After graduating from college and working at a bar in Hoi An, Phan Mai Thien Tam decided to start out on her own business.

Something’s cooking: Hosts and guests cook Vietnamese food together at An Nhien Homestay. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

Tam, 24, got the idea to start a homestay service after going on trans-Viet Nam and trans-ASEAN bike trips.

With her own money, she rented a full house in an alley on Hoang Dieu Street in Da Nang.

Tam and her friends decorated the house in a freestyle manner and called it ‘An Nhien House’.

The 2-storeyed building, which is isolated from most of the noise in city’s downtown area, offers 3 rooms for short vacationers in Da Nang.

“We intentionally set up a self-service at the An Nhien-Homestay so that guests can feel like they are at home.  Visitors can share kitchen, washing machine, bathroom and dining room with the hosts at their price,” Tam said, adding guests could put whatever they want for using these services.

“I don’t care how much they pay for what they use during their stay here, I just offer them a homely space when visiting Da Nang, a free and relaxing time.”

Tam, known as Ha Di on her Facebook, said she started the business to do something that made her feel free and helped others feel the same.

The 3-storeyed building, which was rented from a family living far away from Da Nang, has 7 rooms, including double-rooms for couples and family rooms for 4 people with prices of between 300,000 and 400,000 VND each day.

“I founded the service as my favourite start-up businesses, allowing tourists to explore real life in Da Nang.  Visitors can design a vacation that helps them immerse with locals and enjoy local cuisine.  They can also cook their meals with fresh fish and farm produce from a market near the An Nhien Homestay,” Tam said, adding that the home has 2 rooms where four-member families or a group of 6 could stay.

She said guests themselves clean the rooms, wash their clothes and cook their food.

“It’s like their home. They come and go as they like. Security in the living quarter is quite good, and the home is a registered business,” she added

Tam said the An Nhien Homestay can host 20 visitors at a time in its 7 rooms.

She said she does not spend much time at the house, because guests do everything themselves.

The Da Nang native also employs students to take care of the house, offering them free accommodation.

“I’ve studied in college and understand the difficulties of students living away home.  I employ them to work at the house as a chance for them to practise a vocation and pick up some life skills before graduating from college,” she said.

“Students also get a little money from my home service’s profit every month, and that should help them with small expenditures, since accommodation at the house is free,” Tam said.

Hippy house

Tam has opened a new homestay service on Mai Xuan Thuong Street in Thanh Khe District near the city’s bus station and airport, offering a total of 6 rooms that can accommodate 30 travellers.

Tu Thanh Binh, 22, a student of the Duy Tan University in Da Nang, said he was employed as a manager in the new-opened An Nhien-Hippy home.

“We are a group of 5 students including 3 managers and 2 staff members.  We assign each other work and studying schedules. When I was away in college, other managers will take care,” Binh said.

Binh a native of Binh Dinh Province, said employees at the An Nhien-Hippy enjoy group work and free accommodation, and get a little money from the home service.

“The temporary job helps us grain real life skills and practice.  It also saves money for us with free accommodation and shared cooking.  All of us clean the house, decorate it and host BBQ and music parties on the weekend for tourists,” Binh said.

"The new home offers more choice for tourists as it is located in a residential area with many restaurants, markets and shopping centres.  We have bikes for rent and links with travel agencies, booking centres and eateries,” he said.

The student manager said the home is just 500m away from the coast, so guests can enjoy the sea and its breeze after a short walk.

“It’s cheerful home for young hippy types in Da Nang at reasonable cost.”

He said the Hippy house has a room for couples with 350,000 VND(US$15.5), while a room for 4 costs 400,000 VND ($17.7).

Laurent, a tourist, said about her time at the An Nhien Homestay: “If you are looking for a great and relaxing spot in the middle of Da Nang, this is the place to go.  Just a few steps from the busy city you will find this beautiful house with the great hosts – they will immediately make you feel at home and will help you with any questions you may have during your stay. I strongly recommend you to stay here if you’re in Da Nang.”

Another visitor, Till, said: “What a nice house in the heart of Da Nang.  I could not imagine a better homestay.  It’s quiet and has a wonderful terrace where you can enjoy eating outdoors or just have a cup of coffee.”

Homestay service is the latest hospitality sector entrant in the coastal city, following investors pouring funds into international standard hotels and resorts.

“I plan to open more such places in quiet streets near the local beaches and the tourism hubs of Hue and Nha Trang,” said Tam.

“I just want to create an easy choice for tourists when they come to Da Nang, as I have experienced in my own bike trips and Viet Nam, and in ASEAN as a whole. The opportunity to stay in a safe and peaceful house in Da Nang would lure more tourists to the city.”

(Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today)