“Be aware of the inconvenience”. “It is not easy living with a stranger, especially for someone who has never been far from home for long like you”. 

These are the warnings I received after telling my 1-month plan in Ha Giang to my family and friends. Travel to the majestic Northern part of Vietnam? Absolutely recommended. But living in a small village in a local Ha Giang homestay for a month? Definitely a lot of doubts about it. 

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Two months ago, I signed up for an English teaching volunteer program through the YESD Vietnam organization. In short, my role is to teach English to the local children in Tha village, Ha Giang, for a month, while receiving support for meals and accommodation from a local family in return as a local Vietnamese volunteer. With all the uncertainty about a whole new experience, I packed my things for Mrs Dung’s Ha Giang homestay, which I never thought would be my cherished second home during this summer. 

A LOVELY STILT HOUSE 

Mrs. Dung’s Ha Giang homestay follows the traditional stilt-house design of Vietnam’s ethnic minority communities. Inside, there is a large communal area used for sleeping, with neatly arranged mattresses for each guest. Each sleeping space is separated by curtains, and the mattresses are placed far enough apart to ensure privacy. I fell in love with the familiar Vietnamese countryside style of home decor right when stepping in: family pictures are displayed throughout the house, creating a warm and belonging atmosphere.

My concern about the inconvenience did not last long. The house has all the necessary utensils, and Mrs. Dung allows me to use the household appliances whenever I need. 

TASTY HOMEMADE LOCAL FOOD 

One of the privileges of living with a local is getting to try unique homemade food you won’t find in any restaurant. Sticky rice cake stuffed with bamboo shoots. Braised pork with canarium fruit. Stir-fried eggplant with betel leaves. This homemade dish captures the essence of local cuisine, infused with the distinctive aroma of wood smoke from Mrs. Dung’s kitchen at this Ha Giang homestay.

Don’t hesitate to tell Mrs. Dung if the dish is not to your taste. She is always willing to take the feedback and adjust the meal to suit you perfectly. Mr. and Mrs. Dung are both great cooks. I bet no feedback will be a challenge to them.

A WARM-HEARTED FAMILY 

What I remember most is how Mrs. Dung’s family welcomed me as one of their own. From the first day I was here, they had always been so warm and caring that it quickly dispelled my feeling of unfamiliarity or homesickness. Every day, I was greeted with questions like: “Did you sleep well last night?”, “Have you eaten anything yet?” or “Do you feel lonely being here alone for that long?”. Staying at a Ha Giang homestay made me feel like a grandchild being lovingly checked on by the whole family.

A small memory I cherish about Mrs. Dung is when I was leaving for a trip to the Dong Van District. Normally, I would make my own breakfast, as Mr. and Mrs. Dung only cooked lunch and dinner. However, on that morning, Mrs. Dung woke up early to prepare breakfast for me, as she was afraid I might go hungry on the long trip. Their care was shown in such small gestures, yet it was enough to brighten my day. 

LOTS OF FIRST-TIME EXPERIENCE AND CAPTIVATING STORIES

Since I lived with Mrs. Dung’s family at their Ha Giang homestay, I could witness and experience firsthand the life of the Tay people, from daily activities to farming work. I spent most of my free time following Mr. Dung to the cornfields. For the first time in my life, I experienced planting corn by myself, from burning the field, tilling the soil, to sowing the seeds and fertilizing. I was proud to say that I once helped plant corn in Ha Giang.

Other times, I sat watching Mrs. Dung weave baskets or went bathing in the stream with her grandson. These are all once-in-a-lifetime experiences that I would never have had if I hadn’t spent a month living in a local Ha Giang homestay for a month. 

Apart from her cooking and farming skills, Mrs. Dung is a woman of many amazing stories. I love sitting with her at the tea table and listening to stories about the Tha village during the war. It was magical to sit in front of a war witness and hear history brought to life so vividly. She showed me the places in Tha village where bombs had hit, how the people in Tha village overcame the famine of war while taking care of the soldiers. I am deeply grateful to have met her and to have heard those stories.

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For those who are about to live in a new place and stay with strangers like me, I would say just do it. I came to Ha Giang to explore new challenges, but I received a second home with many people who sweetly care for me. Now I came home carrying a pack full of “local experiences” that I will always treasure.

If you truly want to experience the warmth of Ha Giang’s people and the comfort of an authentic Ha Giang homestay, there’s nothing like staying with a local family who opens their doors – and their hearts – to you. At Ha Giang Responsible Tourism’s tour, we don’t just arrange a bed for the night; we connect you with hosts who share their meals, stories, and way of life.

Book a tour with us and let our local guides lead you through Ha Giang’s breathtaking landscapes, while giving you the rare chance to feel at home in the most beautiful corner of Vietnam.