet, Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province on a day when they were serving a group of 26 French tourists. The visitors came here from Hanoi and had lunch at Su’s house. As scheduled, they would visit Mai Chau after lunch and leave for Thanh Hoa province. Su cooked tofu with tomato sauce and wrapped betel leaves with pork for the guests while her daughter cleaned the house.


Ms. Bui Thi Su is preparing food for tourists.

Su said "Some foreign tourists just like simple food such as roasted meat, tofu, stir-fried and boiled vegetables. Only few want to taste traditional dishes of Muong ethnic people. In the past, when Ai hamlet had not planned to build a community-based tourism village, my family worked on a farm. The whole family earned a living through rice and crop cultivation and forestry. In free time, we had to do other jobs to increase income. Thanks to the State support, my family borrowed loans to upgrade our house, rearrange cages for buffalos, cows and pigs, and build a toilet”.

Currently, on average, each month, Su’s family welcomes 5-10 tourist groups. Apart from collecting 160,000 VND from each guest who stays in her house one day with breakfast and dinner, her family also earns money from raising cattle and growing vegetables. Excluding expenses, her family rakes in 4-5 million VND each month. In days without guests, Su and her spouse could do farming to improve their living.

Ai hamlet has 94 households with over 400 people. In 2016, it was recognised as a community tourism destination with over 50 traditional stilt houses in Muong ancient village. 

At present, there are two households in the hamlet doing community-based tourism. The hamlet could provide a wide range of services for around 40 foreign tourists or 70 domestic ones such as joining art performances, learning cooking, experiencing the daily life of locals, fishing, growing rice, gardening, walking, and cycling./.

Related Topics


Great national solidarity festival held in Thach Yen commune

A great national solidarity festival was held in Ngai hamlet, Thach Yen commune, Cao Phong district, on November 8. Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoa Binh province Bui Van Khanh, and Colonel Trinh Duc Thiem, Commander of the provincial Military Command, attended the event.

Great national unity festival held in Cau Son hamlet

A great national unity festival was held in Cau Son hamlet in Nhuan Trach commune of Luong Son district on November 10.

Hoa Binh releases plan for culture-tourism week 2024

The organising board for the Hoa Binh Culture and Tourism Week 2024 has officially released its press statement.

Hoa Binh culture – tourism week slated for mid-November

The People’s Committee of Hoa Binh province held a press conference on November 5 to announce the details of its upcoming 2024 Culture-Tourism Week.

Cultural, art movement thrives in Muong Dong

The ancient Muong area of Muong Dong – Kim Boi is experiencing a cultural resurgence, becoming a popular source of spiritual enrichment and drawing locals from walks of life.

The Great National Solidarity Festival in the residential sub-area 1, Mai Chau town

On November 3rd, the residential area, sub-zone 1, Mai Chau town (Mai Chau) organized the Great National Solidarity and the Culture Festival between the local people and the armed forces. There was the attendance of Colonel Do Thanh Binh, the Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Director of the Provincial Public Security; the leaders from the appropriate departments and branches of the province and Mai Chau district. This is the residential area chosen to host the Great Solidarity Festival in the district in 2024.