Of the earth

The Dao people are an ethnic minority in the Quan Ba province of northern Vietnam. The Vietnamese government provide the local community with grants to strength the local cultural practices and promote environmentally sustainable cultural-tourism.

Part of the the local culture is the construction of guest houses, built in a vernacular style of rammed earth and timber, with all materials sourced locally. The guesthouses provide lodgings for the many tourists who travel through the Ha Giang province; hosted by local families who share their homes, cooking and way of life with guests.

During my stay with Thu and her family she warmly welcomed me to her newly finished guesthouse and showed me to my room . I could hear a rhythmic thud coming from a short distance, which she explained was her Uncle building his own guesthouse and invited me to document its construction.

Nam Dam is an example of the benefits of strengthening communities with a culturally specific and relevant initiative aimed at empowering local people and economies.

Nam Dam Village, Quan Ba Province , Vietnam, 2021