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Recently, in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, Vietnam's tourism sector made history when the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) announced the list of "Best Tourism Villages 2025". Outperforming over 270 entries from 65 countries worldwide, Lo Lo Chai Cultural Tourism Village (Lung Cu Commune, Tuyen Quang Province) and Quynh Son Community Tourism Village (Bac Son Commune, Lang Son Province) were recognized as two of the world's most outstanding community tourism villages.
Lo Lo Chai village (Lung Cu commune) is located at the foot of the Lung Cu flagpole – the northernmost point of the country, 154 km from Ha Giang ward, at an altitude of approximately 1,470 m above sea level.
This prestigious award is not only a well-deserved recognition of the community's efforts but also affirms that Vietnam's sustainable tourism development model has met international standards.
Lo Lo Chai village (Lung Cu commune) is located at the foot of the Lung Cu flagpole – the northernmost point of Vietnam, 154 km from the center of Ha Giang, at an altitude of approximately 1,470 m above sea level. Being honored by UN Tourism is a remarkable achievement, as this small village has undergone many years of self-renewal by persistently preserving its traditional cultural values without losing its inherent way of life. This is the first time a community-based tourism destination in Tuyen Quang has received this title, demonstrating that the tourism development model here meets the stringent criteria of the United Nations regarding governance, environment, and contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The village has 120 households, mostly Lo Lo people, of which 56 are involved in tourism. The majority of the remaining households grow corn and rice and brew traditional liquor, having lived here for nearly 800 years.
Tuyen Quang province has oriented Lo Lo Chai into a typical community tourism model, aiming to develop the economy while preserving cultural identity and the environment. Any changes here are conscious and limited, not driven by trends at the expense of core values.
Lo Lo Chai focuses on improving infrastructure, planning a waste collection and treatment system, reducing single-use plastics, increasing green spaces, improving clean water sources, and ensuring standard toilets. At the same time, the village emphasizes preserving the landscape and traditional architecture, while controlling visitor numbers to maintain ecological balance.
The village has 119 households with over 500 inhabitants, mainly from the Lo Lo ethnic group, of which 42 households participate in the community tourism model. The villagers receive training on welcoming guests, food safety, civilized tourism, and fire prevention and control skills. Women run homestays and cook traditional dishes; young people guide tourists through agricultural and cultural experiences.
The houses are surrounded by handcrafted stone walls. Each household has a small garden where they grow vegetables for daily use. The people mainly cultivate rice and corn and raise livestock and poultry to supplement their income.
For many international tourists, Lo Lo Chai is unique because its way of life unfolds naturally, without being theatricalized. The traditional houses with their yin-yang tiled roofs, the sound of the mouth organ echoing on the rocky slopes, women in embroidered dresses sitting and spinning flax to dry yarn in the yard… all create a scene that technology cannot replicate.
Lo Lo Chai does not sell entrance tickets or cultural "performances" to generate revenue. Income comes from accommodation services, food, handicrafts, agricultural experiences, and folk performances. The money paid for these services is redistributed to the community through mutual agreement, ensuring sustainability and voluntary participation from the people. Controlling visitor numbers is also a highlight, maintaining the rhythm of local life and transforming the area into a destination sought after by international tourists seeking "profound tranquility."
The "World's Best Village" award, initiated by UN Tourism, is a global initiative to honor rural destinations that have achieved outstanding results in cultural and natural conservation, sustainable tourism development, and improving community livelihoods. The award is selected based on a comprehensive set of criteria covering governance, innovation, sustainability, environmental impact, and contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Each homestay is decorated in a traditional style, with spacious common areas and clean restrooms. Many ancient artifacts of the Lo Lo people are also displayed inside the houses.
The recognition of Lo Lo Chai has increased the total number of Vietnamese villages recognized by UN Tourism to five, including: Thai Hai (Thai Nguyen), Tan Hoa (Quang Tri), Tra Que vegetable village (Da Nang), Lo Lo Chai (Tuyen Quang), and Quynh Son (Lang Son). This success owes a key technical contribution to the “Sustainable Tourism for Development” (ST4SD) project, implemented by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration in collaboration with Helvetas (Switzerland), from potential assessment and product design to community training and consulting on the preparation of international applications.
The title from UN Tourism is not the ultimate goal, but rather a "passport" for Vietnamese tourism villages to step out into the world as responsible destinations. This is even more significant considering that the UNESCO Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark was recently honored as "Asia's Leading Regional Cultural Destination 2025" at the World Travel Awards held on October 13th in Hong Kong. These consecutive recognitions have helped to place Vietnamese tourism on the world map as a nation rich in cultural identity and committed to sustainable development.
