Buzz
immerse myself in the traditional Tet atmosphere of the H'Mong people
Located in Bắc Yên district, Sơn La province, Tà Xùa is renowned as the most beautiful cloud paradise in the Northwest mountains. Our chosen route: Hanoi – Son Tay – Trung Ha Bridge – Thu Cuc – Thu Cuc Junction (QL 32) – turn left heading straight to Phu Yen – Bac Yen (QL37) - Tà Xùa. On the last day of the year, we ascended Tà Xùa to experience a different Tet and revel in unique joys. Starting the journey at 4 a.m., around noon, we reached Tà Xùa. That day in Tà Xùa marked the Tet celebration of the Mông ethnic people.The Path to Tà Xùa
We leisurely drive along the winding mountainous road, cutting through the repetitive mountain ranges, immersing ourselves in the distinct Northwest beauty of Tà Xùa. Slowly distancing from the bustling urban life and myriad faces of people! Some come to Tà Xùa in search of the dreamy 'white cloud paradise,' others ascend Tà Xùa to walk amidst the majestic backbone of dinosaurs, and some visit Tà Xùa captivated by the endless terraced fields,... as for me, I journey to Tà Xùa to explore the cultural essence of the Mông people and to experience life slowing down amid a hurried world.
Sunrise on the Road.
On the road to Tà Xùa, we witness a vibrant sunrise casting an enchanting light over the surreal landscape, observing the delicate white mist gracefully weaving through the mountains, villages, capturing the grandeur of the winding mountainous roads in our gaze, and feeling the thrill of encountering the breathtaking autumn foliage,... Undoubtedly, the path to Tà Xùa is as beautiful as the road to a celestial paradise in the lower realm.
Mystical Scene in the Early Morning Mist.
Autumn shrinks the path into view.
Strolling along the dirt trail.
The winding and twisting road.
Distinctive Scenes in every Tà Xùa journey.
Little ones from the highlands
It's the feeling of every cell multiplying with joy when encountering the smiles, the waving hands of the little ones from the highlands we come across along the way. Some are playing in tiny front-yard spaces, some are on their way home from school...
A memorable snapshot with the little ones.
Sunbeam smiles.
School kids dispersing after class.
Although the students don't understand much of the Kinh language, we communicate with each other through our eyes. Especially on Tet day, everyone dresses in beautiful outfits for the spring outing, and the vibrant hues of the dresses create a more colorful picture of Tà Xùa.The cultural essence of the Mông community through traditional games: Pao throwing.
We participated in the traditional Pao throwing game with Mông girls. Colorful fabric pieces skillfully sewn together into round balls, as large as oranges, crafted by the nimble hands of ethnic girls. The girls' paos are often bigger, more vibrant and lively in color, while those of the younger ones are simpler, smaller, and often black.
A woman carrying her child...
... while joining in the Pao throwing fun.
From traditional to modern rules, the Pao game retains its inherent essence: It takes place on relatively flat, spacious land, usually with a dedicated area for gathering and playing Pao. Players are divided into two teams, with a distance of about 5 - 7 meters between them.
The ethnic colors shine through traditional folk games.
Preventing the Pao from falling to the ground, the game is agreed upon by the number of throws and catches. If a team loses, they must sing a song or perform a task determined by the winning pair. It's not just young men and women playing Pao; even the little ethnic ones love the game. The colors of the Pao blend with the vibrant outfits of Mông girls, creating a breathtaking painting of Tà Xùa Tet!
Running together to retrieve the Pao.
Nao Tet day is complete without the Pao throwing game.
Cherry blossom season on the high plateau
It's witnessing cherry trees burst into clusters of rosy blooms on their slender, proud branches, heralding the arrival of spring and the onset of the Tet festivities. The small house adorned with the pink hues of cherry blossoms, its once rugged tin roof now gleaming brightly. The sky etched with the branches of cherry blossoms, adding fragrance and color. The high plateau exudes vitality! We don't forget to capture moments under the blossoming wild cherry trees showcasing their vibrant beauty.
A season of cherished blossoms.
The season of blossoms heralds spring.
The Customs of the Mông People
It's fascinating to learn about the traditional customs during the Mông people's Tet: abstaining from asking for fire, refraining from stepping on the hearth, avoiding blowing on fire for three Tet days, the New Year's Eve moment marked by the first crow of the rooster on the 30th night,....
The Mông people have unique Tet customs.
To ensure a prosperous harvest, thriving household animals, the H’Mông people avoid stepping on the hearth, prevent water from extinguishing the kitchen fire, avoid burning the traditional sticky rice cakes, and refrain from blowing on fire for three Tet days...The Festive Morning Atmosphere
Waking up, we stroll through the village. At 6 a.m., the atmosphere in Tà Xùa is tranquil and pristine, occasionally interrupted by the melodic voices of ethnic people calling out to each other. The village is immersed in a dreamlike white mist. If on the 30th Tet, the entire village is busy with preparations, illuminating shrines, houses, bustling with the making of traditional cakes, displaying the newest and most beautiful dresses to celebrate the arrival of spring,... then on the morning of the 1st Tet, the Mông people rest after a year of hard work, leisurely strolling to welcome the new spring.
Early on the 1st day of Tet.
The early morning air is peaceful and serene.
Our Tet Celebration
On the last night of the old year, we gather around a bonfire to barbecue meat, make traditional cakes, chat in a dew-drenched tent, set off fireworks to welcome the new year, and toast with freshly squeezed apple juice in lieu of wine. While the city's fireworks dazzle and echo with cheers, the warm glow from our sparklers warms our hearts, bringing joy on the last day of the year. Amid the crackling fire, we play a game of 'truth-telling' as an excuse to open our hearts.
Happy New Year!
On the morning of the 1st Tet at a café named 'Wind,' we gather to sip coffee amidst the mountainous backdrop. The air is chilly, but the stories are undoubtedly heartwarming! Stories of youth, stories of distant journeys, stories of a promising new year, stories of the special land of Tà Xùa in our hearts,...
They say wearing red on Tet brings luck throughout the year.
Coffee by the valley.
The story of this highland is extensive, everything is novel, but in the end, it's the heart of the Mông people that lingers. The tales of traveling to Tà Xùa during Tet, the Mông people's Tet, are captivating stories that everyone wants to immerse themselves in. Farewell to the majestic and poetic Northwest land, we will soon return to Tà Xùa to 'listen' to even more intriguing stories.Mytour Golocal is a blogging program introducing beautiful locations across Vietnam. It's a wonderful opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualifying article, you will receive 800,000 VND and a chance to become a contributor with Mytour. Details about the program can be found at: https://www.Mytour/en-vn/golocal
