The cheerful sounds of pounding bamboo to make dó paper, along with the cheers of tourists at A Chu homestay, make the spring atmosphere here even more vibrant. After a day at the homestay, visiting the Mong village of Hua Tat, and participating in the dó paper-making process, Mr. Philip, a French tourist traveling with the group, was very pleased. He was most impressed by the poetic natural scenery; the villagers still maintain traditional houses; the space and layout of the resort utilize materials close to nature such as bamboo, wood, stone, and brocade; and the cuisine includes both Western and ethnic dishes to suit the needs of tourists: “The scenery of Vietnam is very beautiful and peaceful. Especially this Hua Tat village area has not been heavily affected by commercial tourism. It's great that the culture is still pure, and the way of life and customs still retain traditional features that many places no longer preserve.”

Mr. Trang A Cua, a son of the Mong ethnic group in Hua Tat village who inherited the craft of making Do paper from his grandparents, said: "To make Do paper, the Mong people have to go through many steps: from going to the forest to cut and boil the bark of the Giang tree, grinding the bark fibers into a fine paste, mixing the paste with water and filtering, spreading a thin layer of pulp on a filter board to obtain a thin, even layer of pulp, then drying it on a board or string to create a complete sheet of Do paper. For the Mong people, Do paper is like votive paper for the Kinh people; it is indispensable in most holidays, funerals, and religious ceremonies. 'This paper-making craft has been passed down from my grandparents and parents. I continue to preserve it mainly for my own use and to serve tourists. I hope that in the future, my children and other families will also participate with my family to preserve the traditional craft of the Mong people.'"

Besides the traditional craft of making dó paper, guests at A Chu homestay can also experience other activities connected to the life of the Hmong people of Hua Tat, such as pounding rice cakes, painting bee designs on fabric, embroidering dresses and blouses, grinding corn to make men men (a type of steamed cornmeal), walking around the village and harvesting produce in the villagers' orchards... Tourists can also combine their visit with sightseeing at tourist attractions in Van Ho and Moc Chau plateau such as the glass bridge, the Fairy Waterfall, and the hot springs...

In the evening, by the crackling fire dispelling the chilly early spring air, tourists and locals become closer through cultural and artistic exchanges performed by the villagers themselves and the homestay owners, A Chu and his wife. These activities include traditional dances, Hmong flute and mouth harp playing, and other traditional music. A Trang, the main flute player for the village's cultural troupe, said: "I'm really happy to participate in playing the flute and performing. It not only provides extra income but also introduces tourists to the unique cultural features of my Hmong village. I've known how to play the flute for two years now. Before, when I was in school, I saw my friends playing and I really liked it. I ordered a flute online, researched how to play it online, and learned. First, I learned to play because I love the flute, and second, to preserve the beautiful culture of my people. If anyone wants to learn, I'm always ready to teach them."

Starting with community-based tourism in 2015 with the aspiration of instilling in the local people a love for their ethnic culture, A Chu homestay has become increasingly sophisticated, now boasting 14 private rooms and two shared stilt houses, accommodating over 60 guests per day. According to Mr. Trang A Chu, owner of A Chu homestay: Currently, all private and shared rooms are fully booked by groups for the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to the usual cultural experiences, Mr. Chu, along with the homestay owners and villagers, have prepared some traditional Hmong games for the New Year, such as spinning tops, throwing pao (a traditional Hmong game), dancing, and singing. Sticky rice cakes and corn wine are also indispensable for welcoming tourists to this land during the spring: “For the past 10 years, besides creating jobs for my family, Homestay A Chu has also provided employment for 7 direct laborers, and on weekends, we add another 3-4 people. Besides eating, sleeping, and resting, tourists can also experience making traditional paper, beeswax painting, embroidery, pounding sticky rice cakes, and grinding corn with centuries-old stone mills... With the development of digital platforms, the family has also invested in and practiced photography, videography, and building a Fanpage and YouTube channel to send to travel companies. At the beginning of the new year, I am also encouraging households and family members to strive to provide excellent tourism services to attract more domestic and international tourists to Hua Tat. At the same time, we have small projects such as cleaning the village and planting more cherry blossoms so that in 3-5 years there will be new check-in spots, creating the most beautiful spring seasons in the village to serve tourists.”

In the early days of spring, immersing yourself in the beautiful nature of the Moc Chau-Van Ho plateau, experiencing Mong culture with Homestay A Chu and the warm, hospitable people in the Mong village of Hua Tat, tourists will surely have unforgettable memories on their spring trip to Northwest Vietnam.