Abstract

Community-based tourism is an effective approach for rural economic development and cultural preservation, yet its sustainability relies heavily on social cohesion and benefit-sharing mechanisms. The case study of Ban Lien (Bac Ha, Lao Cai) elucidates how the community operates the tourism value chain through structures of trust, a collaborative network sharing cash flows from practical experiential activities, and media resonance from the reality television show. Viewed through the lens of community education, the model functions as a non-formal educational environment that diffuses knowledge from pioneering nuclear households. However, the study reveals critical challenges regarding the asymmetry in operational capacity and the inner dependence of satellite households. Consequently, the paper proposes strategic orientations to enhance comprehensive autonomy, institutionalize knowledge-sharing mechanisms, and manage media capacity to ensure sustainable local development.

Keywords: Community-Based Tourism, social cohesion, benefit sharing, non-formal education, Ban Lien.