Lost in Lo Lo Chai – World’s Best Tourism Village 2025

THE HANOI TIMES — As dawn breaks over Lung Cu Flag Tower, the first light touches the golden earthen walls of Lo Lo Chai Village where thin smoke rises from kitchen fires and the scent of corn wine drifts through the cool mountain air.

Among stone fences and tiled roofs, Lo Lo ethnic women in colorful brocade gather in their courtyards preparing food, cleaning homestays and weaving cloth for another day of welcoming guests to Vietnam’s northernmost village.

Nestled at the foot of the country’s national flag tower in the northernmost province of Ha Giang, Lo Lo Chai is 1,470 meters above sea level and home to about 120 households of the Lo Lo ethnic group who have lived here for centuries.

The village, which is 154km from Ha Giang ward, preserves a rare harmony of culture and nature through its yellow earthen houses, yin-yang tiled roofs, stone-paved courtyards and terraced fields stretching under the shadow of Vietnam’s most iconic flag.

According to Sinh Di Gai, Head of Lo Lo Chai Village, visitors often describe Lo Lo Chai as a living museum where time seems to pause. For years, when repairing or building new houses, villagers agreed to follow traditional architectural styles to preserve their cultural identity and maintain a harmonious landscape that appeals to visitors, according to Sinh Di Gai, Head of Lo Lo Chai Village.

Meanwhile, when one-third of the households in the village offer homestay services, others raise pigs and chickens and grow vegetables to supply the homestay operators, together fostering community-based tourism..

The village’s head said this shared commitment has enabled Lo Lo Chai to preserve almost intact its unique cultural values regardless of traditional earthen-wall houses, festivals, folk dances and embroidery crafts.

He and other local artisans are also dedicated to safeguarding and teaching traditional musical instruments to younger generations, ensuring that the soul of the Lo Lo community continues to resonate across the mountains of Ha Giang.

“I felt like stepping into a painting. The air is fresh, the people are kind and every corner tells a story of peace and tradition,” said Nguyen Thu Hang, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City.

She said that the true charm of staying in a Lo Lo Chai homestay lies in living alongside the locals and experiencing their daily life instead of staying in distant villas or unfamiliar resorts.

That feeling now reaches far beyond Vietnam’s borders as Lo Lo Chai was named one of the World’s Best Tourism Villages 2025 by UN Tourism on October 17.

The recognition honors destinations that preserve cultural heritage, protect the environment and promote sustainable livelihoods.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said tourism is a powerful tool for shared prosperity, inclusive growth and rural cohesion, and Lo Lo Chai shows that heritage conservation and community development can move forward together.

The award marks a milestone for Vietnam’s tourism industry, highlighting its success in promoting community-based models where culture, sustainability and economic opportunity grow in harmony.

According to UN Tourism, the village is Climate Change Mitigation or Adaptation, Cultural Heritage Promotion and Conservation, and Tourism Development and Destination Management categories.

Since 2011, Lo Lo Chai has embraced tourism by opening traditional homes as homestays. Nearly one third of the local houses now welcome visitors, each decorated with brocade, wooden furniture and family heirlooms that tell stories of the Lo Lo people’s past.

Visitors can join locals in cooking, weaving, or dancing by the fire under a starlit highland sky, according to Sin A Cai, a homestay owner. 

Remarkably, festivals like the Ancestor Worship Ceremony, Forest God Ritual, and Rice Harvest Festival immerse visitors in the vibrant culture of Lo Lo Chai, where they can savor local dishes, learn traditional embroidery and experience the warmth of daily village life in a serene and storybook setting.

Sin A Cai shared that with government support, his family renovated their home and turned it into a small guesthouse. “Tourism helps us preserve our culture and gives our children a better life.” 

Village head Sinh Di Gai said that all households keep the environment clean, with waste sorting, cameras for safety and shared rules on sustainability, making Lo Lo Chai one of Ha Giang’s cleanest and most responsible destinations.

The village is also home to the 200-year-old Northernmost Café run by Mung Thi Guay, where travelers rest beneath ancient tiled roofs and sip coffee while watching the national flag wave proudly above Lung Cu peak.

Over the years, tourism has brought steady income and pride to the community. Young villagers now run cafés, shops and homestays, reducing migration to cities and strengthening local bonds.

The village also maintains community funds to reinvest in public spaces, culture and education.

Standing at the foot of the flag tower, visitors can see cornfields stretching across terraced slopes, children playing by stone fences and the red flag fluttering above – a symbol of unity and hope that defines this highland region.

As dusk falls, the light fades over the mountains and laughter echoes through the valley in Lo Lo Chai, time slows, culture endures and the true soul of Vietnam shines quietly from its most humble village and now proudly among the world’s best destinations.