With its cool weather, beautiful landscapes, and large grass and tea fields, Moc Chau National Tourism Site in Son La province, 200 km from Hanoi, draws crowds of visitors.

The site boasts diverse ethnic cultures reflected in local clothing, house architecture and cuisine. With the growth of homestay services, visitors now have a more intimate way to explore the local culture.

Homestay services are becoming popular in Vietnam. Cheap and authentic, this type of tourism draws visitors closer to local life and nature. Moc Chau is a great place to enjoy this kind of experience.

Áng village is a prime destination. Last year 100,000 out of 350,000 visitors did a homestay. Local residents have expanded their houses and improved their vegetable and flower gardens to accommodate tourists. Lu Tien Quan was one of the first homestay hosts in the village. Renovated a few months ago, his house can now accommodate 30 people. Over the past months, he has welcomed 1,000 visitors and earned more than US$5,000.

Mr. Quan said, “In the past months, we welcomed a large number of visitors Our increased income will be reinvested in upgrading our services.”

Doi village, 30 km from Moc Chau district’s center, is a favorite place for tourists fond of Moc Chau tea, one of the best in the country. In 2010, Ha Van Quyet, a resident of Doi village, signed a contract with a travel agency in Hanoi to provide homestay services. Since then, his family has welcomed thousands of visitors who are invited to sample the local food, watch performances by local amateur artists, savor the excellent local tea, and participate in tea harvesting and preparation.

Quyet said, "We have learned that tourists love photographing natural landscapes around Moc Chau, eating the local agricultural produce and observing local farming activities. We have built houses on the hillside and in tea production areas to introduce tourists to our specialty.”

Hua Tat village in Van Ho commune is another popular destination for homestay tourism in Moc Chau. Gardens of peaches and apricots and beautiful valleys are the local attractions. Mr. Trang A Chu, a Mong local, upgraded his house for homestay but retained its traditional architecture.

Built in September last year, the house on stilts with a thatched roof of Trang An Senh has welcomed hundreds of tourists. Guests sleep on the first floor, in a huge dormitory, separated by thin wooden partitions. Comfortable mattresses and mosquito nets guarantee a good night's sleep. This experience delights tourists in search for unusual adventures.

Tourists can spend time with the villagers, sample local cuisine, play folk games, and help with tea production. Nguyen Huu Chinh, a visitor from Hanoi, said, “Things have changed dramatically. The atmosphere is wonderful and people are enthusiastic. I love the city, which has a lot of historical sites recognized as national relics. I love the nature, the local people, and the wonderful homestay service.”

Far from the more crowded tourist sites, the small ethnic villages of Moc Chau have kept their authenticity. The traditional houses, lifestyles and cultures of its ethnic minorities make Moc Chau a wonderful place to explore the historical roots of Vietnam. 

VOV5