Small village shrouded in mist

Despite the hustle and bustle of life elsewhere, Pac Ngoi village (Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province) remains quiet and peaceful.

Dozens of houses are nestled against the mountainside. The path slopes gently and unevenly. Large trees cast shadows, their intertwined vines seeming to hold onto some mysterious aspect of the forest. In the distance, clouds descend, covering the deep green Lung Nham mountain range, sometimes gathering, sometimes expanding as if a hand were grasping them and then tossing them into a white mist. Along the path leading to the village, wild sounds fill the air. Forest leaves rustle. Forest birds sing. Insects chirp. All of this is enough to evoke a sense of desolate, heart-wrenching solitude. Who has forgotten this place? No! Let nature remain. Let the squirrel leisurely gather dry fruit on the young grass, still wet with dew. Let the bird carrying morning dew gently fly by the window sill, chirping softly. If people live in harmony with nature, they will find life peaceful and tranquil.

Pac Ngoi Village. Photo: mytour.vn

The sun had risen, but it wasn't strong enough to dispel the veil of mist. Pac Ngoi was even more beautiful when shrouded in fog. The mist drifted lazily over the faded tiled roofs. It clung to the wooden pillars. It crept stealthily through the window cracks, following the streaks of light into the house. It was cool and slightly musty. The forest trees were also enveloped in a hazy mist. Dewdrops curled up and rolled down the leaves, trying their best to fly into the air. The morning sun struggled to shine its rays on each sparkling droplet. Under the eaves, the mist still lingered. The wildflowers were shyly not yet blooming. The old women of the village had risen early. The hearths blazed with fire. Smoke rose and mingled with the mist, creating delicate shapes in the sky. A warm, fragrant aroma filled the air. I threw off my blanket and sat by the fire. Ms. Duong Thi Thoa, the owner of the guesthouse, was preparing sticky rice for breakfast. The steaming pot emitted thick plumes of steam. After a while, the heat was so intense it felt like it was going to burst through my shirt buttons. My feet hurried across the wooden floor to the veranda. Oh dear! The mist brushed against my face, cool and refreshing. I reached out as if to scoop it up. The wind carried the chill from Lake Ba Be, inhaling deeply. I stood there, breathing deeply, filling my strong chest. The feeling was intoxicating and blissful. If only I could wrap the mist up, I would take it back to the city as a gift. In this suffocating, dusty place, just one breath of this mist would be so precious. The mist in Pac Ngoi seems to have its own unique beauty. Thin wisps of mist from the peak of Lung Nham sweep over Puong Cave, float gently over Lake Ba Be, and glide over the cornfields and rice paddies in the valley below. When entering the village, the mist carries the breath of the mountains and hills, the fragrant scent of green forest leaves, and the rich flavor of rice and corn. I wonder if that's why the wild game meat dried in the mist, the stream fish dried overnight, taste even better. I kept standing there, gazing at the morning mist. Somewhere, in those distant, hazy houses, surely there are also travelers' eyes sending their love into the mist. The mist, like a brushstroke, blurs everything, so that for a thousand years the mountains and hills remain silent, and the Tay village remains peaceful and tranquil. Even distant visitors who stay here are captivated by the mist, unable to disturb the surrounding landscape. Therefore, Pac Ngoi remains beautiful, alluring, and enchanting, allowing the imagination to run wild in its hazy state. Visitors are drawn here by the melodies of the then folk songs, following the hillside, and finding their way here amidst the swirling white mist. There, the Tay women with their blackened teeth and indigo áo chàm (traditional Vietnamese dress) prepare sticky rice every morning, their figures blending into the smoke and mist as they serve the guests. Pac Ngoi is a destination for those who want to explore Ba Be. Arrive early to immerse yourself in this small, mist-shrouded village.

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