About Ha Giang Safari Hostel & Loop Tour

At just 22 years old, Thảo found herself working as an exhausted accountant in Hanoi, having chosen the career path to meet her mother’s expectations rather than her own dreams. The rigid corporate lifestyle and the harsh beauty standards of Vietnamese office culture quickly took their toll. Although she excelled at her job, she wasn’t happy. Feeling drained and uninspired, Thảo made the brave decision to step away from a predictable career in search of a more meaningful life. That choice eventually led her and her family to Ha Giang and the birth of Safari Hostel.

After traveling throughout Vietnam, she arrived in Ha Giang with her husband, Tu, carrying a shared dream of building something of their own. In 2018, they welcomed their first child, Talia, and invested all of their wedding gift money into opening a small homestay in Yen Minh. Not long after opening, the worsening outbreak of covid-19 forced them to close the business. By the end of 2019, Thảo and Tu said goodbye to their first venture together. 

Despite the setback, Thảo’s drive to succeed inspired her to still pursue entrepreneurship. With her only management experience coming from running a local coffee shop, she started selling paint, Khanh Hoa salanganes’ nest (bird’s nest), and even clothing to support her family. In 2021, she pitched a bold idea to Tu: opening a hostel in Ha Giang. It was a huge risk. COVID-19 was at its peak, money was limited, and Thảo was a new mother. “We will either win everything or lose everything.” Within a month, Safari Home opened its doors with just enough money to buy eight motorbikes. The risk paid off. The business began to grow with the support of the local Ha Giang community and travelers who quickly fell in love with Safari (and of course Thảo!).

By early 2022, Ha Giang Safari was recognized as a small-group Ha Giang Loop tour company. With no staff and limited English skills, Thảo worked tirelessly to keep the business running. Working alongside her was Tu, helping English speaking guests, cleaning motorbikes, and sleeping on the couch so he could welcome travelers arriving at all hours. Realizing that communication was key to the company’s future, Thảo committed herself to learning English through online videos and the help of volunteers.

In 2023, Safari truly started to thrive, welcoming travelers from all around the world to experience the beautiful landscapes of Northern Vietnam. The journey continued in 2024 when Thảo welcomed her second child, baby Linda, and opened a new location – what is now known as the Ha Giang Safari Hostel.

Today, Safari’s core values remain exactly as they were in the beginning: welcoming travelers from around the world to feel the magic of the Ha Giang Loop, creating unforgettable memories with the Safari family, and improving the lives of local people through employment and support for children in need.