“What’s Next in Pù Luông? Magnolia Advances the Youth4Climate Mission”

From June 23 to 27, 2025, Magnolia Sustainable Experiences returned to Thanh Lâm Commune, Bá Thước District (Thanh Hoá) to carry out the second field phase of our Youth4Climate project: “Preserving Pù Luông’s Rice Culture through Water Management in the Tourism Sector" The focus of this trip was a series of community training sessions and a technical site survey - each tailored to local realities. The activities aim to lay a solid foundation for ecotourism that supports cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable livelihoods.

This phase marked a key shift: from listening to the community, to building practical, place-based solutions together. All activities were led directly by Ms. Đăng Thanh Hà, Magnolia’s Director, who also designed and facilitated the trainings, with content developed from field insights and expert consultation in green building and rural tourism.

The villagers of Don together with the Magnolia team

June 24: Introducing Green Hospitality through LEED O+M

The first training, held on June 24, focused on LEED O+M, which is an international framework for sustainable building operations. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) encourages businesses to reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and adopt environmentally friendly practices. The “O+M” component (Operations and Maintenance) is designed to improve day-to-day management of existing spaces, making it especially relevant for rural homestays. Rather than teaching abstract theory, the session invited representatives from local homestays and ecolodges to assess their own practices and explore practical changes: conserving electricity, reducing plastic, using natural materials, or simply sharing more about local culture with guests. Sustainability was framed not as a burden, but as a way to save costs, protect the environment, and add unique value to the visitor experiences.

Mr. Hà Huy Giáp - the village head, giving his speech

Ms. Đặng Hà directly leading the workshop

Local residents’ initiatives

June 25 - 26: Community-Based Tourism: From Memory to Tourism

The following two days, June 25–26, Magnolia conducted a participatory workshop with 26 households of Đôn Village, including both experienced tourism providers and those new to the idea. There were no lectures, just memories. Through games, drawings, seasonal calendars, and group discussions, participants revisited what makes their community special: harvesting nếp (sticky rice), cooking xôi, collecting forest vegetables, weaving, singing khắp Thái (folk songs of Thai people), or walking through the morning market. Together, they mapped these daily routines into potential tourism experiences, building a seasonal model of activities that highlight both cultural depth and natural rhythm. Most importantly, villagers began to see themselves not only as hosts, but as storytellers - people who carry and share the identity of their land.

In parallel with training, Magnolia also conducted a technical survey for implementing a “banana circle” - a type of organic decomposition pit, a natural method of household wastewater treatment using biological filtration. This simple, low-cost solution is well-suited for households with limited infrastructure and helps improve soil fertility, reduce water waste, and support biodiversity. In Đôn Village, where rice farming is deeply tied to local water systems, this model helps link clean water, healthy agriculture, and ecotourism potential.

A Long-Term Commitment, Step by Step

Crucially, Magnolia does not bring pre-set models to impose from outside. Every training, every survey, every activity is co-designed with local people, based on what they know, what they need, and what they imagine is possible.

Youth4Climate in Pù Luông isn’t about quick fixes or imported solutions. Magnolia doesn’t arrive with a one-size-fits-all model but instead walks with the community, one conversation, one training, one idea at a time. The project is evolving from insight into action: from field research to capacity building, technical solutions, and stronger local voices in shaping their own future.

It’s a small but important step toward a shared goal: keeping the water flowing, the rice growing, and the stories alive for the people of Pù Luông and the generations to come.