This weekend, let's get together and 'escape' to some green destinations.
There is a quiet but powerful shift in the concept of enjoyment among young families today. Accordingly, enjoyment is no longer just about long trips, relaxing at expensive resorts and hotels, but also about waking up in a small wooden house, surrounded by a garden filled with birdsong, hand in hand with children, touching the green sprouts… On weekends, many families seek to escape the pressures of life and immerse themselves in fresh, clean nature.
On Saturday morning, putting aside their busy work schedules, Mr. Dang Manh Hung and Ms. Nguyen Hong Linh (from Thanh Vinh ward), along with their two young children aged 10 and 4, got in their car and headed towards a resort in Dong Hieu commune. Without bulky suitcases, and knowing they would only be staying for 1.5 days, the family packed a few light outfits, some snacks for the children; and above all, they were eager to leave the noisy city behind and find a green space less than two hours' drive from home.
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The resort that Hung and Linh's family chose was an eco-friendly camping area nestled amidst the red basalt soil of western Nghe An province, where grasslands stretched to the horizon and a natural lake lay tranquil in the green landscape. They arrived at 8 am. The weather wasn't too hot. The morning was quiet, free from the noise of car horns and the hustle and bustle of everyday life. From the window of their small wooden house, they could gaze out at the vast, verdant expanse.
“What my family enjoyed most was the outdoor playground. After a week of classes and sitting in air-conditioned rooms, my husband and I really wanted our children to enjoy the fresh air and actively run, jump, and play age-appropriate games. Here, the two children tried the treetop obstacle course for the first time, learning skills like balancing, holding onto ropes, and overcoming obstacles…” - shared Ms. Nguyen Hong Linh.
The resort also offers recreational activities for adults, such as ziplining – where participants launch themselves through the air before plunging into the cool lake. In the afternoon, the pace slows down by the natural lake – one of the attractions that keeps visitors coming back. Children swim, adults paddleboard, or simply sit with their feet dangling in the cool water. The spacious setting allows everyone to enjoy nature in their own way.
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It's not just Hung and Linh's family; recently, on social media groups, questions like "Where to go for a fun weekend getaway that's both nearby?", "Are there any places where children can experience nature on the weekend?" have been appearing more and more frequently. Keywords like "weekend travel," "getaway for 2 days and 1 night," "places around Vinh within 50km," etc., have become familiar topics.
This interest has led to the emergence of a range of small-scale, flexible vacation destinations, from eco-gardens and farmstays to minimalist-style homestays. These models share common features such as short travel distances, open spaces, streamlined services, and reasonable costs – perfectly suited to the needs of young families seeking short, relaxing getaways.
Embracing short-term travel, this trend is clearly not a coincidence. Firstly, many families have increasingly limited vacation time. The hectic pace of life, work, and school schedules make long family trips a luxury, while the need for rest and rejuvenation is growing.
Secondly, travel psychology has also changed significantly; instead of crowded and noisy places, many people prioritize privacy, closeness to nature, and safety for young children. Thirdly, the development of social media has contributed to "activating" and connecting supply and demand. Just one beautiful photo of a tea plantation, a relaxing corner in a lush green field, or a cool green garden at a homestay in the midland region is enough to instantly inspire many other families to want to experience it.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Duc, the owner of a farmstay with over a year of experience investing in short-term tourism services, shared: "I think cost is also an important factor determining this tourism trend. If a family of 4-6 people goes on a long trip for several days, it can cost tens of millions of dong, while a 2-day, 1-night or 1-day, 1-night trip around Nghe An - Ha Tinh usually only costs a few million dong, which is very suitable for young families. I know many families go on short trips 1-2 times a month; they consider it a fixed expense for the whole family to relax."
Undeniably, short-term travel is bringing many positive benefits. For families, it's an opportunity to connect – something that busy lives often disrupt. For young children, it's a rare chance to connect with nature and learn from real-life experiences.
From a local perspective, farmstay and homestay models contribute to the exploitation of local resources and create additional livelihoods for the people.
However, reality also reveals quite a few limitations. Some accommodations are still informal, with inconsistent services and a lack of safety standards – especially for children. Some destinations are disappointing due to monotonous experiences, mainly limited to sightseeing and taking photos. In addition, environmental hygiene and waste management in some places have not received adequate attention.
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Overall, weekend tourism is not just a passing trend but has the potential to become a sustainable segment of local tourism. With its diverse landscapes ranging from coastal and hilly areas to mountainous forests, Nghe An has the full potential to strongly develop this type of tourism.
However, to go further, systematic investment is needed. Destinations need to improve service quality, standardize operational procedures, and focus on safety and authentic experiences instead of just creating beautiful scenery for photos. At the same time, connecting destinations into routes and creating short-term tourism ecosystems is also a direction that should be considered.