Vietnam: a village named among world’s best tourism villages

20 March 2023

Thai Hai village, located in the north of Thai Nguyen province, is the only Southeast Asian representative to make the global list of rural destinations that embrace tourism as a driver for the cause of development and new opportunities for jobs and income, while simultaneously preserving and promoting community-based values and products.

The village is situated just an hour drive from Hanoi and covers an area of 70 hectares. It is home to a total of 30 traditional stilt houses belonging to the Tay ethnic minority people. The village is capable of accommodating roughly 500 guests, thereby allowing tourists to participate in eco-tourism activities whilst exploring the traditional culture and lifestyle of the local Tay people.

Visitors to the area can experience daily living alongside villagers, taking part in activities such as growing and collecting vegetables, as well as going fishing and having fun by playing traditional games. The village was awarded the title of rural destinations that embrace tourism by the UNWTO in 2022.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It provides leadership and support in advancing knowledge and tourism policies and serves as a global forum for tourism policy and a source of tourism research and knowledge