Hang Tau is quietly hiding in Ta So village, Moc Chau ward, Son La province. The small village is likened to a "time oasis", where primitive life still plains through the majestic Northwest mountains and forests.
The journey to explore Hang Tau is not for the discouraged or the young. The bumpy, dirt and rock road of the beehive about 7km long is a real challenge, especially when traveling by motorbike.
Mr. Pham Tu (1994, photographer, Hanoi) had the opportunity to experience this "difficult" route.
He shared: From Moc Chau, you can search for Ta So on the map, then there will be a sign pointing to Hang Tau. When you get there, you can ride your own motorbike into the village or rent a motorbike taxi for local people to ensure safety.
There is only one way to enter the village. The dirt and rock road from the beehive to Hang Tau is bumpy and difficult to travel. If you choose to drive yourself, you must keep a high alert spirit, the steering hand is steady to avoid slipping. The A-shaped slope is the most difficult section of the road to travel.
However, all the difficulties on the road seemed to disappear when they arrived at Hang Tau. A peaceful scene appears: the simple wooden houses nestle on the mountainside, close together, creating a cozy and unusually close space.
Just like the name " primitive village" - the way tourists call it, Hang Tau is almost separate from modern amenities. There is no national grid electricity, no stable phone signal, and even less Wi-Fi or tourism services. Only a few households use solar power for basic living needs.
The isolation of Hang Tau is further emphasized by its special geographical location. The small village is nestled among four high mountains, surrounded by steep cliffs and has only one dirt road leading to it.
Around the village is a series of lush green mountains and forests, with a few pigs, chickens, and ducks leisurely grazing on the hillsides. In particular, the image of local black pigs free to roam on green grass creates a funny and adorable scene.
Currently, there are only about 20 H'Mong households living here. They still persistently preserve the traditional lifestyles of their ancestors.
Anh Tu exclaimed: "Hang Tau is a place without phone signal, no electricity, no noise from vehicles. This place is truly very primitive, filled with peace. Scenes and objects, people live together in harmony".
To protect the purity and peace, the villagers have their own regulations that tourists need to follow: not to bring animal food into the village, not to littered and especially prohibit all cars and motorbikes from going deep into the village. In the middle of the village is a grazing area for grazing cattle. Children in the village go to school far away, and return to live with their parents on weekends.
It is this separation and special lifestyle that makes many tourists prefer to call Hang Tau with a very poetic name: "Where the H'Mong people flee the world".
The experience in Hang Tau is not a comfortable vacation but a journey to find the true value of life - an opportunity to immerse yourself in the slow, simple life in the midst of majestic nature.
Overcoming hardships, visitors will be rewarded with a quiet space, a meeting with sincere, hospitable people and a deeper look at the Mong community that is still determined to preserve the identity in the Moc Chau plateau.
The cost of visiting and experiencing Hang Tau is not high. entrance fee is about 30,000 VND/person. You can rent a horse to take photos and videos for about 30,000 VND/trip.
Tourists also have the opportunity to rent colorful traditional costumes of the H'Mong people to record memorable moments, immerse themselves in a unique cultural space. You can contact local people to enjoy rustic dishes, prepared from fresh ingredients raised by them such as chicken, goosebumps, ducks.
