Ha Giang Aya Lodge Brings Community-Based Tourism Model to a Hmong Village in Northern Vietnam

In the mountains of Ha Giang, now part of Tuyen Quang Province, a new lodge is offering a different approach to tourism—one that places local communities at the center of the experience.

This approach allows visitors to experience local culture in a natural setting, while also creating opportunities for residents of the area.

Ha Giang Aya Lodge, located in the Hmong village of Sung Trai along the well-known Ha Giang Loop, was developed with the aim of combining tourism with long-term community involvement. Instead of building in a separate tourist zone, the lodge operates within an existing village, where daily life continues as usual.

Creating opportunities within the village

Many of the people working at the lodge come from Sung Trai and nearby villages. For several of them, this is their first experience working in tourism.

Training is provided directly at the lodge, including English lessons and basic hospitality skills. Over time, this allows staff to develop new opportunities while remaining in their home region.

According to the team behind the project, this local involvement is one of the most important aspects of the lodge.

“Tourism can bring benefits, but only if local people are part of it,” says Nhung Phung, co-founder of Local Vietnam. “We want to create something that grows together with the community.”

Small initiatives with long-term impact

Beyond employment, the lodge’s management is also involved in community activities outside the property itself.

One of these includes English teaching at a nearby school, where both Vietnamese and international team members contribute. While small in scale, these efforts aim to support young people in the area with skills that may become increasingly important as tourism develops.

The team also supports minor infrastructure improvements in the village, working together with local residents.

Balancing tourism and local life

Tourism in Ha Giang has grown rapidly in recent years, particularly along the Ha Giang Loop. While this has brought new economic opportunities, it has also raised questions about how development can take place without losing the character of the region.

By placing the lodge within Sung Trai village, rather than separating it from local life, Ha Giang Aya Lodge represents one possible direction for more balanced tourism.

Visitors stay in the area, interact with the community in a natural way, and contribute directly to the local economy.

A broader vision behind the project

A broader vision behind the project

Ha Giang Aya Lodge was developed by Local Vietnam, a travel company focused on creating in-depth travel experiences across Vietnam.

Founded by Nhung Phung, Duong Phung, and Marnick Schoonderwoerd, the company has spent many years working in northern Vietnam, building connections with local communities and developing travel routes that go beyond standard tourism programs.

The lodge is seen as an extension of that work—bringing together travel, local culture, and community involvement in one place.

Looking ahead

As tourism continues to grow in Tuyen Quang Province, projects like Ha Giang Aya Lodge highlight the potential for models that combine economic development with cultural preservation.

While still small in scale, the approach reflects a growing awareness that tourism can play a role not only in attracting visitors, but also in supporting the communities that make destinations like Ha Giang unique.