Home-stay Is Where the Heart Is.

The Giay people are a bit better off than their H'mong and Red Dao neighbors, mainly because they have embraced education and encouraged tourism.

The family we stayed with built this home-stay, primitive by
our standards, but a major investment for them.

The accommodations are basic, but comfortable. This was
the loft where we slept.

There's room for large groups, but we were the only guests.

The most expensive part of the facilities is the
shower room/squat toilet pavilion, palatial by local standards.

As the sun sank lower, the view from the veranda got even more spectacular.

The owners' grandson entertained us and himself by improvising a pull toy.

Later, we walked around the village.

Gorgeous vistas.

And a cat on a hot tin roof.

After our walk, we enjoyed a cold beer.

And the world's best garlic fries.

P.