A Hmong leader’s vision turned Sin Suoi Ho into one of Vietnam’s most successful rural tourism models.
Nestled in the mountains of Lai Chau province, northwest Vietnam, Sin Suoi Ho is a Hmong ethnic village that has transformed from poverty into a model of sustainable community-based tourism. Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and the remarkable leadership of local resident Vang A Chinh, the village offers visitors an authentic highland experience. From trekking to Heart Waterfall and admiring blooming orchids to staying in traditional homestays, Sin Suoi Ho has become a shining example of how tourism can empower communities. Today, it stands as one of Vietnam’s and ASEAN’s most celebrated rural tourism destinations.
From Lai Chau City, as we rode a taxi to Phong Tho district, our driver spoke with reverence about Vang A Chinh – a well-known village head who helped transform Sin Suoi Ho into a thriving community-led tourist destination.
At 9 p.m., we arrived at A Chinh’s homestay on a busy weekend evening. Despite the late hour, the staff still managed to prepare a steaming pot of chicken hotpot for us. Amidst the bustle, a tall, energetic man appeared, hopping on his motorbike to fetch bottled water and ice for guests without hesitation. He was none other than Vang A Chinh – the “soul” of Sin Suoi Ho.
A man of action, A Chinh once rallied his people to overcome addiction, donated 1,000 square meters of land to build roads and open markets, and led Sin Suoi Ho from poverty to prosperity.
From opium and alcohol to agriculture and self-sufficiency
Vang A Chinh
“In the 1980s and 90s, our village of 80 households was gripped by opium. Nearly every family had addicts,” Chinh recalled. In 1990, military forces destroyed the poppy fields, pushing the community to focus on farming. By 1995, poppy cultivation in Sin Suoi Ho had ceased completely.
As a young man then, Chinh worked alongside local officials to persuade people to quit drugs. “Some would beat me when they were high, but when they saw others recover and improve their lives, they started listening,” he said.
In 2004, he became a commune police officer. The village was still poor, but he began small: persuading households to quit alcohol.
“Alcohol is like a forest demon,” he said. “It makes you lazy and poor. It clouds your vision and blocks your ears.”
Today, no one in Sin Suoi Ho drinks or stores alcohol - unless a tourist requests it.
Laying the groundwork: land, roads, and tourism dreams
With opium and alcohol behind them, villagers turned to farming rice, corn, and cardamom. As income grew, Chinh began beautifying his home - just for his family, initially. But as teachers visiting the village shared photos, word spread, and tourists started to arrive.
By 2012, the road to Sin Suoi Ho was still a muddy trail. Chinh, then 37, believed a good road was essential for tourism. Lacking both land and funding, he took the first step: donating 1,000 square meters of his own land and convincing others to do the same.
State funds covered the cement. Households contributed for gravel and sand, using deductions from forest protection payments. The plan met resistance - some refused to donate land or pay. One villager even declared, “If you manage to build this road, I’ll crawl on all fours.”
But gradually, through persistence and with support from respected elders, Chinh won them over. In just one year, a 2-kilometer asphalt road connected the village to the commune center.
By 2014, Chinh mobilized the community again to build a market and a path to Thac Trai Tim (Heart Waterfall). That same year, Sin Suoi Ho was officially put on the map as a Northwest tourist destination.
From a homestay to a tourism revolution
Chinh invested VND 500 million (approx. USD 20,000) of his own money - earned from cardamom - to build a homestay. Encouraged by visitors, he added beds, mattresses, and cooking services. His early setups weren’t fancy - thin mattresses and colored bed linens - but guests offered feedback, which he embraced.
Today, even a shared room for VND 150,000 (USD 6) per night includes a 1.8-meter-wide bed, a 20cm mattress, and clean white hotel-grade linens. Toilets are modern and city-style - another change made after guest suggestions.
Chinh now runs 40 community beds, 10 private rooms, and two new bungalows. From an initial VND 500 million investment, he’s poured VND 20 billion (approx. USD 787,000) into tourism. He still owes nearly VND 1 billion, but with annual homestay revenue of VND 400-500 million, plus VND 300-400 million from cardamom, and VND 100-200 million from goats - not to mention income from crops and orchids - that debt doesn’t worry him.
Lifting the village together
Once his family prospered from tourism, Chinh began helping others. He guided villagers in obtaining government-backed loans and shared his experiences in service and hospitality.
His son, Vang A Tua, now the village party secretary, witnessed the struggles his father faced - particularly in changing entrenched mindsets. Years ago, most villagers were elderly and illiterate. Chinh had to teach them how to clean, organize homes, stop letting livestock roam, and cook for guests.
In 2015, Sin Suoi Ho was officially recognized as a community-based tourism village. Provincial authorities began offering training in cooking, cleaning, beverage service, and cultural performance.
Young villagers stepped up. Some pursued culinary studies in Hanoi, others got driver’s licenses. Today, 40 people out of 764 have licenses for cars and trucks. Seven families own cars used for passenger transport and logistics.
From poverty to cooperative success
Chinh also founded the "Trai Tim" (Heart) Cooperative. Eleven families pooled resources to build guesthouses and restaurants on communal land. The facility can serve up to 100 guests at once and earns VND 300-400 million annually.
An additional 30 families have started their own homestays. Sin Suoi Ho now has enough lodging to accommodate 500 tourists at a time. Families without homestays still benefit by selling goods or working in service. Where villagers once earned VND 100,000 a day doing manual labor, they now enjoy higher, more consistent incomes.
“Nothing beats the returns from tourism,” said Sung Thi May, one of the cooperative’s founding members.
According to the Sin Suoi Ho commune report, in 2024 alone, the village welcomed over 30,000 visitors and earned more than VND 3 billion (approx. USD 118,000) in tourism revenue.
The golden village rises
Tourism season in Sin Suoi Ho begins in March. Visitors can hike to Thac Trai Tim (Heart Waterfall), see blooming rhododendrons, visit orchid gardens, and taste authentic highland cuisine - all guided by local Hmong residents.
From a village once defined by 100% poverty, Sin Suoi Ho - whose name in Hmong means “the village with gold” - has lived up to its name under the leadership of Vang A Chinh.
2019: Sin Suoi Ho was recognized as a model community-based tourism destination in Vietnam.
2020: The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism selected Sin Suoi Ho as one of the four most attractive community-based tourism destinations in the country.
2022: Sin Suoi Ho was honored as one of ASEAN’s most attractive community-based tourism villages.
2023: Sin Suoi Ho received the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Award for the third time.
2024: Sin Suoi Ho was shortlisted for the title of “World’s Best Tourism Village.”
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
