At nearly 80, this retired couple in Lang Son welcomes guests like family to their heritage home, now a vibrant homestay.
Every visitor to their homestay receives a warm welcome as if they were returning children. That’s how Mr. Duong Cong Chai and his wife greet guests at their home in Lang Son. Since opening their doors to tourism, the couple says they feel more joyful and energetic than ever.
Mr. Chai welcomes guests to the nearly century-old stilt house. Photo: Huy Nguyen
At 76, Mr. Duong Cong Chai remains active and sharp. Alongside his 78-year-old wife, Mrs. Doan, he manages a 100-square-meter stilt house in Quynh Son village, Bac Son commune, Lang Son province. Each day, they tidy up the house, tend the garden, cook meals, and welcome guests from across the country.
Locals fondly call him the "know-it-all guide" of the village. He enthusiastically shares stories of history, culture, and architecture with guests.
“He speaks with such passion and pride - it really impressed us,” one visitor shared. “They’re incredibly kind and warm. It felt like visiting our own grandparents.”
In October, Quynh Son village was named one of the "Best Tourism Villages in the World 2025" by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). Since then, visitor numbers have surged, and Mr. Chai’s homestay is often fully booked, especially on weekends. Though busier, the elderly hosts are proud and thrilled.
Before retirement, both Mr. Chai and his wife were government workers. In 2010, under guidance from Lang Son’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the provincial tourism promotion center and the district’s cultural office launched a community tourism initiative in Quynh Son (now Bac Son). Mr. Chai’s household was among the first five to join the pilot homestay program.
The traditional architecture of the stilt house is well preserved. Photo: Huy Nguyen
“We had just retired and still felt healthy, so we wanted to contribute to the local effort,” he recalled. “We decided to renovate the stilt house built in 1930 to accommodate guests.”
“In the beginning, everything was very basic. We didn’t even know how to receive visitors properly,” he laughed. “Over time, we took part in tourism training sessions, visited other villages to learn from them.
As more guests came, we reinvested - renovating the kitchen, improving bathrooms, and building private rooms. In 2024, we carried out the biggest renovation yet, spending 400 million VND (about 16,000 USD).”
Today, the homestay remains a traditional Tay-style two-compartment, three-wing stilt house built with ironwood and topped with yin-yang roof tiles. It features a spacious, airy layout with a garden, a balcony overlooking the golden rice fields of Bac Son, and dramatic limestone mountains in the distance. The view is peaceful and poetic.
The homestay can accommodate up to 40 guests per night. Communal sleeping spaces cost 100,000 VND (about 4 USD) per person, while private rooms range from 500,000 to 800,000 VND (20–32 USD) per room.
The couple personally cooks for guests, offering local specialties like roasted pork, black sticky rice cake, smoked sausage, and stream fish.
The couple is beloved for their warmth and friendliness. Photo: Huy Nguyen
Mr. Chai is particularly known for his homemade ginger mountain sausage, prepared with care upon request. Guests often order in advance and leave with bags full to take home as gifts.
Staying at their homestay means experiencing the everyday life of a Tay family. In the evenings, guests can enjoy campfires and cultural exchanges featuring Then singing, Vi singing, and the sounds of the Tinh lute.
“Since we started the homestay, we’ve felt happier and healthier,” Mr. Chai shared. “Each month we earn around 10 million VND (about 400 USD), a significant improvement over farming. We’ve also learned to use smartphones and new technology from our children and fellow members of the Quynh Son tourism cooperative to stay connected with guests.”
There are currently nine homestays in Quynh Son. Mr. Chai believes that every household understands the value of their stilt house architecture, language, clothing, and culture.
“Each of us is a kind of cultural ambassador,” he said, “telling the story of our village through the unique identity of the Tay people.”
Vietnamnet.vn
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