Cham stream is originally just a small stream crawling through the green mountain ranges. In recent years, the people of Chieng Lau village have cleverly turned the traditional raft making profession into a unique community tourism product. The rafts made of bamboo and stream, with simple roofs, are hand-swept, taking visitors to lightly enjoy the clear water, under the cool breeze of the fence of the forest.
Mr. Ha Van Thuong - the owner of the raft team serving customers - said: "In the past, the rafts were used to transport bamboo, streams, and fish in streams. Now we do tourism to both keep the old job and earn more income.
Each boat trip lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, taking visitors through the winding stream, watching the mountains, listening to the sounds of wild birds and the sound of water flowing at the wheel.
Mr. Hoang Duong, a tourist from Thanh Hoa City, shared: "I have traveled on many types of boats in other places, but here it feels completely different - slow, gentle and very peaceful. There are moments so beautiful that I just want to sit still and feel them.
According to the people here, on hot summer days, Cham stream becomes an ideal place to cool down and relax after a long journey. The sparkling water surface reflects the sky and the rolling mountains, creating a rare picture of peaceful nature. In addition to crab stews, visitors can also enjoy specialty dishes along the stream such as grilled stream fish, Lam rice, forest bamboo shoots, hill chicken... All blend together to experience the rich local flavors.
The pristine beauty, quiet space and activities associated with indigenous culture, rowing on Cham stream is not only a walk but also a journey to find balance and peace in the modern rhythm of life. This community tourism model is gradually affirming its value and opening up new development directions for people in the mountainous areas of Thanh Hoa.
Here is a photo of the experience using bamboo rafts on the poetic Cham stream:
