Lo Lo Chai: The challenge of preserving its essence after achieving the title of Best Tourist Village in the World.
Faced with pressure from a surge in tourists and noise pollution, the highland village is striving to preserve its identity after receiving global recognition.
The 2026 New Year's holiday is witnessing a tourism boom at Lo Lo Chai Community Cultural Tourism Village (Tuyen Quang). With the title of "World's Best Tourist Village in 2025," the entire homestay system here is constantly fully booked. However, behind this positive economic outlook, the village is facing significant challenges in preserving its original cultural values.
Pristine beauty under the pressure of commercialization
The sudden surge in tourists has exposed many shortcomings in the infrastructure and services at Lo Lo Chai. Many visitors have complained about the noise from portable karaoke speakers throughout the night, penetrating through unsoundproofed earthen walls, disrupting the inherent tranquility of this remote highland village. The image of the village now resembles a "beautiful sleeping girl who has just woken up, and before she can even smooth her hair, she has to put on a sparkling dress to prepare to go to a bar."
Ms. Thanh Thao Le, a tourist who experienced the village during the recent Tet holiday, shared her disappointment at seeing its beauty becoming increasingly precarious. According to her, during the day the village resembles a massive construction site with homestays springing up everywhere, while at night it's filled with loud music instead of conversations around a warm fireplace.
Efforts to manage and preserve identity
Regarding the noise issue, Mr. Sinh Gi Gai, Head of Lo Lo Chai village, said that the village has regulations allowing karaoke singing only from 8 am to 10 pm in spacious areas. However, due to the large number of visitors during holidays, the enforcement has not been thorough. Mr. Gai acknowledged that Lo Lo Chai currently lacks alternative entertainment activities, leading tourists to often seek out karaoke to relax.
Sharing the same view, Mr. Lai Quoc Tinh, Chairman of the Tuyen Quang Tourism Association, stated that extreme prohibitions should be avoided, and instead, a more civilized management system should be established. He emphasized that the gap in storytelling skills and local cultural knowledge among homestay owners is something that needs to be addressed soon.
Sustainable path forward for the heritage village.
Currently, about 70% of homestays in Lo Lo Chai are still owned by local people. This is a core advantage for the government and people to work together to build a sustainable development roadmap. Experts and tourists suggest replacing portable loudspeakers with campfire activities and traditional cultural performances to preserve the unique atmosphere.
To maintain its international reputation, Lo Lo Chai needs to regain its inherent tranquility and peacefulness. A world-class tourist village needs more than just a large number of visitors; it needs a deeper experience, allowing visitors to truly "slow down" when they set foot in this northernmost region.
