In early December, Jean Louis (born 1957, France) and his wife Marcelle embarked on a 4-day, 3-night trip to Phu Tho Province, staying in Nhoi Hamlet, Long Coc Commune, Tan Son District.

During their visit, the couple had unique experiences rarely found in the West, including learning to distill rice liquor, gathering leaves to steam colorful sticky rice, and herding buffaloes to plow fields.

“Nhoi Hamlet is nestled at the foot of Rong Mountain, home to approximately 60 households and 300 Mường ethnic residents. Its remote location has preserved its pristine beauty and rich traditional lifestyle,” said photographer Ut Muoi, who accompanied the couple during their trip.

“This distinct charm is what attracts many foreign visitors, who are eager to experience local life and engage in agricultural activities,” he added.

For four days, the French couple split their time between exploring scenic attractions and immersing themselves in local traditions, from cooking to engaging in farming activities.

Jean Louis and Marcelle chose to stay in a traditional stilt house, reflecting the Mường people’s lifestyle. “Instead of booking a fully-equipped homestay, they opted to live with my family, sharing meals and sleeping arrangements typical of our community,” said Ha Van Long, the couple’s host in Long Coc Commune.

Long's family prepared rustic meals featuring local specialties, including stir-fried chicken, sautéed goose, and grilled duck. “Their requests were simple, and they appreciated every dish. They particularly enjoyed the warm, familial atmosphere during meals,” shared Long’s son, Ha Thanh Luan (34).

The family also acted as guides, introducing the couple to unique local attractions and everyday rural tasks such as weeding, tea harvesting, and preparing animal feed.

On their last evening, the community hosted a cultural performance, inviting the couple to join in traditional singing, dancing, and photography, further highlighting the local traditions.

Throughout their stay, the couple participated in daily activities like gathering leaves for colorful sticky rice, grilling chicken, and making fermented rice for distillation.

Photographer Ut Muoi, who has spent nearly five years promoting community tourism in northern provinces, remarked on the significant potential for sustainable “green economy” tourism in Long Coc Commune and Phu Tho Province.

“Many foreign tourists visit to experience Vietnam’s rural lifestyle, including activities like farming, weeding, and vegetable harvesting. These experiences help them understand the diligence, resilience, and community spirit of the Vietnamese people,” he explained.

Asian visitors, particularly photographers, are drawn to Long Coc for its scenic cloudscapes, while Western tourists are more curious about local customs and wet rice farming.

“Accustomed to industrialized, machine-driven environments, they find herding buffaloes, carrying plows to the fields, or even chopping vegetables and cooking pig feed novel and exciting,” Ut Muoi added.

Thao Trinh

Photos courtesy of Ut Muoi