VietNamNet Bridge – Entering ‘Mama’s homestay’ founded by Le Hong Thai, many tourists are wowed by the lovely wooden houses on a hill and their cheerful young owner.

A view of the Chimi Farm. — Photo chimi.com.vn

Thai, 27, from the northern province of Hung Yen, said the homestay model brought him more stable income than the administrative work he had done before.

He dreams to set up a series of homestays.

A graduate from the Academy of Journalism and Communication, Thai has worked up and down the country. On a trip to Moc Chau District, in northern Son La Province, Thai had an idea to plant clean vegetables here.

“My parents opposed me violently as they thought that I should do administrative work after graduating from university, not work as a farmer,” he told Tuoi tre newspaper.

After researching, Thai decided to set up homestay instead of agricultural work.

He persuaded his parents and bought a 2,000-sq.m piece of land near the Ban Ang pine forest, which attracted a lot of tourists.

“At that time very few homestays were here. Moreover, expenses to set up a homestay are less than a hotel, and young people like being in nature,” said Thai.

To set up the homestay, Thai researched models from Thailand and then built houses under the tree shade.

Thai’s first customers visited at the end of last year.

Thai himself clean the rooms, cooks meals and welcomes the customers, though he has hired some employees.

Now, Thai’s income is about VND180 million (US$8,000) a month.  

Clean agriculture

Thai is not the only example of young entrepreneurs in Moc Chau District.

After studying planting strawberries in Da Lat City, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, Vu Van Luc in 2015 decided to plant the tree in Moc Chau District.

Together with several friends, he founded a model of clean agriculture combining with tourism and named it ‘Chimi’.

Luc, 28, said that he realised that strawberries suit the climate in Moc Chau District.

Starting with a 1,000-sq.m garden, now Luc and his friends have a 5,000-sq.m garden.

Dao Trong Hung, 26, co-founder of Chimi, said clean agriculture combined with tourism was attractive for tourists.

“Strawberry is a new plant here, so most tourists hope to see the plant,” said Hung.

Hung said that the best advantage of the area was that the Ban Ang pine forest was a famous tourist site in the district.

Tourists visiting the forest also go to Chimi.

Luc, Hung and their group opened the strawberry garden, which also has many flowers, for tourists to visit free of charge.

More jobs for youth

Hùng said the biggest problem was to persuade their parents their work was a prudent move.

“Six months after founding the model, I invited my parents to Moc Chau District. Seeing my good work, my parents do not oppose it anymore,” said Hung.

“The weather here is wonderful, and I can meet many people, I find my life happier,” he said.

At present, with a 5,000-square-metre piece of land, Hung’s group has 30 employees. In harvest season, nearly 50 workers are employed.

They also process different goods from strawberries. They intend to expand the model to other districts in Son La and other provinces. 

Source: VNS