Vu Phuong Uyen has spent the past few days cleaning and preparing rooms at her home on Ly Thuong Kiet Street in Dong Kinh Ward to welcome her first group of guests arriving this weekend from Bac Ninh.
Uyen said she decided to offer free accommodation after noticing a sharp increase in visitors planning to attend local spring festivals, while many hotels and guesthouses had already reported being fully booked.
“My family has two houses that can host more than 100 people,” she said. “The floors are spacious, so I plan to lay out mats for guests to rest on.”
She shared the offer in social media groups and quickly received numerous requests from travellers looking for a place to stay during the festival.
By the evening of March 12, all available spaces in her homes had been booked.
For large groups of friends, Uyen arranges sleeping mats in the living room, while bedrooms are prioritised for families travelling with elderly relatives or young children.
Uyen has prepared drinking water, instant noodles and cooking equipment so visitors can use for free.
“Everything comes from the heart. I hope visitors from other places will feel the hospitality of people in Lang Son,” she said.
Lang Son residents prepare bedding to offer free accommodation to visitors (Photo: Hua Thi Tho).
Other residents have taken similar steps. Trieu Gia Han, who lives near Le Loi Station in the province, has prepared around 70 free places for visitors to stay. One unused house can accommodate about 40 people, while another property offers similar capacity.
Meanwhile, Dinh Thi Huong in Ky Lua Ward said she decided to offer space in her 60 square metre home after seeing many online posts from travellers struggling to find rooms.
More than 20 people have already contacted her asking for a place to stay. To prepare, she bought additional mats, blankets and pillows so guests could rest comfortably.
“I cleaned the house carefully and prepared everything so visitors can have a pleasant stay,” she said, adding that she hopes tourists will take home memorable experiences from the city’s biggest spring celebration.
Uyen's children's room, while they are away studying, is being used for guests with young children or elderly people during this period (Photo: Provided by interviewee).
The surge in visitors is linked to the annual festivals at Ky Cung Temple and Ta Phu Temple, two of the province’s most prominent cultural events.
Held each year from the 22nd to the 27th day of the first lunar month, which falls on March 10-15 this year, the festivals honour historical officials who contributed to the development of Lang Son in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Huong cleans the room, adds an air purifier and mosquito repellent essential oil, ready to welcome guests (Photo: Provided by interviewee).
The celebrations feature traditional rituals, palanquin processions, the distinctive “firecracker head” contest, folk games and a range of cultural performances.
This year’s festival is expected to attract the largest crowds over the weekend of March 14 and 15.