Life of a H'mong woman leading Sa Pa tours featured in Western newspaper

Nowadays, many H'Mong people earn extra income by sharing stories of their unique culture.

Life of a H'mong woman leading Sa Pa tours featured in Western newspaper

Below is an article about a H'mong tour guide published on Culture Trip, a travel website based in London, England.

In Sa Pa, local tour guide services have been flourishing in recent years, contributing to increased income for residents, mainly belonging to ethnic minorities like Dao and H'Mong.

Cở, a H'Mong woman, is one of those tour guides in this misty city.

Before becoming a tour guide in Sa Pa, Cở made a living selling souvenirs to tourists in the village. Recognizing she wasn't a skilled speaker and frequently fell ill after giving birth, she decided to quit selling and find a new job.

Afterward, Cở became a tour guide and quickly adapted to the profession. Despite not being able to read and write English, her spoken English is excellent, so she's currently learning writing in her spare time. The most enjoyable part of her job is conversing with tourists and learning about different cultures worldwide.

In Sa Pa, the H'Mong people have a higher standard of living compared to neighboring villages, according to Cở. Tourism has brought excellent income opportunities to the H'Mong people in Sa Pa, and Cở is always ready to share about the local culture with curious tourists. Enthusiastically dressed in colorful traditional attire, Cở passionately talks about her love for her homeland Sa Pa, especially its weather and scenery.

Experienced travelers understand the invaluable benefits of being guided by a local resident. Nobody knows the area better than them, nor understands the local culture better. Cở agrees with this, believing that a native tour guide can provide profound insights into local customs, traditions, and bridge the gap between tourists and locals.

Sa Pa, like any other tourist city, is rapidly developing to meet the demands of tourists. Cở has witnessed many changes. Numerous hotels have sprung up in just the past 2-3 years.

She hopes that new construction projects will only be located in the central Sa Pa without affecting the surrounding villages. She wants tourists to experience nature and village life with full authenticity and inherent adventure. She hopes they can admire 'the changing landscapes through the seasons, and embrace the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities'.

According to Trường Đặng/Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour