Doong Bui: When the Van Kieu Girl Brings the "Cheerful House" to Host Distant Guests

Đoong Bui: When the Vân Kiều Girl Brings the "Happy House" to Welcome Distant Guests

At the foot of the legendary Sa Mù pass, where mist and clouds cover year-round and the fragrant maple forests change leaves every winter, there is a "happy house" becoming an attractive stop on the tourist map of western Quảng Trị. That is Đoong Bui Homestay – the passion of Hồ Thị Thiết, a 23-year-old Vân Kiều girl who dares to think and act from her homeland.

1. The Journey from Dream to "Đoong Bui"

• Having always felt anxious seeing her compatriots in Hà Giang and Lào Cai excel in tourism, Thiết often wondered: "Why can't we do it when our homeland has waterfalls, forests, and unique culture?".
• Beginning: After community tourism training courses in 2022, Thiết transformed her family's stilt house in Chênh Vênh village into a lodging place.
• The meaningful name: "Đoong Bui" in Vân Kiều means the Happy House. Thiết wants anyone who visits to feel the warmth and hospitality of the local people.

A photo of a group of tourists being introduced to the process of making black sesame cake...

2. Experiences that are "Very Life, Very Vân Kiều"

• Đoong Bui is not just a place to sleep, but a place to live like a true Vân Kiều person. Tourists will be surprised by the rustic yet profound experiences:
• The delicious taste of the mountains: Enjoying wild vegetable instant noodles in the early morning, or joining the host in pounding sticky rice to make black sesame cake A dưt (A yữh) – a special cake reserved for distant guests or during great celebrations.

• The rhythm of village life: Following Thiết to the stream to fish, trekking to the majestic Chênh Vênh waterfall, or sitting with the shaman to listen to the cultural stories passed down by the Vân Kiều people.
• The breath of nature: Hướng Phùng this season is as beautiful as a painting with the golden color of wild sunflowers and the research station for orchids and strawberries at the cool top of Sa Mù pass.

A photo of an attractive food platter with many delicious and unique dishes, specialties of the Trường Sơn mountains.

3. A Meeting Place for Free Spirits

• It is not surprising that Đoong Bui attracts many foreign tourists traveling along the western branch of the Ho Chi Minh Road and friends from major cities like Đà Nẵng. They come to breathe in the fresh air, to see a very different Quảng Bình - Quảng Trị, where the vast Trường Sơn mountains embrace peaceful villages.

A photo of traditional stilt houses of the Vân Kiều people, which serve as lodging for tourists.

4. The Aspiration for a Sustainable Community

• For Thiết, Đoong Bui is just the beginning. The young girl is nurturing plans to connect with the villagers to provide clean agricultural products and share eco-tourism practices with Vân Kiều women, aiming to develop livelihoods together and preserve ethnic identity.

A photo of tourists participating in cultural exchanges with the Vân Kiều people in Chênh Vênh village.

Golden time: The last months of the year are when the wild sunflowers and maple forests are most beautiful.

Preparation: Don't forget to bring warm clothes because the temperature at the foot of Sa Mù pass is often significantly lower than in the lowland areas of Đông Hà!

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Source: Bá Cường