Several establishments have already recorded high occupancy for the holiday, as families and groups of friends seek quieter destinations where they can relax, explore gardens and take part in hands-on activities.
At Pơ Lang Farmstay in Bien Ho commune, traditional wooden stilt houses have been restored and set amid greenery, with glass windows overlooking the gardens to create a closer connection with nature.
Đỗ Ngọc Minh, a representative of Pơ Lang Farmstay, said the wooden houses were purchased from Bahnar ethnic people and manually restored.
The property is surrounded by fruit trees, including plums, cherries, rambutans and Hoang Kim star apples, as well as a variety of flowers.
The farmstay has cleaned its guest rooms and walkways and tended to its flower beds, fruit trees and communal areas ahead of the holiday.
With six accommodation units and capacity for about 30 guests, Pơ Lang has reached about 90% occupancy for the September 2 holiday. Most visitors are families and groups of friends from Ho Chi Minh City, with some traveling from Hanoi.
Rather than offering elaborate entertainment, the farmstay focuses on simple experiences built around its natural surroundings.
Guests can have coffee in the morning, pick fruit and eat it in the garden in the afternoon, and gather for a barbecue in the evening.
“The main attraction is the fruit garden, where guests can pick and eat fruit for free,” Minh said.
That experience was among the reasons Đinh Thị Hằng and her family chose Pơ Lang for their holiday after discovering it on social media.
She and her husband planned to stay for about two days so their children could have more space to play and relax.
“It feels rural and simple here, but very friendly. Other places I’ve visited are usually more luxurious, but at Pơ Lang, my children can play and experience things freely,” Hằng said.
She said picking and eating fruit directly from the garden was a favorite activity for her family. They also planned to buy ingredients, prepare a barbecue and spend the evening outdoors rather than staying in their room.
Other homestays and farmstays in western Gia Lai are similarly expanding their activities around local surroundings and daily life.
At An Nhiên Farmstay & Resort in Pleiku Ward, guests can take part in picnics, camping, barbecues and group games.
During the holiday, the property is also offering hands-on traditional cake-making, from kneading dough and shaping cakes to cooking and tasting the finished products. Guests can also pick passion fruit in the garden and use it to make jam.
The facility has six guest rooms and one dormitory, with capacity for more than 60 guests. Occupancy has reached about 98% for the September 2 holiday, while all rooms are booked from August 29 to September 1. Visitors come from provinces and cities across Vietnam as well as from overseas.
When weather conditions permit, An Nhiên organizes campfires, grilled sweet potatoes and corn, and gong music exchanges. During unfavorable weather, guests can take part in indoor activities including billiards and group games.
Đỗ Như Nguyệt, a representative of An Nhiên Farmstay & Resort, said the activities were designed for families and groups of friends to enjoy together, creating opportunities for interaction and connection.
The approach allows visitors to experience local work, cuisine and community activities rather than simply using the property as a place to stay. Guests can make cakes, pick passion fruit, cook, play games and enjoy campfires using the existing space and resources of the facility.
For some visitors, the appeal of the farmstay extends well beyond a short holiday.
Zaksorel, a Canadian guest, initially planned to spend two weeks at An Nhiên to find a quiet place to work. After leaving for about a month to visit Hanoi, Sa Pa, Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City, he returned to An Nhiên and has now stayed there for about six months.
“I realized I didn’t want to be anywhere else but An Nhiên. At that moment, this place truly felt like coming home. Everyone here is like family,” he said.
Zaksorel said his accommodation needs were simple: peace, good food and stable Wi-Fi. He found all three at An Nhiên, along with a sense of closeness he said was difficult to find at more tourist-oriented accommodations.
Local cuisine is also becoming an important part of the experience as homestays and farmstays seek to distinguish themselves from conventional lodging.
At Pơ Lang Farmstay, guests can sample dishes featuring flavors associated with the Central Highlands. Chef Đinh Thị Trang said the facility had stocked ingredients such as chicken and sticky rice to prepare local specialties.
Grilled chicken, bamboo-tube rice, bitter eggplant with cassava leaves, edible ferns and various wild vegetables add to the menu while bringing local culinary flavors into the guest experience.
As homestays and farmstays evolve beyond basic accommodation, they are increasingly combining lodging with gardens, food, outdoor activities and opportunities to experience local culture.
For Gia Lai, these hands-on experiences are helping accommodation providers create distinctive tourism products while making use of the region’s landscapes, cuisine and indigenous culture during the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026.
