The Woman Who Brought the Scents and Colors of the Mountains to the International Tourism Map

Amid the tranquil valley of Mai Chau, where stilt houses nestle beside rice fields and green bamboo forests, there is a small haven called Little Mai Chau Homestay. Its owner, Ha Thi Huong, a Thai ethnic woman from Na Chieng Hamlet, Na Phon Commune (now Mai Chau, Phu Tho Province), is the one who has brought the essence of her mountainous homeland onto the international tourism map.

A peaceful view from Little Mai Chau Homestay.

Born and raised in Mai Chau, Ha Thi Huong graduated from the English Department of Hoa Binh Pedagogical College and spent seven years working as a tour guide. Through countless journeys and encounters with foreign visitors, she began to dream: “Why not start a tourism business right here, on my own land?”

Little Mai Chau Homestay was built from nothing but the faith, perseverance, and hard work of Ha Thi Huong and her husband.

They began with two modest stilt houses and several bamboo bungalows — simple materials but a labor of love. “Money ran out, but faith didn’t,” Huong recalled with a smile in her eyes. “When the homestay opened, we only wished for two guests a day — just enough to pay the bank interest.”

Ha Thi Huong shares her story of perseverance on the path of entrepreneurship.

True to its name, Little Mai Chau Homestay is a small corner of serenity. Behind it lies a whispering bamboo grove; in front, golden rice fields stretch across the valley. From the stilt house veranda, guests can hear the birds sing, breathe in the scent of ripened rice, and watch blue smoke curl above the thatched roofs of Thai villages.

Camille Boursin, a visitor from France, said she was mesmerized by the peaceful beauty of Little Mai Chau Homestay.

But Huong’s dream goes beyond accommodation. She offers visitors authentic Thai cultural experiences — cooking com lam (bamboo rice), weaving brocade, crafting handmade bracelets, cycling through the villages, and joining lively dance nights around the fire. From her homestay, Huong has promoted traditional Thai brocade weaving to international visitors. Many guests now order her products online, helping local artisans earn additional income. She also founded a local brocade production group, providing stable jobs for four full-time workers with an average salary of VND 5.5 million per month, and five part-time workers who serve as guides, weavers, and performers.

Every day, Little Mai Chau Homestay welcomes visitors from all over the world.

Huong’s “Youth Start-up from Community-based Tourism” model has become a bright example of young entrepreneurship in Mai Chau, inspiring others to stay, preserve their cultural heritage, and build a sustainable livelihood at home.

Little Mai Chau Homestay from another angle.

After seven years in the field, Ha Thi Huong has been recognized as an outstanding figure in the local youth start-up movement of Mai Chau Commune. Looking back, she humbly says she is “not yet truly successful.” But in reality, Little Mai Chau Homestay stands as a symbol — not just of a destination, but of determination and the enduring dream to share the beauty and soul of Mai Chau’s mountains and forests with the world.

Manh Hung