Peaceful beauty of Tha Village

BHG- Located about 3 kilometres from Ha Giang City, Tha Village in Phuong Do Commune (Ha Giang City) is a mesmerising scenic spot that captivates visitors from afar. Tha Village is a peaceful mountainous hamlet, with rustic stilt houses, lush green rice fields, rows of bamboo, and the unique cultural features of the Tay ethnic group in Ha Giang. Visitors to Tha Village can engage with the locals and explore their lifestyle and culture at various homestays.

Next to the traditional Tay stilt houses, farmers are working enthusiastically.

In contrast to the hamlets clinging to the rocky and majestic mountains, where stone is omnipresent, Tha Village resembles a soft and green veil of rice paddies and palm gardens. Tha Village is serene, without the sound of music or traffic noise; upon entering the village, visitors hear only the gentle gurgling of clear streams in small canals like an invitation. In the distance, mist-covered mountain ranges stretch endlessly, and Tha Village is enveloped in a year-round white mist, accentuating the scenic beauty of the sky and green forests. Occasionally, a few relaxed and leisurely tourists can be seen walking along the edges of the rice field and taking photos.

Tha Village is beautiful because it retains the traditional cultural values of the Tay ethnic group. Prominent are the mostly intact stilt houses. Tha Village boasts nearly a dozen spacious and beautiful homestay stilt houses, with clean and freshly laundered bedding. Staying with Tay families, visitors can savour special dishes such as braised fish with sour bamboo shoots, shredded hill chicken salad, roasted black pork wrapped in bamboo with forest vegetables, and corn wine. Tay people are excellent cooks who always use natural ingredients, with fragrant and sticky rice. Tha villagers enjoy meals together in the cozy stilt houses, which are remarkably enticing to visitors.

Tourists are welcomed under the Tay people’s customs. The Tay people prepare traditional dishes from pork and chicken, such as grilled meat, fried cake, and spring rolls. Grilled meat is a Tay specialty which is often made during special festivals, New Year, or housewarming celebrations. Preparations for this dish are elaborate, requiring marination with various spices like cardamom, pepper, turmeric, and shrimp paste.

When night falls, visitors have the chance to immerse themselves in the songs and melodies of young Tay men and women. This is a special opportunity for guests to experience traditional folk songs that have been preserved by the Tay people for generations. The most distinctive of which is Then singing — a style of singing to pray for harvests and love — interspersed with dances and lively performances. The Tinh lute player will whimsically modulate the tune to match the performers, while visitors sway along to the music and singing.

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