In January 2026, Local Vietnam officially launched Ha Giang Aya Lodge by Local Vietnam, a small mountain lodge located in Sung Trai village on the Dong Van Karst Plateau in northern Vietnam, now administratively part of Tuyen Quang Province.
The opening of the lodge also coincided with the launch of a renewed version of the Local Vietnam website, the result of more than 18 months of research, fieldwork, and content development across the country. Both the lodge and the new digital platform reflect a shared long-term vision: promoting travel experiences that are culturally grounded, locally connected, and thoughtfully developed, rather than mass-oriented tourism.
Vietnamese media coverage following the launch
Following its official opening, Ha Giang Aya Lodge was featured across a range of Vietnamese business, lifestyle, and consumer news platforms. These articles focused on the lodge’s approach to sustainable tourism development, its integration with the local H’Mong community, and its positioning as an alternative to mass tourism models along the Ha Giang Loop.
The launch coverage appeared on the following Vietnamese news and media websites:
- Phụ nữ và Tiếp thị – phunuvatiepthi.net
- Thế giới tiêu dùng 24g – thegioitieudung24g.net
- Kinh doanh Thương hiệu – kinhdoanhvathuonghieu.com
- Tài chính Thương hiệu – taichinhthuonghieu.com
- Doanh nghiệp và Phát triển – doanhnghiepphattrien.vn
- Kinh doanh Tiêu dùng – kinhdoanhtieudung.com
- Kinh tế Doanh nghiệp – kinhtedoanhnghiep.com
- Doanh nhân Thị trường – doanhnhanthitruong.vn
- Đầu tư Thương hiệu – daututhuonghieu.net
- Kinh tế Ngày nay – kinhtengaynay.com
- Doanh nghiệp Thị trường – doanhnghiep-thitruong.com
- Tài chính Thời đại số – taichinhthoidaiso.com
- Phụ nữ Tiêu dùng – phunutieudung.org
- Doanh nhân Cộng đồng – doanhnhancongdong.com
- Doanh nghiệp Cuộc sống – doanhnghiepcuocsong.vn
Context behind the project
Ha Giang Aya Lodge was developed in response to a clear gap identified through Local Vietnam’s long-term work in the region. While infrastructure and visitor numbers in Ha Giang have increased in recent years, many accommodation options along the Ha Giang Loop have shifted toward mass tourism or are operated from outside the region.
Local Vietnam observed growing demand from international travelers seeking quieter locations, higher comfort standards, and genuine connection with local culture — without turning villages into tourism showcases. Ha Giang Aya Lodge was designed as a response to that demand, integrating modern comfort with local materials, architecture inspired by highland traditions, and direct involvement of the surrounding community.
A physical expression of Local Vietnam’s philosophy
Local Vietnam was founded to provide in-depth, honest travel information and carefully designed journeys for international travelers. Co-founder Marnick Schoonderwoerd, originally from the Netherlands, has lived in Vietnam for more than a decade and has traveled extensively across the country, contributing to over 1,000 destination guides focused on culture, nature, and lesser-known regions.
Ha Giang Aya Lodge represents a tangible extension of this philosophy: not a large-scale resort, but a place where travelers can slow down, experience daily village life, and explore the northern mountains in a way that remains respectful to both landscape and community.
