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Located in Chieng Di, Van Ho, Son La, A Lam Boutique Stay sits right at the gateway to Moc Chau. The village is surrounded by old plum trees interspersed with lush green tea plantations, blending with the scenery of the mountains and forests, and enjoying a cool atmosphere year-round, creating a calming atmosphere.
A Lam Boutique Stay takes you away from the hustle and bustle of city life, a place where you can let your emotions flow and find peace of mind.
A Lam Boutique Stay is a home nestled in the lush green meadows of Moc Chau.
The house is a modern version of the old style.
The highlight of A Lam Boutique Stay is the use of old stilt houses that have been renovated and rearranged in a fresh, modern, and stylish way. The goal is to create a house that, while old, still retains its charm, offers all the necessary amenities, and provides a comfortable stay.
Ms. Nguyen Dao Phu Minh, owner of A Lam Boutique Stay, shared with Travellive: “With the desire to have a house in the suburbs and share the space with everyone so they can experience the wonderful Van Ho area. The climate here is cool year-round and not too far from Hanoi. After a chance visit to Moc Chau and being captivated by the beauty of this region, I decided to build A Lam, both to provide a relaxing weekend retreat for my family and to help the local people develop tourism.”
Van Ho, located in Son La province, is known for its many magnificent natural landscapes and colorful grasslands. The area enjoys a cool, fresh climate and boasts many unique cultural features deeply rooted in ethnic identity.
The entrance to A Lam Boutique Stay is overflowing with hydrangeas.
A Lam Boutique Stay offers three room types: Bohemian rooms with the largest views, offering panoramic vistas of the vast surrounding forest and mountains; Rustic rooms with wooden ceilings; and stilt house rooms.
The architecture is based on traditional stilt houses, then modernized. The style impresses visitors with its Moroccan interior design. Upon arrival, visitors feel a sense of familiarity and the pleasant atmosphere of a relaxed home.
Inside the bedroom
“The style most pursued at A Lam Boutique Stay is Moroccan: rustic and refined. The interior design incorporates many items from ethnic minority communities passed down through generations, such as large wooden trays, a collection of Dao drums, rice mortars, and horse feeders… These are strategically placed to create aesthetically pleasing decor, fostering warmth, intimacy, and uniqueness. Each decorative corner highlights the values of the local people, offering a fresh perspective while preserving their cultural heritage,” Ms. Minh explained.
According to Ms. Minh, construction in the mountainous region is very difficult; building a house here is much more challenging than in the lowlands in terms of cost, time, and effort. Conversely, the people here are warm-hearted, sharing, and supportive.
The homeowner collects many antiques to decorate the space, creating a warm, inviting, and unique atmosphere.
"Utilizing old stilt houses to renovate new ones makes everything more modern instead of building brick houses. It preserves the traditional model and identity while still enjoying the value of the story. It develops ourselves and promotes community tourism, creating a new version of the old," Ms. Minh said.
In Van Ho, the scenery is very picturesque. When tourists come here, they will enjoy peace, spaciousness, and beauty that begins with the branches and blades of grass. In A Lam, tourists can also experience the weekly Saturday evening market, just a short walk away. Here, there will be cultural activities by the locals with lively music and dances. In addition, tourists can enjoy regional specialties and local culture.
“The food in A Lam is all prepared by the local people. Tourists will have the opportunity to enjoy the cultural dishes of the highlands. A meaningful trip, whether short or long, should include enjoying local products,” Ms. Minh said.
Outdoor space
Experience picking early-season plums and ripe red peaches at the gateway to Moc Chau.
Within the grounds of A Lam Boutique Stay, there are many green trees and fruit trees, approximately 200 plum trees and 100 peach trees. At this time of year, the plums are beginning to ripen. The mountains and forests are covered in a lush green, dotted with ripe, juicy red plums and peaches. The scattered ripe plums, with their crisp green skin and red flesh, offer a delightful blend of sweet and sour flavors. For centuries, plums have been considered a representative agricultural product of the rich natural resources of Moc Chau, Son La province.
Experience harvesting plums and enjoying this fruit with its perfect blend of sweet and sour flavors, paired with spicy chili salt – a treat everyone craves.
In the crisp summer breeze amidst the lush green mountains, ripe red peaches add a touch of beauty to the endless forest.
Besides enjoying the plums, visitors to A Lam can also take countless beautiful photos amidst the dreamy plum and peach orchards.
The owner, A Lam, is also a lover of flowers and nature. The entire property is planted with many kinds of flowers to stimulate the sense of smell and immerse visitors in the tranquility of this grassland region.
