Eight years ago, realizing that work and life in the city had become increasingly stressful, Mai Anh, born in 1994 and from Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, and her husband left the capital in search of a new place to escape the hustle and bustle.

They chose Ta Xua in Son La Province, about 240km from their hometown, because they wanted to wake up each day to fresh, cool air and views of clouds covering the mountain peaks.

"At the time, my husband and I were self-employed. We occasionally took a few days off to travel and relax.

"But over time, we felt that life in the city was too suffocating, so we discussed changing our environment. We both chose Ta Xua, formerly part of Bac Yen District, because of its beautiful scenery. My husband had visited the area before, when tourism there was still underdeveloped and everything remained largely untouched," Mai Anh said.

She knew they were taking a risk because their child was only 14 months old at the time. The new area was also remote and had virtually no tourism services. But with the support and encouragement of their families, the couple felt confident enough to leave the city and start from scratch.

In Ta Xua, Mai Anh and her husband bought a 700sqm plot from a Hmong family for about VND3 billion. The property was near the center of the area, halfway up the mountain.

The land already had an old house built by the previous owners. It was largely undeveloped, with several old trees around it.

Seeing the property's potential, Mai Anh and her husband decided to make use of the site to develop tourism.

They renovated the existing house into a homestay and later invested in building several more units nearby. The project provided accommodation suited to the mountainous setting while also giving the family a source of income to sustain their life after leaving the city.

"We saw this place as our second home, where we planned to stay for the long term, so we put a lot of effort into renovating the old structures and building new spaces.

"Every area and detail was carefully and painstakingly designed. We also invested heavily in reinforcing the road around the homestay to make it sturdy and safe," she added.

Mai Anh said they faced difficulties when they first started their new life in Ta Xua.

The first challenge was that construction costs were much higher than in the lowlands. Transporting building materials was also difficult because of the long distance and poor roads, while experienced workers were in short supply.

Living conditions in the mountains were another challenge, particularly the unreliable electricity and water supply. On rainy days there was more than enough water, while on dry days the couple had to go into the forest to search for water.

Sometimes they had to venture out looking for water at 2 or 3 am, even in the bone-chilling winter weather of the mountains.

"In the early days, I felt very lonely because everyone in the village would go to bed by 8 pm. It was pitch-dark and completely quiet, and I had no one to talk to. Fortunately, I gradually adapted and got used to life here," she recalled.

Visitors seeking ‘sea of clouds’

After eight years in Ta Xua, Mai Anh and her husband now run a spacious homestay with carefully designed landscaping.

From the original 700sqm plot, the Hanoi couple have doubled their accommodation and dining space. The property now includes 10 homestay units and a traditional stilt-house area that can accommodate up to 100 guests.

All rooms feature large glass windows that offer expansive views of the surrounding landscape, allowing guests to take in the sea of clouds while enjoying the amenities they need.

Mai Anh said she wanted to preserve as much of the local Hmong cultural identity as possible, so both the homestay grounds and the interiors of individual rooms are decorated with strong traditional influences.

She has also preserved the old peach and other trees around the property, along with several long-established forest species, to create a cool, lush and attractive landscape.

Thao Trinh