「ハー・ザンは私の第二の故郷になりました」——そう語るのは、69歳の日本人・小倉靖（おぐら やすし）さんです。ベトナム語を独学で習得し、ベトナム最北の山岳地帯ハー・ザン省（2025年7月にトゥエンクアン省へ統合）に30年以上関わり続けた彼の物語は、多くのベトナム人の心を動かしています。
The encounter was in 1995, from a backpacking trip
小倉さんが初めてベトナムを訪れたのは1995年。バックパッカーとしてベトナム全土を旅するなかで、ハー・ザン省の雄大な自然と少数民族の文化に魅了されました。
He returned many times, and when he revisited Lo Lo Chai (Lũng Cẩm village) in 2010, he was pained to see how much the village had changed. Theadobe houses with more than 200 years of historywere being replaced one after another with concrete buildings, and the traditional landscape was being lost.
7,600ドルから始まった文化保護プロジェクト
小倉さんは2014年、わずか約2億ベトナムドン（当時約7,600ドル）を投じて、200年の歴史を持つ土壁建築の中に"Cúc Bắc Café"and set it up.
The idea was simple yet innovative: "If you run a café inside a traditional house, it generates a stable income and gives people a reason to protect their architectural heritage." This model, linking tourism with cultural preservation, became the foundation for the village's later development.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1995 | First trip to Vietnam; captivated by Ha Giang |
| 2010 | Returns and grows alarmed at the disappearance of traditional houses |
| 2014 | クックバックカフェを開設（投資額約7,600ドル） |
| 2025 | Lo Lo Chai recognized as one of the "Best Tourism Villages" in the world |
The village transformed: 52 households earning 1,140 dollars a month from tourism
小倉さんの取り組みは、村全体を変えました。ハノイの大学生2名を村に派遣してコーヒーのいれ方とベトナム語を教え、ホームステイ施設や石壁の整備費用も支援。観光客が安心して泊まれる環境を整えていきました。
Today, in Lo Lo Chai,52 households work in tourismand their average monthly income has reached about 30 million Vietnamese dong (roughly 1,140 dollars). And in 2025, the village was recognized by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as one of the"Best Tourism Villages" in the world.
村長は小倉さんについて「彼はもう家族です」と語っており、村の人々からも深く愛されています。
A message for Japanese travelers
Ha Giang Province is a remote frontier at Vietnam's northernmost point. With stunning scenery carved by karst terrain and the coexisting cultures of ethnic minorities such as the Hmong and Lo Lo, the region has grown increasingly popular with Japanese travelers in recent years.
- Access:About 6–7 hours by car from Hanoi, or arriving the next morning by overnight bus
- Best season:March–May (rapeseed flowers), September–November (terraced rice harvest)
- Recommended:A homestay experience in Lo Lo Chai
- Note:Being mountainous, the weather can change suddenly, so take care
小倉さんのように、ベトナムを「一度訪れる旅行先」から「人生を変える場所」として体験する日本人が増えています。The latest data also shows Japanese visitors up 39% year on year,a sharp rise that reflects the strong interest in Vietnam.
If you're planning a trip to northern Vietnam, it's worth pairing Ha Giang Province withDa Nang's water festival (April)in your itinerary as well. For visa information, also seePhu Quoc Island's visa exemption detailsfor reference.
Summary
69歳にしてベトナム語を操り、山岳地帯の村の文化保護に30年を捧げた小倉靖さんの物語は、ベトナムの魅力が単なる観光を超えたものであることを教えてくれます。ハー・ザン省を訪れる際は、彼が守り続けた土壁の家々とコーヒーの香りを、ぜひ体感してください。
Source:VnExpress International – Japanese man makes Ha Giang his home away from home
