Foreigners willing to contribute to the development of their “second homeland”

Coming, Loving, and Staying

Foreigners such as Pascal Lefebvre, Owen Christopher, and Julia Shaw have now become true residents of Lam Dong. As entrepreneurs, they have lived and worked in Mui Ne for many years, even decades, mainly in the tourism sector.

According to them, Lam Dong is a very beautiful land with diverse landscapes: mountains, plains, sea, and islands; rich and multi-layered cultural identities; and a warm, pleasant climate year-round. These natural advantages make Lam Dong highly attractive to tourists, especially Western visitors from countries with freezing winters.

Pascal Lefebvre – Director of Jibe’s Beach Club and owner of a tourism business in Mui Ne – shared:
“Many foreigners say they dream of retiring and living long-term in Mui Ne. Not only elderly people but also young people love staying here to enjoy windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, SUP, and wing foiling. These sports attract a lot of attention and help foster a friendly and vibrant image for the destination.”

Previously, Pascal Lefebvre himself was one of those visitors. At just 18, he became an employee of Accor, a leading European hotel group headquartered in Paris, France. In 1995, he was assigned to work in Asia, including Japan, South Korea, and China. In Vietnam, his career took him to Sa Pa and Can Tho. In Lam Dong, he worked at Sofitel Da Lat and Novotel Phan Thiet (now Ocean Dunes Resort) along the coast of Phu Thuy Ward. He later married a Vietnamese woman and decided to leave Accor to build his own business in Mui Ne.

Owen Christopher, a British national, arrived in Mui Ne in 2014 and also considers Lam Dong an extremely attractive place. He chose to live and work there and has never once thought about returning to his homeland or relocating his restaurant business elsewhere. He said, “I have traveled to many places, but nowhere has a climate as suitable for older people as here. That’s why I consider Vietnam in general, and Lam Dong in particular, my home.”

Contributing to their “second homeland.”

Because they regard Lam Dong as their home, foreigners, like locals, want the place where they live and work to be peaceful, stable, and thriving. Whenever they see opportunities that benefit the province’s development, they are eager to contribute. This is well known among tourism professionals in Mui Ne.

Pascal Lefebvre has helped put Mui Ne on the global tourism map through international water sports competitions. Meanwhile, Julia Shaw, a British and the Director of the Manta Sail Training Center, has dedicated the rest of her life in Mui Ne to inspiring people around the world, including Vietnamese locals, with a passion for water sports. Her efforts have significantly contributed to the growth of Lam Dong’s tourism industry. Both she and Pascal Lefebvre continue to contribute to the province’s development.

Pascal shared:
“After 30 years living in Vietnam—mainly in Binh Thuan, now part of Lam Dong—I have witnessed many positive changes nationwide. The merger of Binh Thuan, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong into the new Lam Dong Province is a very good move, as all three provinces share strong tourism potential.”

However, to fully realize this potential, he believes Lam Dong should strengthen promotion on social media platforms about various tourism products, cultural events such as the Kate Festival and dragon boat races during Tet, as well as international sports competitions.

He also noted that he successfully organized the PWA World Cup Windsurfing Competition in Mui Ne in 2011.
Currently, we are preparing for the Vietnam Fun Cup, taking place on February 6th and 7th, 2026. This will be the 25th edition, contributing to the promotion of Vietnam’s marine tourism products and laying the foundation for building Lam Dong’s coastal tourism brand, he added.

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In 2025 at Lam Dong Tourism Promotion and Cooperation Conference:

The province is committed to accompanying businesses, ensuring they do not have to stand alone, while creating the best possible conditions to reshape Lam Dong’s tourism map and realize the goal of sustainable, green, and integrated tourism development.

Nguyen Van Loc, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Meanwhile, Owen Christopher hopes to meet provincial leaders to propose ideas for developing beautiful beaches and combating coastal erosion. Such contributions are especially valuable as Lam Dong focuses on investing in diverse natural landscapes and distinctive architectural works to preserve its unique identity.

The province aims to sustainably develop the tourism brand of “Lam Dong -Land of a Thousand Flowers,” “Lam Dong -Blue Sea,” and “Lam Dong - Vast Highlands,” creating unique tourism products to attract visitors and striving to become one of the most prosperous provinces in the coming years.