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A peaceful village nestled in the heart of the northernmost mountains.
While Lo Lo Chai is located to the left of the flagpole, welcoming groups of tourists coming and going, Then Pa lies peacefully in the heart of the Lung Cu mountains and forests, in the opposite direction.
A panoramic view of Then Pa village as seen from the Lung Cu flagpole.
Leading into the village is a small dirt road, wrapped in the cool green of grass and trees. Along the way, visitors easily encounter children with innocent, joyful eyes playing traditional games, their laughter ringing out like birdsong in the forest. In front of the main gate is a row of ancient fir trees, over 30 meters tall, like arrows pointing straight up to the sky, and weathered stone walls covered in green moss.
The road leading to the village is covered in a refreshing green hue by trees, mountains, and ancient samu trees.
The village grounds are covered in a lush green of grass, the yellow of earthen walls mixed with the reddish-brown and dark gray of fired bricks. The yin-yang tiled roofs seem to have become a piece of the village's soul, appearing on people's houses, lodgings, gates connecting courtyards, and even livestock sheds.
These houses retain the original architectural style of the Hmong people, with earthen walls and yin-yang tiled roofs.
Taking a stroll around the village, visitors can leisurely observe the daily lives of the locals. They sit shelling corn, washing clothes, feeding buffaloes, cows, pigs, and chickens… as if the rhythm of life continues as usual whether tourists are present or not.
The simple, rustic life of the people in Then Pa village remains unaffected by the tide of modernization.
With each passing season, Then Pa changes its attire, sometimes serene like a gentle spring maiden adorning her hair with pink peach blossoms and white pear blossoms, other times melancholic and heart-wrenching as the village is shrouded in mist on a winter morning. As summer transitions into autumn, the lush green cornfields and rice paddies gradually turn golden, resembling a poetic painting on a postcard in the highlands.
The vibrant colors of Then Pa village throughout the seasons.
The journey of tourism development through cultural identity.
On a beautiful sunny morning, Mr. Vu Gia Dai sat thoughtfully on the patio overlooking the lush green forest. He recalled his first visit to Then Pa as an ordinary tourist in 2021, during a time of complex COVID-19 situations. He was captivated from the moment he saw the rustic houses of the villagers nestled behind the forest. “This place seemed isolated from the world, yet strangely harmonious with the majestic natural landscape, bringing a profound sense of peace to my heart,” he reminisced.
The pristine forest embraces the village of Thèn Pả.
After that visit, he began to nurture the idea of building a community-based tourism village. The most difficult part was reconciling tourism development with the preservation of the village's long-standing traditional culture. To solve this problem, Mr. Dai chose to restore and renovate old traditional houses to serve as accommodation, using local materials and motifs to decorate the rooms. At the same time, he organized training classes on tourism management in the village, enabling residents to become operators of tourism services within their own community.
The old houses have been renovated for tourism purposes but still retain their traditional architectural features, such as yin-yang tiled roofs.
Then Pa Village is slowly taking shape and is scheduled to officially open in mid-2025. Currently, the village has 21 accommodations, including various room types with wooden bungalow and earthen-walled house designs, and 4 traditional houses with 26 dorm beds. The rooms mainly use bamboo and wood materials, along with traditional brocade patterns, hoping that the rustic charm, closeness to nature, and blend with local culture will touch the hearts of guests, helping them have the most authentic and original experience.
A panoramic view of Thèn Pả community tourism village.
Diverse experiences with the local people.
Then Pa Village is located in a small hamlet with 11 households of the Vang family, who have lived there for over 100 years. They still preserve the customs and culture of the Hmong people, offering guests the opportunity to experience it in the most authentic way.
Tourists can experience living and interacting with the local Hmong people right at the foot of the Lung Cu flagpole.
Relaxing activities in the village include beeswax painting on linen, fabric dyeing, and making traditional corn cakes. Bonfires and cultural performances are often held on weekend evenings or upon request from tour groups. If you choose Then Pa village to celebrate Lunar New Year, you can participate in the Hmong New Year festivities, enjoy a feast with dishes made from pork, chicken, and men men (corn rice), and participate in traditional folk games such as pao throwing (pictured), khene dance, flute playing, and love duet singing competitions.
Visitors can directly experience cultural activities that reflect the unique identity of the Hmong people in the village.
Since officially opening in early 2024, Then Pa Village has seen positive development and is becoming increasingly well-known to tourists, especially those who enjoy experiential travel and exploring local culture. Most visitors are very satisfied and delighted with the village's model, and the majestic natural scenery and rustic, unspoiled charm often make visitors want to return again and again, according to Mr. Dai.
Developing tourism while preserving the rustic and simple aspects of the daily lives of the local people is what helps Then Pa village retain tourists.
After a period of operation, the Then Pa Village community tourism area has brought about many positive impacts such as creating jobs, providing a stable source of income locally, and improving living conditions. Over time, the local cultural features have not disappeared but have become invaluable assets, cherished and preserved by the people and appreciated by tourists. The flourishing tourism activities have helped the name Then Pa village appear on the tourism map of Ha Giang, contributing to promoting the image of the locality to domestic and international tourists.
Tourism activities in Then Pa village have helped to bring the village's name to the attention of many domestic and international tourists.
Recognizing that creating a sustainable tourism model is a long and arduous journey, Mr. Dai is taking the first steps towards making Then Pa a model community-based tourism destination in Ha Giang. Then Pa village is a place where simple culture is preserved, alongside professional tourism services that offer unique experiences. Here, visitors can enjoy relaxation amidst the simplest aspects of a highland village, along with familiar sounds of the countryside: the chirping of insects, the crowing of roosters, the jingling of cowbells… under the sunrise in this northernmost region of Vietnam.
