Rustic Chay Lap Project – The first community-based tourism project in Quang Binh
Chay Lap Farmstay, formerly known as Rustic Chay Lap, also known as Chay Lap Countryside, is the first community-based tourist destination in Phong Nha and Quang Binh Province. Rustic Chay Lap is established in February 2009 by the Ministry of Agriculture of The United States and Counterpart International Organization and managed by of Chay Lap Village Community Tourism Cooperative. Rustic Chay Lap was formed to create a livelihood for local people by bringing rustic rural experiences to tourists when coming to Phong Nha enjoy the idyllic beauty of nature. Nature and people in Chay Lap countryside brings typical impression & represents for many other villages of Quang Binh, Central Vietnam. On the other hand, these sustainable community-based tourism activities contribute to reduce deforestation and protect nature resource & environment in the surroundings of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. However, the project main operators – those once were ordinary farmers found it difficult to switch into the new roles. It’s difficult for them to deliver the originated ideas of the Rustic Chay Lap brand to visitors due to a lack of neccessary services & business skills as well as English communication and tourism knowledge.
In 3/2016, Oxalis Adventure – the leading tour operator well-known for its community involvement by providing stable jobs for hundreds of local people in Phong Nha, took over the project & innovated it into Chay Lap Farmstay. Currently, Chay Lap Farmstay has 80-90% of its human resources who are locals, in which many families have been involved since the early days of Chay Lap Village in the past. Chay Lap Farmstay retains all clusters of old homestays, invested in more modern facilities such as swimming pools, soccer fields, fishing areas, aquariums and separate rooms, bringing Private space for guests when coming to the resort.
Today the two traditional wooden houses, which were used to accommodate customers in Rustic Chay Lap Project, are Sauna-Spa House which provide visitors with relaxing time after caving & trekking journeys.
The Sauna-Spa area has two traditional “rường” houses, which were originally transferred from Minh Hoa District and set-up in the garden under fruit trees canopy. One is named Suoi Nhap – the name of the stream bending around Chay Lap villages, flowing from the ravine to the Chay River. The other house is named Ha No – the flower that grows along the banks of Nhap stream, blooming white and fragrant flowers in the spring. These are 2 houses that were used as accommodation facilities for visitors to Rustic Chay Lap. Chay Lap Farmstay continues to promote the unique rustic experiences and peaceful surrounding space to use as Sauna-Spa House. The spa’s staff takes folk remedies from herbs around the garden to help tourists stay healthy and beautiful with the “heirloom” secrets that the villagers in Chay Lap village all know such as the experiencing of footbath in guise leaves, herbal sauna. It’s restful experiences of a sip of fresh green tea on the houses’ front corrier amongst the peaceful garden that never fade in the guests’ memories once coming here.
