Located along Highway 6 in the area of Van Ho Commune, Son La District, with a long boulevard on one side and high mountains on the other, there is a village quietly nestled in the middle of the place, which looks peaceful and gorgeous like a painting.
This is Hua Tat village, one of the rarest villages that still keep traits of the traditional culture of the H’Mong ethnic minority.
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| Photo: Dinh Quoc Hung |
Walking through Hua Tat, you will able to see the houses built in the traditional way with bamboo, cork, dried tree trunks, etc, surrounded by beautiful plum and peach trees, with the lovely scene of the chicken running around and chasing each other. A rustic and simple scenery of a remote village appears in the cool and relaxing atmosphere of Son La, welcoming the travelers coming to its place.
The highest temperature in Hua Tat in the morning is about 27 Celcius degrees and about 18 – 20 Celcius Degrees at night. This is suitable for people to visit this place all year round to enjoy the fresh, comfortable air and have a great time discovering every corner of the village.
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| Photo: hahalley |
The first thing to do in Hua Tat is to meet the Hmong people here who have preserved their indigenous culture and tradition. Occasionally, Hmong people here will perform for the guests their best songs and dances, clad in their traditional Hmong costumes.
From Hua Tat, travelers can join in a lot of interesting activities to fully enjoy the natural beauty in Van Ho, such as camping in the pine forest, walking through the woods to visit the nearby villages, shopping in the local markets, etc. All of them will bring you the best experience you will ever have, and be closer to the nature and life of the local community.
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| Photo: Dinh Quoc Hung |
One of the most famous destinations that capture young travelers’ hearts in Hua Tat is the pine forest. Even though it is not famous as Ban Ang pine forest, this place is where you can get lost in the silence and peacefulness, and feel the breath of nature that will calm your anxious soul.
With an area of more than 30 hectares, the green space of the pine forest covers the majority of the Van Ho District. Nestled between the tall, majestic pine trees are the green hills that look like a fairytale land.
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| Photo: Dinh Quoc Hung |
The Pine Tree Trail in Hua Tat Village was newly created in 2002, and all the pine trees were planted by the Hmong people here. If you are keen to enjoy the beautiful natural sights, you absolutely can not skip this activity. During 45 minutes of leisure walk, this is your best chance in Moc Chau to get away from the busy city life and enjoy the refreshing and cool air of the highland’s plateau.
Following the trail to the top of the hill, you will see many different kinds of plantations and animals like goats and buffalo. Towards the end of the trail, you will pass by the villagers’ houses and get a chance to interact with the friendly Hmong villagers.
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| Photo: Thevuday |
Hmong villagers in Hua Tat have successfully preserved the beautiful art of embroidery which is now being practiced in 150 families here. They are easily distinguished from other forms of textiles by their bold, geometric designs rendered in bright and contrasting colors.
It’s certainly a charm to visit Hua Tat Village on their annual festivals when the atmosphere is the merriest. Hmong people hold festivals mostly in Spring, Autumn, and Winter. They’re all rooted in the agricultural traditions and way of life.
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| Photo: thaoo_thaoo2222 |
Winter is the time to make wine from the maize harvested in autumn. The Tet Holidays of Hmong people in Hua Tat Village start earlier, from the last day of November (30th Nov). Hmong people here start resting by eating, sleeping, playing traditional sports, and listening to music till the end of December. As there is no work during this period, they believe in working hard before the holiday starts.
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| Photo: hmlarchitecture |
