Mong boy and his dream of "starring" his homestay

Thao A Su is a successful young entrepreneur and a symbol of daring to think and act in the ethnic minority community. His story has become a source of inspiration for many young people, contributing to promoting sustainable development and preserving traditional cultural values.

Thao A Su has proven that, no matter how difficult the starting point is, with the will and aspiration to rise up, it is still possible to "star" your homestay, raising the level of community tourism .

Dream from small village

Born and raised in a poor farming family in Ta Chi Lu village, Thao A Su was one of the few children in the village at that time who could attend university. After graduating with a degree in engineering from Thai Nguyen University in late 2017, A Su tried her hand at a job in her field but quickly realized it was not suitable for her.

Seeing the great tourism potential of his homeland, the Mong man hatched the idea of building his own homestay so that visitors to Mu Cang Chai would have more places to stay. Because in the past, A Su had witnessed many times that visitors to Mu Cang Chai were too crowded, had no place to stay, had to ask to sleep at schools, commune committee offices or even camp overnight by the stream, which was very dangerous... Providing homestay services not only helps his family have a better source of income than farming but also contributes to promoting the image of his homeland to friends from all over the world.

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“I am luckier than many people in the village because I have been able to go to university, to be exposed to new knowledge, to learn new ways of thinking, so I always have the idea of doing something other than farming, to contribute more to my community” - A Su shared. From the years of pursuing and nurturing that dream, in 2018, after marrying Ms. Lu Thi Tang, he and his wife boldly borrowed capital from the bank to start a homestay service.

Starting tourism from scratch and the journey of overcoming difficulties

Working in tourism is completely different from the engineering major that A Su studied. He confided: “I had to learn from zero. My parents are farmers so they don’t have much savings, I just graduated from university with no experience, no stable career...”.

Although difficulties piled up on A Su's dream of doing tourism, he still maintained his determination to "do something else".

With a small initial capital, A Su bought the old stilt house frame to renovate. The upper floor is used as a place for guests to stay, the lower floor is used as a restaurant and bar. This is a model that he learned from previously developed homestay areas such as Sa Pa, Mai Chau...

A Su's small homestay opened at the end of 2019, welcoming guests for a short time when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Two years of the pandemic, tourism almost froze. This was a big shock, especially for a newly built homestay that had to be "shelved", while the bank interest still had to be paid regularly. Sometimes discouraged, but he did not give up. A Su took advantage of the pandemic to complete the landscape, plant trees, repair and decorate the homestay. He also constantly learned more knowledge, patiently waiting for the day he could welcome guests again.

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Improving service and the dream of "starring"

When the pandemic passed, tourists started to return, Ta Chi Lu village became bustling. A Su Homestay quickly became a favorite destination because of its prime location.

Currently, A Su's house is the highest homestay in Mu Cang Chai with an altitude of 1,500 m, located halfway up the mountain, possessing a beautiful panoramic view. From here, visitors can fully admire the special national landscape of terraced fields.

From A Su homestay, it is only 3 km from Mam Xoi hill, 3 km from Hau De waterfall, 3.5 km from the thick flower forest, Trong Tong village and Trong Pao Sang village... Each season at A Su Homestay has its own beauty, making visitors feel like they are lost in a fairyland.

From a homestay that can accommodate 20 guests, A Su has now built two more bungalows to serve families and tourists who prefer private space. The decoration of the homestay is skillfully done by A Su from local products such as brocade, bamboo, trees, wild peach blossoms, etc. This not only helps him save costs but also creates a cozy, friendly feeling, imbued with cultural identity for visitors to the house. In particular, he also decorates the bedroom and bathroom with a sea of clouds view as expensive as the luxury rooms of high-class hotels.

A Su shared: "I want to bring tourists the best quality service like a hotel at a homestay price."

Simple dishes served to tourists by the hands of A Su and his wife.

Not stopping at building facilities, A Su also focuses on improving service quality and management knowledge. He diligently learns from experts and friends to receive enthusiastic advice and timely suggestions for adjustment. He also actively participates in training courses to improve his knowledge and skills in tourism. A Su's wife - Ms. Lu Thi Tang also registered to study cooking at a vocational training center in Hanoi to learn how to prepare delicious dishes that suit the taste of customers.

After more than 5 years of trying, A Su’s constant efforts have brought sweet results. He and his wife have paid off part of their bank debt, expanded their relationships with other homestays, travel agencies and online booking sites… thanks to which the number of guests has become more stable.

Tourists coming to A Su's homestay not only come during the rice harvest and flower seasons, but also stay and go on tours all year round. Thanks to that, the life of A Su's family is more prosperous and happier, contributing to the realization of a bright picture of community tourism in Ta Chi Lu.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chang-trai-nguoi-mong-va-giac-mo-gan-sao-cho-homestay-post648465.html