Memorable experiences
We arrived at Na Tong on a late afternoon. Ms. Loc Thi Loan, owner of Trieu Cuong Homesay, was busy preparing dinner for the group of tourists. Although she had made an appointment, Ms. Loan politely apologized for her busyness. She said: You guys go up and look at the bungalows first, we'll talk later.
The 5 bungalows of Ms. Loan's family are located right at the foot of one of the 99 mountains of the Thuong Lam region, overlooking Trieu Cuong Homesay. These houses have bare brick walls and thatched roofs. Guests who want to enter the room have to climb a few steps like going up to a stilt house. The interior is simply decorated but fully equipped, from a large bed covered with white sheets, air conditioning, to a bathroom with a modern shower. A cozy but still close and pristine feeling.
Bungalows in Na Tong village.
Mr. Le Minh Hai, a tourist from Hai Phong, shared: “This is the first time I have experienced a bungalow in the middle of the mountains and forests like this. Everything is so peaceful and quiet. Sitting in a small house, looking out, I can see nature right before my eyes, it feels wonderful. In the morning, sitting on the porch of the bungalow, sipping a cup of hot tea, I listen to the birds chirping on the treetops. In the evening, I enjoy grilled fish, bamboo rice with the locals, sip corn wine by the fire, listen to young people sing Then, play the Tinh lute, listen to the stories of the Tay people. Those are wonderful experiences”.
In another bungalow, there are 4 tourists sitting on the porch drinking tea. Mr. Nguyen Hoang Lam, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: “I came here to “heal”. Honestly, I have been to many places, but only when I came here did I realize that Na Tong village is truly wonderful, blessed with rare beauty by nature.
To prove his point, Mr. Lam described it like a descriptive essay and seemed to be very familiar with this place: around the village, there are towering, moss-covered rocky mountains. Going a little further, you will see the Na Hang - Lam Binh ecological lake stretching out like a giant mirror, reflecting the blue sky and clouds, and returning to the Thuong Lam fields in the golden rice season throughout the valley. The climate here is fresh and cool all year round, bringing a feeling of relaxation that is unmatched anywhere else.
Tourists staying in bungalows interact with Na Tong people to learn about Then singing and Tinh lute.
Stories of the pioneers
The appearance of bungalows in Na Tong is not only the result of the tourism development trend, but also the great effort of the creative local people.
After finishing work, Ms. Loan came to us and shared: “At first, my family only did homestays with stilt houses. But gradually, tourists wanted more private and convenient spaces. After researching and finding investment directions, I met Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a tourist from Hanoi who often comes here to relax. The idea was the same, so we decided to build more bungalows to serve this new need. The bungalow has only been open for a month but the guests are very regular. On weekends, most of the 5 bungalows are full. This year, on the 2nd day of Tet, all the bungalows were booked. The initial results were very positive, the number of guests increased steadily, and the family income was much more stable.”
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a tourist from Hanoi who also invested in bungalows with Ms. Loan's family, shared: "I really like the scenery here and often travel here. I see that the potential for tourism here is still very large, but people have only exploited the homestay model. The psychology and needs of most tourists want to stay in places that are both private and convenient while still being in harmony with nature, which the bungalow model can meet.
Interior of a Triệu Cường bungalow.
So Loan and I decided to invest. This is just an initial test and has shown quite clear results”. According to Mr. Hung, each bungalow is built at a cost of about 200 million VND. The most important thing for investing in bungalows here is not to destroy the landscape. Each bungalow must ensure the criteria of harmony with nature for tourists to experience. Construction materials such as wood, bamboo, and palm leaves are all taken from local nature, showing respect and attachment to the environment.
Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, another tourist from Hanoi, commented: “The bungalow model is very suitable for Na Tong. It both maintains the rusticity and meets modern needs. I believe this will be a big push for this place to go further”.
Currently, some homestay tourism businesses in Thuong Lam have recognized the effectiveness of this type and have started to invest in building bungalows, including Mr. Hoang Van Minh, owner of Homestay Tai Ngao. Bungalows are not only a new accommodation model but also a transformation of Na Tong. The combination of modern amenities and traditional cultural values has created a unique feature that attracts all tourists. From a small, peaceful village, Na Tong is gradually affirming its position on the tourism map. If continued investment in the right direction, this place promises to become an ideal stopover, bringing long-term economic efficiency to the people and satisfaction to tourists.
According to Tuyen Quang Online Newspaper
