CaliToday (/2025): In a major recognition of Vietnam's commitment to sustainable and culturally-rich tourism, two villages from the country's remote northern highlands have been catapulted onto the global stage.
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| Panoramic view of Lo Lo Chai village in Ha Giang province in the early morning sun. Photo: Venus Tran. |
GENEVA/HANOI – The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has officially named Lô Lô Chải (Hà Giang Province) and Quỳnh Sơn (Lạng Sơn Province) to its prestigious "Best Tourism Villages 2025" list. This coveted award celebrates rural destinations that are harnessing tourism as a powerful engine for development and well-being, all while meticulously preserving their cultural and natural heritage.
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| The houses in the village still retain the traditional architecture of the Lo Lo people, with houses covered by earthen walls on three sides, gates and fences made of hand-laid stones. To make it suitable for tourism, the households have renovated and added private toilets, convenient for tourists to eat, stay and live, but without affecting the overall architecture. |
For Vietnam, this dual recognition is a resounding victory. It highlights a successful shift towards community-based tourism, inviting travelers to look beyond the country's bustling cities and popular coastlines to discover the authentic, beating heart of its mountainous frontiers.
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| Quynh Son community cultural tourism village in Quynh Son commune, Bac Son |
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| Quynh Son community cultural tourism village in Quynh Son commune, Bac Son |
The Significance of the UNWTO Award
To be named a "Best Tourism Village" is not merely a symbolic honor. It is a rigorous certification from the highest global tourism body, recognizing villages that excel in:
Cultural Preservation: Acting as living guardians of ancient traditions, architecture, and local arts.
Sustainability: Implementing green practices and ensuring tourism's economic benefits are shared equitably.
Community Empowerment: Placing local people, particularly ethnic minorities and women, at the center of the tourism experience.
Authentic Experiences: Offering travelers a genuine, immersive, and transformative journey.
For Lô Lô Chải and Quỳnh Sơn, this award opens a new chapter, promising international visibility while reinforcing the importance of their sustainable path.
Spotlight 1: Lô Lô Chải — At the Nation's Northernmost Frontier
[Image: A striking 'nhà trình tường' (earthen house) in Lô Lô Chải with the Lũng Cú Flag Tower visible in the distance.]
Nestled directly at the foot of the iconic Lũng Cú Flag Tower—which marks Vietnam's northernmost point—Lô Lô Chải is a place of ethereal beauty and profound cultural depth.
The People: The village is the cherished home of the Lô Lô ethnic minority, one of Vietnam's smallest and most culturally distinct groups. They are the guardians of this rocky plateau.
The Landscape: Part of the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, the village is a stunning tapestry of soaring limestone peaks, tiny terraced corn plots, and vibrant buckwheat flowers in the winter.
The Experience: Visitors are not just tourists; they are guests. The local Lô Lô community welcomes travelers into their ancient "nhà trình tường"—remarkable houses with thick, pounded-earth walls and traditional yin-yang tiled roofs that keep them cool in summer and warm in winter.
What Makes It Special: Guests can share meals with local families, witness the intricate weaving of colorful, traditional textiles, and wake up to the sound of roosters, all under the shadow of the national flag tower. It is a powerful, genuine immersion into a way of life that has endured for centuries.
Spotlight 2: Quỳnh Sơn — A Living Museum of Tày Culture
[Image: A panoramic view of the Bắc Sơn valley, showing the uniform stilt houses of Quỳnh Sơn village nestled against green karst mountains.]
In the breathtaking Bắc Sơn Valley of Lạng Sơn Province lies Quỳnh Sơn, a village that feels like a perfectly preserved living museum.
The People: Quỳnh Sơn is the homeland of the Tày ethnic community, known for their hospitality and rich traditions, particularly their "Then" singing, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Architecture: The village's most striking feature is its remarkable uniformity. Dozens of traditional Tày stilt houses (nhà sàn) are built in perfect alignment, all facing south to welcome warmth and good fortune. This harmonious planning creates a sense of peace and order that is visually stunning.
The Landscape: The village is enveloped by an "ocean" of rice fields and dramatic karst peaks. The Bắc Sơn valley is famed for its "golden" harvest, where different patches of rice ripen at different times, creating a spectacular mosaic of green and gold.
What Makes It Special: Quỳnh Sơn is a model for community-based tourism. The entire village collaborates to host visitors. Travelers can stay in pristine homestays, cycle through the rice paddies, trek up to scenic viewpoints, and participate in traditional Tày ceremonies, all while knowing their visit directly supports the local families.
A New Invitation to the World
The crowning of Lô Lô Chải and Quỳnh Sơn as "Best Tourism Villages" is a landmark moment. It signals to the world that Vietnam's greatest treasures are not just its landscapes, but its people.
This UNWTO recognition is a powerful invitation for discerning travelers to venture north, to slow down, and to connect. It is an opportunity to discover the soul of Vietnam, preserved in the earth-walled homes of the Lô Lô and the harmonious stilt houses of the Tày.