VietNamNet Bridge – Homestay service has been popular in many Western countries. In Vietnam, homestay is emerging as a new trend in rural areas as international visitors have strong demand for exploring daily indigenous life and culture in Vietnam.

Foreign tourists relax in a bamboo tent in the Mekong Delta

Homestay service is available in Mai Chau and Sapa districts in the northwestern provinces of Hoa Binh and Lao Cai, Buon Ma Thuot City in the Central Highlands, and several parts of the Mekong Delta.

It is really interesting to stay with local people in a cozy atmosphere like a family to experience daily life and learn more about culture, David Lamb, a Dutch tourist, said while talking about his homestay program in Vinh Long Province.

An Italian agricultural engineer identified as Lisa said she has never been to a place where people are as friendly as in the Mekong Delta.

A typical entrance to a hamlet in the delta

In addition to friendly people, Lisa had the opportunity to taste specialties of the area such as banh xeo (fried pancake), ca ro kho to (braised anabas fish in a clay pot), and sour soup with cork flowers. What made her trip special was she stayed in a bamboo house with a thatched roof, listened to don ca tai tu (southern folk music), caught fish and rowed a boat with locals.

Jim and Elaine Alt Frank, a married couple from the U.S., said bamboo houses in the delta are simple but beautiful and food is delicious. They said they would not have known about the daily chores of Vietnamese people if they had chosen a hotel for accommodation.

Nam Thanh, the owner of a house used for homestay service in Vinh Long, said that to provide homestay service for foreign tourists, the original state of homegrown houses should be kept intact.

Nguyen Quoc Toan, marketing manager of Dang Le Tourism Investment Co. of Trung Nguyen Coffee

A corner in a bamboo house used to provide homestay service – Photos: Tran Van Phuong

Company, said foreign tourists are fond of homestay service because they like to explore indigenous culture.

In the Central Highlands, tourists will be invited to stay with ethnic minority people and work in the forest while in the Mekong Delta, they live in a home that is typical for a region having a labyrinth of waterways, work on the paddy field or in the farm, and catch fish.