A Homestay in the Mong Village

This is the story of “A La Homestay” in Pa Co Commune, founded by Giang A La—a shining example of a Mong youth with a “dare to think, dare to do” spirit. He has not only successfully built a community-based tourism model but has also actively contributed to preserving and spreading his ethnic cultural identity.

Giang A La (second from right) connects with and accompanies tourists on their journey to discover Northwestern community-based tourism.

Born and raised in the Hang Kia - Pa Co valley, Giang A La experienced a difficult childhood, giving him a deep understanding of the hardships faced by his fellow ethnic people. After graduating from the Northwestern College of Arts, he decided to return to his village. Alongside several local youths, he established a Tourism and Agricultural Services Cooperative. However, due to a lack of management experience, the model encountered numerous bottlenecks and eventually ceased operations.

This initial failure did not discourage him; instead, it fueled his determination to pursue tourism. Leveraging the breathtaking natural landscapes and unique cultural identity of his homeland, he embarked on building a homestay model right within his family’s modest compound.

A La Homestay—the community-based tourism model run by Giang A La’s family—welcoming guests for an experiential stay.

Alongside running “A La Homestay,” Giang A La focuses on designing all-inclusive tour packages ranging from 1 to 4 days, offering tourists authentic experiences of the indigenous culture. Visitors here do not just sightsee or hunt for clouds; they directly participate in traditional activities such as pounding “banh giay” (sticky rice cakes), beeswax painting, indigo dyeing, and cooking alongside locals. They can also enjoy cultural exchanges, pick seasonal plums and peaches, trek, camp, and bathe in natural streams.

These tours range from 1 to 3 million VND per person, making them suitable for both domestic and international travelers. Although the scale remains modest, he stands firm on his philosophy of “starting small but growing steadily,” step-by-step building reputation and a solid foundation for long-term community tourism development.

Giang A La shared: "Our village possesses inherent potential and advantages for ecotourism and community-based tourism. With youthful enthusiasm, I am always researching, learning, and striving to connect tours and routes to bring visitors to the Mong village, fulfilling my aspiration to build a thriving Pa Co tourism community."

Currently, his lodging facility welcomes around 20 to 30 visitors per month, generating a revenue of 30 to 40 million VND. The model creates seasonal employment for three local workers and involves several other households in auxiliary services, such as local tour guiding, motorbike taxi services, and cultural performance troupes.

Choosing not to enrich himself alone, Giang A La always keeps the mindset that "to go far, we must go together." He has established and trained business teams to help local youths start their own careers, actively inspiring and encouraging them to transform their lives right in their homeland.

Bui Minh