Beyond the homestay: Women's participation in rural tourism development in Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

This study investigates the impact of the homestay tourism program in Ben Tre Province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam, on women's participation and empowerment in rural tourism development. Through 22 interviews with homestay owners and staff, the research finds that women play a central role in homestay operations—primarily handling cooking, housekeeping, guest interaction, and internal management—while men tend to manage external tasks such as transportation, marketing, and negotiation. The program has enabled women to generate additional income, enhance skills, increase social status, and reduce domestic violence, although persistent cultural expectations and gender roles continue to limit full gender equality. The study highlights homestay tourism as a promising avenue for promoting sustainable rural development and women's empowerment, recommending policies that support women's training, leadership, fair compensation, and challenge gender stereotypes within the tourism sector.