Preserving Mong heritage in the rocky highlands

For more than two decades, entrepreneur Lai Quoc Tinh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of H’Mong Village Tourism Investment and Development JSC, has devoted himself to developing a tourism destination that showcases the cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group in the former Ha Giang Province. The project not only helps preserve traditional architecture but also creates jobs and livelihoods for local people while spreading humanitarian values throughout the community.

In 2001, following an invitation to work in the former Ha Giang Province, Mr. Tinh began his journey of attachment to the rocky plateau. During his trips to local communities, he noticed that traditional earthen houses with rammed-earth walls and yin-yang tiled roofs were gradually being replaced by modern buildings. Concerned about the risk of cultural heritage being lost, he decided in 2019 to develop H’Mong Village in the Trang Kim area, now part of Lung Tam Commune.

The project faced significant challenges in securing land and investment capital. After three businesses that had planned to join the project successively withdrew, Mr. Tinh decided to press ahead, selling his house in Hanoi and several properties in his hometown to raise funds. During construction, he worked with scientists to develop a soil reinforcement solution to overcome the limitations of traditional rammed-earth techniques, improving the durability of the buildings while preserving their original architectural features.

Bungalow units shaped like traditional Mong carrying baskets create a distinctive highlight at the tourism and resort destination.

To date, H’Mong Village has restored more than 20 traditional rammed-earth houses. Meanwhile, bungalow units inspired by the ‘quay tau’, a familiar carrying basket used by highland communities, add a distinctive touch to the resort. Built-up areas account for less than 10% of the total site, with most of the space reserved for natural landscapes and greenery.

The resort currently employs more than 60 people, nearly 100% of whom are local ethnic minority residents, with an average monthly income of approximately VND 9 million per person. In 2025, H’Mong Village welcomed 9,123 visitors, including 1,146 international tourists. It received another 8,473 visitors in the first six months of 2026. The resort won the ASEAN Green Hotel Award in 2022 and was named “Vietnam’s Best Green Hotel” in 2025. In 2026, Mr. Tinh was honoured with the Saint Giong Cup for Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneurs.

Beyond tourism development, he connects charitable organisations with schools and communities in remote areas to provide support. He also sponsors a Mong university student, now in the fourth year of study, and supports three orphaned children until they reach the age of 18.

Mr. Tinh hopes to develop H’Mong Village into a museum dedicated to Mong architecture, culture and traditional living spaces, helping preserve cultural heritage while promoting sustainable development across the rocky plateau.

Hai Huong