The unique natural beauty of Xa Phin

Việt Nam•19/04/2024

07:21, 19/04/2024

BHG - Xa Phin village, Phuong Tien commune (Vi Xuyen district) is a small Dao ethnic village nestled beneath the Tay Con Linh mountain range. The climate here is cool, and the village architecture retains its traditional features with many unique customs and practices. Especially when visiting during the rice harvest season, tourists can fully experience the peaceful rhythm of life in the highlands.

Xà Phìn, along with three other villages—Mão Phìn, Nặm Tẹ, and Nà Màu—lies beneath a majestic mountain range over 1,000 meters above sea level. These small villages are shrouded in fog year-round, especially in the mornings and evenings, when the air is always cool and refreshing. The steep terrain has created terraced rice fields that stretch as far as the eye can see in Xà Phìn.

For generations, rice and terraced rice fields have played a vital role in the lives and culture of the people here. Rice has nourished generations of Dao people, accompanied them on moonlit nights of courtship, and appeared in important rituals of their community's beliefs. More than just a staple food, rice has contributed to the gentle, simple yet free-spirited nature of the people in this region.

Tourists visit and experience the village of Xà Phìn.

The rice season in Xa Phin is usually later than in other areas. Planting takes place in mid-June to early July, and harvesting is in mid-October. If you haven't had the chance to visit Hoang Su Phi, a scenic spot to see the ripening rice fields, you can come to Xa Phin, located only about 25 kilometers from the center of Ha Giang city. With its vast area, steep slopes, and altitude of over 1,000 meters, the fresh air makes the terraced rice fields in Xa Phin just as beautiful as elsewhere. Visiting Xa Phin during the green rice season, you can admire the beauty of the rice plants on the endless green terraced fields, be captivated by the majestic nature, and understand the resilience and creativity of the people in agricultural production.

The village of Xà Phìn is home to over 50 Dao ethnic minority households. Their architecture primarily consists of stilt houses with thatched roofs, built on low mounds in valleys near rice paddies. Locals say that the high humidity and cool climate year-round, with around 20 rainy days each month, create ideal conditions for moss to thrive. Moss typically grows on the roofs every five years, usually from October to April, with each moss layer fading and a new, lush layer growing back every 15 days. Over time, these Dao stilt houses acquire an aged beauty, their moss-covered roofs creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere reminiscent of a mountain village.

Mr. Dang Van Hau, Head of Xa Phin village, shared: “Mossy roofs are suitable for the local weather. Previously, many families used corrugated iron roofs, but in recent years they have returned to thatched roofs, which are both suitable for the weather and preserve the local identity. Over the years, local people have learned to take advantage of the natural landscape and existing potential to develop tourism . Many tourists have come to visit and experience the area. As a result, the lives of the people have improved significantly.”

The Dao people settled and built houses in Xa Phin village on the mountainside many generations ago. Living on a high mountain peak, shrouded in mist year-round, they face many difficulties in production, but the Dao people of Xa Phin are always hardworking and resilient. They know how to cultivate terraced rice fields, planting one crop a year to ensure a yearly rice supply, raise salmon to meet market demand, grow cardamom under the forest canopy to escape poverty, and especially know how to utilize the natural conditions to grow Shan Tuyet tea to develop their economy .

As a village possessing all the elements to attract tourists and develop the economy, Xa Phin village is actively pursuing the goal of building a community-based cultural tourism village, gradually making tourism a key strength for development.

Text and photos: Nguyen Yem

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