Thai Hai village practices communal living and shared economy

Thai Hai, a village in Tan Cuong commune, Thai Nguyen province, has gained recognition for its unique communal lifestyle. Home to more than 200 residents, the village operates like a large extended family where members share meals in a collective kitchen and contribute their earnings to a communal fund.

Residents engage in various activities, including tea harvesting, woodworking, vegetable farming, livestock rearing, and traditional medicine production. The income generated from these diverse tasks is managed by the village head and members to cover essential community expenses such as electricity, water, school fees, medical bills, house repairs, and wedding costs.

The village was established by founder Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai with the goal of preserving Tay culture. To maintain traditional architecture, approximately 30 ancient stilt houses were relocated to the village to prevent them from being replaced by modern brick structures.