“Gia Dinh Haha’s Footprints” on the Map of Tourism and Local Economic Growth

Bản Liền: From Quiet Village to Community Tourism Highlight

The first episode of “Gia Dinh Haha” in Bản Liền (Lào Cai) created a strong media effect, clearly changing the local tourism scene. After the authentic and simple life of Ms. Vàng Thị Thông’s family appeared on screen, travelers from everywhere suddenly “discovered” the pure and peaceful beauty of Bản Liền.

The main filming site - Bản Liền Pine Homestay run by Ms. Thông - was fully booked right after episode 1, and remained sold out until the end of the year. Other home stays in the commune also saw an impressive 30–40% growth in visitors.

Tourists came not only for the mountain scenery, but also for unique cultural experiences. They wanted to live like locals: planting rice on terraced fields, learning to embroider brocade, playing with pets like Gấu (a Bắc Hà dog) and Lướng (a yellow cat), and chatting by the fire in Ms. Thông’s stilt house.

The program didn’t just promote one location; it sparked awareness about preserving culture and encouraged sustainable economic growth for the community. Young travelers now see their trips not only as exploration, but also as meaningful connections with local people.

For these special contributions, the cast and producers received a Certificate of Merit from the Chairman of Lào Cai People’s Committee for their outstanding achievements in developing local tourism. Right after filming ended, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s Media Center also launched a tree-planting campaign called “Gia Dinh Haha – For a Happy Vietnam.” It called on the public to help green Bản Liền and plant livelihood trees for locals. The campaign continues to receive strong support and will keep adding new trees according to the plan.

Sa Huỳnh: The Salt Grain Awakens Economic Potential

“Gia Dinh Haha” didn’t stop at promoting tourism; it also had a strong impact on the local economy. The segment filmed at Sa Huỳnh Salt Fields (Quảng Ngãi) is a typical example.

The story of the salt farmers, especially 9X CEO Phạm Hồng Thắm, became a powerful inspiration. After just a short scene, her Sahu salt brand became a hot keyword on social media and e-commerce platforms. Products like Sa Huỳnh flower salt worth 17 times more than regular salt suddenly gained wide recognition.

Through the show, Thắm’s 10-year journey of upgrading Sa Huỳnh salt touched many people. From early struggles with customers complaining about residue in soil-based salt, to her persistent efforts to preserve traditional methods, her story carried a meaningful message: cherish nature’s gifts and stay true to your chosen path.

“Gia Dinh Haha” not only boosted the revenue of Thắm and the salt farmers, but also helped spread the story of a product rich in cultural, traditional, and sustainable value.

Bến Tre: The “Sold-Out” Tour Experience

In Bến Tre, “Gia Dinh Haha” turned simple scenes of Mekong Delta life into a fully booked tour. The trip to Uncle Chín Cường’s home, with rustic activities like boating along canals, picking coconuts, or learning how honey is made, attracted large numbers of tourists, especially from major cities.

Duy Thịnh, who runs the tour and homestay, said bookings had risen to “unprecedented” levels, sold out until October. Local products like Uncle Chín Cường’s honey and Ms. Tám Thư’s coconut caramel were also in high demand, with sales skyrocketing. This shows that community tourism is attractive not only for its scenery, but also for its authenticity, human warmth, and the chance to celebrate local specialties.

Combining Tourism and Entertainment

The success of “Gia Dinh Haha” in these places proved the power of combining entertainment with tourism. Instead of promoting destinations in a dry way, the show told authentic, inspiring stories that encouraged visitors not just to see, but to feel and connect.

Many other regions that haven’t yet been featured also hope to apply this model for tourism growth. Recently, Điện Biên Province announced its 2025–2026 tourism stimulus plan, aiming to make tourism an engine of economic growth and raise its profile on the domestic and international map. The province targets 1.45 million visitors in 2025, with plans for festivals, night tours, and a “Gia Dinh Haha” program.

Most recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched the “Impressive Vietnam Tourism Video/Clip Contest 2025”, with “Gia Dinh Haha” as a partner. The goal is to promote Vietnam’s image worldwide with a young, modern perspective. This contest is a chance for everyone, especially young people, to tell stories about the country, people, and culture through digital creativity.



A New Path for Vietnamese Tourism

The success of “Gia Dinh Haha” has opened a new direction for tourism in Vietnam. The show proved that sometimes a simple, authentic story or experience is enough to spread widely and bring sustainable cultural and economic value to communities.

Vietnamese villages may no longer remain quiet; instead, they will become warm destinations filled with laughter and human connection.

The success stories from Bản Liền, Sa Huỳnh, and Bến Tre are inspiring other regions to realize that tourism beauty lies not only in landmarks, but also in local life, culture, and people. Through “Gia Dinh Haha”, many places now see clearly that when community tourism is combined with cultural programs, it can help Vietnam’s tourism grow in a sustainable and human-centered way.