Loved by foreign visitors

“I was a little anxious traveling alone to the remote mountains of Cao Bang. By chance, while searching for local guides and accommodation, I came across Thanh, a homestay host highly praised by many visitors,” said Kaiser Theo, a tourist from Berlin, Germany.

“He knows every corner of the forests, mountains, and caves. He’s a great hiker, always wears a bright smile, and is a fantastic cook. Choosing Thanh as my guide was one of my wisest decisions,” Theo added.

Theo spent five days and four nights in Quang Thanh commune, Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province, to experience the natural beauty and mountain life of Vietnam. Although his guide didn’t speak English well and had to rely on Google Translate, Theo remained thoroughly satisfied.

“I felt his enthusiasm through his eyes and smile. That’s what made the experience special,” he said.

Theo is just one of many foreign visitors who’ve praised Chu Tien Thanh (born 1992), the Dao Tien man from Lung Muoi. Numerous positive reviews of Thanh have appeared on social media following journeys through Nguyen Binh.

“When I first started guiding tourists around Cao Bang’s mountains and forests, I barely spoke any English. I mostly communicated through gestures and Google Translate. Over time, many guests helped me learn the language,” Thanh recalled.

“My English is still limited, but I feel more confident now. It brings me joy and pride to introduce my homeland to visitors, so I always do my best to serve them,” he said.

Staying in the village to build a tourism dream

Thanh was born and raised in Lung Muoi, Quang Thanh - a tranquil but impoverished hamlet nestled under Phia Oac, which rises 1,931 meters above sea level and lies more than 50 kilometers from Cao Bang city.

Like most families in Lung Muoi, Thanh’s family relied on farming corn and rice for subsistence. Life was challenging.

Curious and eager to explore, Thanh realized his homeland had great potential for tourism, appealing to both domestic and foreign visitors. From then on, he dreamed of staying in his village, caring for his parents, and building a tourism-based livelihood to escape poverty.

Located within the UNESCO-recognized Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark, Nguyen Binh boasts stunning scenery, geological wonders, and a rich ethnic culture.

It is home to revolutionary historical sites like the special national relic Tran Hung Dao forest; Keo Quang cave (also known as Lenin cave), where President Ho Chi Minh trained revolutionary cadres; Phai Khat and Na Ngan forts; and Ong Bua temple.

Villages like Hoai Khao preserve traditional Dao Tien culture, with distinctive costumes, yin-yang tiled roofs, and traditional crafts. The Na Reo households feature earth-walled houses, showcasing the Dao Tien’s sophisticated construction techniques.

“I would regret it deeply if such a beautiful, culturally rich land as my hometown remained unknown,” Thanh said.

In 2014, after completing military service, Thanh traveled across Cao Bang to learn about community tourism and homestay models, practicing mountain trekking, forest exploration, and cave guiding.

In 2021, a friend with homestay business experience helped him secure funding. Thanh persuaded his family to contribute land and labor to build a small homestay in Lung Muoi.

The homestay is a traditional four-room wooden house, 120 square meters in size, with a yin-yang tiled roof. It sits in a valley by a babbling stream, surrounded by rolling hills.

“Due to limited funds, I did much of the construction and furnishing myself,” Thanh said. Inside, he displays elegantly colored Dao Tien costumes as decorations.

Thanh created a fanpage, taking his own photos and writing posts to introduce the homestay and Lung Muoi. “At first, hardly anyone paid attention to the page, and I was anxious. Luckily, a friend helped me connect with travelers,” he said.

“My wife and I welcome guests with sincerity and simplicity. We clean, cook, and personally guide them through Phia Oac, Phia Den, and Hoai Khao. I don’t see myself as a tour guide, but rather a local sharing my home with pride and love.”

Thanh’s cooking also wins hearts. He prepares local specialties like black pork, free-range chicken, stream fish, and forest vegetables into vibrant traditional platters reflecting Dao Tien culinary culture.

“The busiest season is January to May, when guests enjoy forest hikes and stream baths, or August to September for the rice harvest. In winter, frost sometimes appears in Phia Oac, attracting many domestic tourists. I mostly use online platforms to promote and book the homestay,” he said.

During the low season, Thanh visits other homestays to learn more about guest service, food preparation, and beverage making.

“Our homestay can host around 20 guests at a time. The numbers aren’t huge, but my wife and I earn a stable income,” Thanh shared.

In 2023-2024, Thanh entered his Lung Muoi Homestay Project in the first Cao Bang Provincial Innovation Startup Contest, earning a consolation prize.

He regularly refers guests to other homestays in the area and shares his tourism knowledge with neighbors or anyone interested.

“I hope visitors don’t just come to Lung Muoi or Quang Thanh once, but return many times, each with a different experience, perhaps staying at another local homestay,” he said.

Linh Trang