Sin Suoi Ho Village, home to the Hmong people, is 30 kilometers from Lai Chau City in Sin Suoi Ho Commune, Phong Tho District. The village is situated at an altitude of nearly 1,500 meters above sea level at the base of Son Bac May Mountain.
Lai Chau, the capital of the eponymous province, is 394 kilometers from Hanoi.
In 2015, Sin Suoi Ho earned recognition as a community tourism village by the People's Committee of Lai Chau Province. The village has become a sought-after destination, captivating visitors with its surroundings and a fresh approach to tourism.
Over the past two years following the challenges posed by Covid-19, the village has welcomed an average of about 30,000 visitors, hailing from 15 countries including the U.S., Australia, and Canada.
In a departure from typical tourist areas where children often beg for money or seek payment for photographs, visitors to Sin Suoi Ho are asked not to offer money or treats to the children. Locals believe that refraining from such practices prevents the spoiling of children over time.
Sin Suoi Ho, where many Hmong people live, is becoming more civilized. People here avoid drinking, smoking, gambling, and using drugs. The pathways are clean, adorned with trees and flowers, creating an atmosphere that makes visitors feel as though they've wandered into a garden.
Vang A Chinh, the village head, said that to develop the present culture, he began by renovating his own house and then encouraged others in the village to do the same. He recalled that two decades ago, the village faced poverty, and the youth struggled with issues like alcoholism and drug addiction.
Through the village, numerous signposts and trash collection points are placed, contributing to the cleanliness of the community.
Leveraging the favorable climate and cultural identity, the residents have actively developed community tourism. Presently, Sin Suoi Ho hosts over 20 homestays, each marked by a welcoming gate and a wooden sign displaying contact information, services offered, the homeowner's name.
At the village, a weekly market is held every Saturday morning.
The sides of the road leading to the village and the market are lined with thousands of cymbidium orchids, a significant source of income for the villagers.
Locals also cultivate peach blossoms, roses, and hawthorn flowers.
In addition to providing accommodation, villagers offer restaurant services, serve as tour guides, showcase traditional arts, and sell brocade and Hmong ethnic souvenirs.
Chinh shared that households unable to host guests engage in animal husbandry and vegetable cultivation to supply food for tourists.
Surrounded by mountains and terraced fields, Sin Suoi Ho offers easy access to peaks such as Bach Moc LuongTu or Ta Lien, with leisurely routes for exploration. The location also provides opportunities for cloud chasing and experiencing the golden rice season.
In December 2023, Dang Thuy Linh from Hanoi visited the village. Although Linh had limited time for trekking, she took a short walk to explore the 300-year-old tree and the Heart Waterfall (pictured).
The Heart Waterfall is enveloped by rocky mountains on all sides. The path to the waterfall is adorned with trees and vines, with locals arranging rocks to facilitate visitors' walks.
The distance from the village to the waterfall is approximately 800 meters, with two walking paths available. It's noteworthy that the higher path is more accessible than the lower one.
