If you are a frequent traveller to remote areas where luxury hotels are not presented, homestays and guesthouses are two common types of lodging when it comes to choices of accommodation.

In Vietnam, homestay services are mostly provided by local people who have only one or multiple spare rooms in their houses or apartments. Most homestays can be found in rural areas, for example, small communities in the mountains in the North of Vietnam, where not a lot of travellers go yet. The tourists will stay with the local people and will be provided with local meals by the owners most of the time. The interaction between the host family and guests is what defines and differentiates homestay from other types of accommodation.

Guesthouses differ from homestays in a way that the accommodation is in a private house, without a local family living there. Meals are only provided upon request and you may share rooms with other travellers.

Homestays and guesthouses have increased significantly in Vietnam in both quality and quantity. In some places in Vietnam such as Sapa, within a 10km radius from town, there are more than 1,000 homestays, providing income for the locals instead of cultivation, and breeding in the past. Moreover, in the community-based tourism town Sin Suoi Ho, Lai Chau, homestay have appeared for about three years but has contributed to change the appearance of the village with clean houses, particularly by planting many bonsai, and fresh flowers. In big cities, homestays are less common but few homestays are highly appreciated by foreign guests because of the owner’s enthusiasm, thoughtfulness and delicious Vietnamese meals.

Staying at a homestay is the best way to experience the life of local people, and understand their culture and customs. Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country with friendly and outgoing people, which is a favourable condition for guests to understand the culture among ethnic groups throughout Vietnam. Sharing meals with the host family offers you the chance to not only savour local dishes, and if your timing is right, you could even share a local holiday with them, such as Tet, Mid-autumn festival, etc. You also have chances to share your stories and see the country through local eyes. However,  some homestays in Vietnam offer rooms for guests but lack the interaction between the host family and visitors, which should not be called homestay. In Vietnam, instead of paying at least 30$ for a hotel room, you only need to spend about 5$ a night at a homestay. Not only does it save you money, but you are also supporting the local community, thus helping to develop sustainable tourism.

Depending on your conditions or hobbies, you can choose the favoured type of accommodation when travelling. Don’t cross homestay from your list because you might miss out on the best chance to experience deep-insight the country you are visiting.