Life in Ta Phin village in Sapa, Vietnam
Thinking about travelling in Vietnam, Sapa often comes to mind—a misty land where majestic nature blends with rich cultural traditions. However, within Sapa lies Ta Phin, a village where the simple life of the local people captivates visitors. Located about 12km to the west of Sapa, Ta Phin is home to Red Dao and Hmong people, possessing a rich culture that has not been damaged by modern life.
Experience the Simple Life in Ta Phin Village
Journey to Ta Phin village
From Sapa, it will take about 30 minutes to reach Ta Phin by motorbike. Since the narrow road will be difficult for cars, the best solution is to hire a “xe om”, or motorbike taxi. The experienced driver will take you to the right place at a very reasonable price with useful advice and tips.
Rice fields near Ta Phin village
Leaving the lively town of Sapa, the landscape transforms into rolling hills, golden terraced rice fields, and shimmering valleys. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the stilt houses, surrounded by corn fields and indigo plants, used to dye the traditional costumes of the Red Dao people.
As soon as you arrive at Ta Phin village, you will receive a warm welcome. The Dao people here don’t speak the Kinh language very well, but they still enthusiastically show you the way. Of course, they will also invite you to buy things, but in a simple and sincere way.
The Red Dao people in Ta Phin are especially cheerful; they like to greet and compliment guests. If you can’t find a place to eat and rest, you can completely stay at a local’s house. They are very willing to help and share with you unique things so that you can experience their simple culture!
Handicrafts and artisans
Walk inside Ta Phin, and you will immediately catch sight of groups of Red Dao women, holding colorful reels of thread and cloths. They sew continuously, even when offering the goods to the customers. Amazingly, most of them can speak quite well; some use Vietnamese less than English. Since 1998, Ta Phin has officially become the “brocade village,” where tourists on Vietnam tours can find distinctively hand-made brocades made by ethnic people.
All of the products are eye-catching with numerous bright colors and patterns, ranging from bags, scarves, purses, skirts, and even backpacks and coats. Ta Phin is also the main supplier for many shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Visitors to the village can watch these artisans at work and be amazed by their skill and creativity. The embroidery is a form of communication, representing every aspects of Red Dao culture, from folklore to daily life. You can learn from the artisans themselves, or even try creating a small piece to take home as a unique souvenir.
The Healing Herbal Bath
Since ancient times, the Dao people have often used medicinal herbs from the forest to boil water to bathe on the last day of the year to welcome the new year. Realizing that bathing with medicinal herbs is good for health, many people have flexibly opened bathing services in the village or sold medicinal herbs for tourists to take home.
Herbal bath in Ta Phin village
Bathing in warm, fragrant water helps relax muscles and is also believed to promote blood circulation, relieve stress, and rejuvenate the body. So, don’t miss the opportunity to bathe with Red Dao medicinal herbs in Ta Phin Village. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to visit Ta Phin village, you should definitely not miss bathing with Red Dao medicinal herbs.
Daily life in Ta Phin village in Sapa
In Ta Phin, life begins with the rising sun. The villagers, primarily farmers and artisans, wake early to tend to their fields and livestock. Agriculture is the backbone of life in the village, with families growing rice, corn, and vegetables in the terraced fields that blanket the surrounding hillsides.
Farming in Ta Phin is labor-intensive and requires the collaboration of the entire community. It is common to see families and neighbors working side by side. These tasks are not just physical labor but a cultural practice, passed down through generations, and deeply intertwined with the villagers’ identity.
Red Dao women go to work in the fields
Unique Culture and Customs
Time passes slowly up here in the mountains; Ta Phin Village, however, still retains its special traditions. You can have a chance to participate in a Red Dao wedding, seeing how they prepare many complicated customs for this occasion. There are also some local festivals, such as the “dancing festival” and the “oath-taking ceremony,” that will help tourists on Vietnam tours understand more about the simple but happy lives of ethnic people.
One of the oldest traditional festivals in Ta Phin village is the Gau Tao Festival, often held from the 2nd to the 4th of January in the lunar calendar. It’s the time the spring comes, and the villagers gather to pray for wealth, luck, and a fertile harvest. During the festival, they dress in their traditional costumes and there will be cultural performances and traditional games. This is also a testament to the diverse spiritual life of the local people. Many tourists have expressed excitement about these experiences.
Ta Phin Village is a hidden gem in Northern Vietnam that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and warm hospitality. Hopefully, next time you travel to North Vietnam, you can visit and immerse yourself in the life of Ta Phin village for a day.
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