A Japanese decides to retire early to visit Vietnam 10 times a year to unknown areas
The Japanese PM's spouse with a special visit amid Hanoi autumn | |
Explore the Japanese Peace Boat | |
The Japanese woman behind the success of Prof.Luong Dinh Cua |
Falling in love with the amazing nature and culture of the Vietnam's Lo Lo people, the Japanese guest gradually rekindled the desire to develop a sustainable tourism.
![]() |
Mr Yasushi Ogura experiences rice harvest with farmers in Ha Giang |
Learn Vietnamese to understand and love
Ogura is different from many others that he does not like touring, but only wants to explore unknown lands. "25 years ago, not many Japanese coming to Vietnam, so I found myself curious to come here," he recalls.
The traditional markets in Ha Giang's mountainous region are always bustling and vibrant, especially he found Lo Lo Chai (Dong Van district) interesting to retain the peaceful beauty and uniqueness of the ethnic group culture. "The H’Mong people do not like to exchange, but the Lo Lo people are very easy to get along with.", he said about his fate to become close with them.
![]() |
Ogura has taken his mother to Vietnam three times |
The Japanese man determined to learn Vietnamese by himself with the desire to break the language differences. In 2013, he decided to retire early to have more time to visit Vietnam. Since then, each year Mr. Ogura has visited Vietnam 10 times, each lasting about 2 weeks. T
He shared: “The reason I have to go back and forth between the two countries is that I have to take care of my 93-year-old mother at home. I don't feel comfortable leaving her at home alone for a long time".
Yasushi Ogura had several times brought Japanese friends to Vietnam, he affirmed: “I firmly believe that everyone going with me will have a lot of experience and a deeper understanding of the culture of ethnic minorities - something never got by traveling in groups ”.
![]() |
Ogura and Japanese tourists in Dong Van rocky plateau (Ha Giang) |
6 years ago, Ogura met Luc Thi Van (a 42-year-old woman, from Lo Lo) during a visit to Lo Lo Chai. Impressed by the old houses, he offered to open a coffee shop for her own family and explained: “The Lo Lo people should directly do business, because no one can fully understand the local culture as well as the natives”.
The North Pole Coffee Shop, which began operating in 2015, is a foreigner's dedication to Vietnamese culture and people with much love. He said at that time Lo Lo Chai village had no place for tourists to visit, even many Vietnamese did not even know the Lo Lo ethnic group. It would be a pity if their unique culture would be lost - old walled houses.
![]() |
Ogura, Van and the tourist group at the North Pole cafe |
Ms. Van expressed her gratitude to the Japanese guest: “Before, I lived by growing maize and growing rice, it was very miserable and hard work. Since the day the North Pole coffee shop existed, my family's life has been much better. Uncle Ogura invests all the costs to open a shop, teach business, how to serve customers, to keep clean ... I just sell and collect money, he doesn't take any money ”.
The joy of Ogura and Van's family is to welcome old guests back to the restaurant though the distance must be calculated by hundreds, thousands of kilometers. Perhaps all visitors like the quiet atmosphere as well as the friendliness and hospitality of the Lo Lo residents.
Yasushi Ogura shared: “As long as I am in good health, I will still go to Vietnam. If I cannot go in the future, I will continue to communicate with Vietnamese people living in Japan. I love Vietnam".
![]() | Japanese retailer Muji opens biggest outlet in Southeast Asia in Ho Chi Minh City Muji, the Japanese household products and apparel chain retailer, opened its first Vietnam store in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26, which is also ... |
![]() | Vietnamese scholar honored by Japanese government Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Son, 82, former head of the Japanese language faculty under the Foreign Trade University (FTU), has been presented Japan’s Order of ... |
![]() | Japanese Prime Minister and his spouse conclude Vietnam visit On the morning of October 20, Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and his wife left Hanoi, concluded their visit to Vietnam. |
Most read
In topics
![Three Irish youngsters tell about life in safe haven of Vietnam amid COVID-19](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/tranngocvnt/052020/16/23/0909_irish_men.jpg)
Three Irish youngsters tell about life in safe haven of Vietnam amid COVID-19
Recommended
![Ben Tre Delicacy Garners International Recognition](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/05/13/6fa35cc836f0ba909db9e3e7c76e2e54.jpg?rt=20240905130253)
Ben Tre Delicacy Garners International Recognition
![Pho Price Wars: A German YouTuber's Hanoi Experiment](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/082024/28/14/5acdfacc4a105a339a739ce524351e6b.jpg?rt=20240828143501)
Pho Price Wars: A German YouTuber's Hanoi Experiment
![Da Lat, Sa Pa Among Most-Searched Tourist Destinations for Upcoming Holiday](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/082024/22/10/b9c8bc0ed6935fb049168693c080a283.jpg?rt=20240822100426)
Da Lat, Sa Pa Among Most-Searched Tourist Destinations for Upcoming Holiday
![Taste Atlas: Quang-Style Noodle Among Top 100 Most Delicious Dishes In Vietnam](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/082024/12/00/taste-atlas-quang-style-noodle-among-top-100-most-delicious-dishes-in-vietnam_1.jpg?rt=20240812002710)
Taste Atlas: Quang-Style Noodle Among Top 100 Most Delicious Dishes In Vietnam
Popular article
![New Deals for Nighttime Travelers to HCMC](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/phamhuongvnt/032021/12/23/0837_flights.png?rt=20240717101632)
New Deals for Nighttime Travelers to HCMC
![Visit The Unique Old Villa Cafes In Hanoi](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/062024/27/18/visit-the-unique-old-villa-cafes-in-hanoi_2.jpg?rt=20240627180635)
Visit The Unique Old Villa Cafes In Hanoi
![Six Beautiful Old Villa Cafes For A Tranquil Morning Coffee In Hanoi](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/062024/27/18/visit-the-unique-old-villa-cafes-in-hanoi_3.jpg?rt=20240630205254)
Six Beautiful Old Villa Cafes For A Tranquil Morning Coffee In Hanoi
![Party Chief's Book on Building, Developing Vietnamese Culture](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/062024/22/21/party-chiefs-book-on-building-developing-vietnamese-culture.jpg?rt=20240622211405)