Bản Tèn awakens beneath the sky.

Nestled in the vast forests of Bản Tèn, a small hamlet in Văn Lăng commune, Thái Nguyên province, it was once considered a forgotten land where the lives of the Hmong people were confined to self-sufficiency. But now, paved roads have transformed everything. Bản Tèn is awakening, donning a new appearance while still preserving its pristine character and the cultural essence of the Hmong people.

The concrete road winds through the limestone mountain ranges, where the people of Bản Tèn are continuing to write their dream of prosperity and well-being day by day, nestled high in the mountains.

New roads open up new horizons.

Located at an altitude of over 1,200 meters above sea level, Ban Ten village is nestled in the embrace of towering mountain ranges. The lives of 151 households, with 750 inhabitants, all of whom are Mong ethnic people, remain pristine and closely connected to the mountains and forests.

Just over a decade ago, Ban Ten was an isolated area deep in the mountains. At that time, Ban Ten literally lacked five things: electricity, roads, communication signals, healthcare , and a market. The historically significant transformation of this land began in 2014 when the project to build a road from Van Khanh hamlet to Ban Ten commenced.

The approximately 5km long road was not just a transportation project, but also a cherished dream of generations of Hmong people in the area. The steep and treacherous terrain, with many sections of sheer rock, made construction extremely difficult. There were days when a section of concrete, just poured to the joy of completion, would soon be washed away by torrential rains into the stream, leaving the workers sadly to start over.

With the determination of the government and the local people, after two years of perseverance, the road was completed, marking a turning point for the highland region. In early 2023, a new 2.3km long, 5m wide concrete road was invested in with a total cost of 11.8 billion VND. After more than a year of construction, the project was completed, bringing a completely new look to the mountain village.

Ms. Ly Thi Nhinh takes care of her family's vegetable garden.

Ms. Ly Thi Nhinh, a young Hmong woman who had just built a small house by the newly paved road, smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling as if she had just discovered a great joy: "Now the children can go to school without worrying about mud sticking to their clothes when it rains; and it's so easy for me to ride my motorbike to the market."

The house that Nhính and his wife had just built was small but full of warmth. Behind it, rows of tender green vegetables shimmered in the early morning sun, and corn stalks nestled among the gray rocks rustled in the wind. In the small courtyard, the chirping of several pairs of wild chickens echoed through the mountains, heralding a new day.

Looking at the clean, smooth road running across the front porch, Ms. Nhinh gently adjusted her dress, her voice filled with emotion: "My family doesn't have enough money to pave the floor with cement yet, but just being able to live next to this road, watching the children happily going to school, makes me so happy. It's like a dream!"

Those simple words resonated with the shared sentiments of the entire Bản Tèn community. For them, the road opened up new avenues of access, broadened horizons for the people's lives, and connected the small village to the outside world .

Preserving the essence amidst change

The Bản Tèn branch of Văn Lăng No. 2 Primary School has received significant investment for its modern facilities.

In September, Bản Tèn enters the most beautiful days of autumn. Terraced rice paddies stretch out at the foot of the mountains, the rice plants in their prime, lush and green like velvet. The gentle golden sunlight of early autumn falls, and the wind rustles through the trees, causing the cosmos flowers to sway softly in rhythm.

Amidst that natural landscape, the charming little wooden houses of the Hmong people are nestled, creating a space that is both wild and romantic. Life today is very different from the past. With roads built and electricity brought to the village, the people no longer lack anything. Traders from all over come to the village to buy corn, pigs, chickens, and other necessities. Essential items, from cooking oil, fish sauce, salt, seedlings, fertilizers to household goods, are also transported directly to the village.

The changes are evident in every new house. Sturdy houses with bright red corrugated iron roofs are gradually replacing the makeshift wooden houses. Along the new concrete road, many families have stockpiled wood, bricks, cement, etc., ready to build their homes. The people of Bản Tèn today dare to think, dare to act, and dare to dream more beautiful dreams.

In the heart of the village, the Bản Tèn school shines brightly in its new, spacious appearance. The national flag flutters proudly against the vast sky, and in the schoolyard, the cheerful chatter of Hmong children fills the air. Children now have easier access to school than their parents and previous generations, learning to read and write earlier, bringing hope for a different future for their village.

Despite the changes, Bản Tèn still retains the cultural essence of the Hmong people. On the slopes, the vibrant colors of the brocade skirts still shine brightly in the new sunlight; the sounds of flutes and reed pipes during festivals still resonate like ancient springs that have never dried up. Amidst the changing pace of life, Bản Tèn still preserves its own unique memory, deeply rooted in the identity of the mountains and forests.

Since 2023, the locality has been orienting towards developing Ban Ten into a community tourism destination. Infrastructure projects have been and are being invested in, such as: upgrading four rural roads, building stone embankments to protect terraced rice fields, paving pathways to the fields with stone, and improving the landscape to welcome visitors...

At the same time, the annual "Mong Ethnic Culture and Sports Festival" and the "Golden Harvest" festival attract a large number of tourists to explore and experience the area.

During festival seasons, visitors to Bản Tèn can admire the majestic mountain scenery and enjoy traditional Hmong dishes such as mèn mén and thắng cố, cooked over a fire. They can immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere of the festival, watch the villagers pound sticky rice cakes, and listen to the melodious sounds of the khene and flutes echoing on the slopes… All of this creates a colorful cultural experience, both rustic and captivating.

Mr. Ngo Van Sung, a resident of Ban Ten village, happily recounted: "Now we often have visitors coming to visit. They enjoy walking on the stone-paved paths leading to the fields and taking lots of pictures. Everyone is happy because we see our village becoming more beautiful, both in the eyes of outsiders and in the eyes of others."

From a "tourism blank spot," Ban Ten is gradually becoming an attractive destination for those who love nature and Hmong culture. This potential is being awakened, but more importantly, the village still retains its "soul"—its pristine, rustic charm and harmony with nature.

Tourists no longer hesitate to venture along the winding, steep roads. They come to Bản Tèn to immerse themselves in nature, listen to the sound of the mountain wind, breathe in the scent of damp earth and forest trees, and hear the simple life stories of the locals around the warm fire.

Amidst the whistling wind and the earthy scent of green rice fields, Bản Tèn today continues to write its story, the story of a dream awakening beneath the sky, where golden seasons of hope are gradually emerging from the morning mist.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tin-moi/202509/ban-ten-thuc-giac-ben-lung-troi-5e9229d/