The unique village of "sharing a rice pot" in Thai Nguyen is causing a stir around the world

Thai Nguyen has a special village: 151 members eat from the same pot of rice, live in harmony with nature and love each other. Thai Hai village has now become a hot destination for international tourists.

Hidden under the cool green forest canopy in Tan Cuong (Thai Nguyen), Thai Hai village is considered a "peaceful oasis" of the Tay people, where the entire community of 151 members eats from the same pot of rice, uses the same account and considers each other as blood relatives. This story, which seems to be only in fairy tales, is making tourists from all over the world curious to visit.

Thai Hai village seen from above, covered with more than 20 hectares of forest after two decades of reviving from bare hills. The temperature in the village is 3 degrees cooler than the center of Thai Nguyen city (old).

The place of rebirth from barren hills

More than 20 years ago, the land where Thai Hai village is located was just bare hills, barren trees, and depleted groundwater. The village chief, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai - a daughter of the Tay ethnic group, decided to spend all her money to rebuild the ancient stilt houses from ATK Dinh Hoa. At the same time, she and the villagers persistently covered the bare land with greenery, planting every tree and blade of grass...

The whole village eats from the same pot of rice, uses the same fund, and after weaning, children become “common children”. This is a unique community lifestyle that is rare in the world.

Today, after more than two decades, the village has more than 20 hectares of green forest, 30 preserved ancient stilt houses and a climate 3 degrees Celsius cooler than the old center of Thai Nguyen City.

"Cut down one tree and plant three more", that simple philosophy has turned this place into a land rich in vitality, abundant underground water and rare fresh air.

More than 30 ancient stilt houses from ATK Dinh Hoa were rebuilt in the village, becoming living spaces and places to welcome tourists , preserving Tay culture.

What surprises international visitors the most is not just the landscape or architecture, but the unique communal lifestyle of the people. All 151 members eat from the same pot of rice, spend from the same fund, and do not distinguish between personal belongings. Clothes and household items are shared. Children after being weaned are also raised as "common children of the village".

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan - Deputy of Thai Hai village (Thai Nguyen) appeared at the 19th international tourism fair in Ho Chi Minh City on the afternoon of September 5.

PHOTO: LE NAM

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, a member of the village, shared: "We live in harmony with nature, grateful for every grain of sand, blade of grass, and love all species. From there, we find happiness. The simple happiness that sometimes even city people or modern Europeans are surprised to see."

Also because of high community awareness, villagers always save electricity, limit plastic waste, and protect the safety of stilt houses by using energy reasonably.

Unique village "causing fever" in world tourism

Initially, Thai Hai was not aimed at tourism but simply a place for the community to recreate culture and preserve the green forest. But that simplicity attracts visitors from near and far. They come to stay, eat, work together and experience a sustainable lifestyle that the modern world is constantly searching for.

As a result, in 2022, Thai Hai village was honored as the "World's Best Tourist Village" by UNWTO (World Tourism Organization). Before and after that, the village also received many awards from ASEAN for sustainable tourism and community tourism. Recently, the homestay model in the village was also recognized as meeting ASEAN homestay standards, ready to welcome long-term international guests.

"World's Best Tourist Village" awarded by UNWTO (World Tourism Organization)

A French man - a bee research expert, shared after visiting: "In Europe, we thought we were the most civilized. But when I came here, I realized: living in harmony with nature is truly civilized."

Thai Hai people plant trees, raise bees, cook, teach each other to preserve culture - all are attached to the philosophy of "living in harmony with nature, loving in harmony"

Meanwhile, a group of masters from a university in Berlin (Germany) came to study and were surprised by the communal lifestyle of the Tay people. "In Germany, each family lives separately. Here, the whole village is like a big family, which is extremely valuable," they said. It is this difference that has turned Thai Hai into a research and experience destination for many international delegations every year.

Foreign tourists come to stay with villagers, participate in labor, enjoy Thai Nguyen tea, Khao cakes, peanut candy and learn how to live sustainably with nature.

PHOTO: LE NAM

Visitors to Thai Hai will be able to drink fragrant Thai Nguyen tea, eat peanut candy, traditional Khao cake; sleep in ancient stilt houses and wake up to the sound of birds singing. Joining the villagers, you can plant trees, learn to cook or sit around the fire together, enjoying a meal shared by 151 people.

In an increasingly rushed world, Thai Hai village becomes a place for people to find original values, sharing and the joy of living in harmony with nature.

"The village that shares a rice pot" in Thai Nguyen has become a unique community tourism model, inspiring all international visitors that when people know how to love each other and live in harmony with nature, happiness will come naturally.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan - Deputy of Thai Hai village (Thai Nguyen) was honored to represent the community at the 19th International Tourism Fair held in Ho Chi Minh City from September 4 to 7. Here, he shared his story about a natural lifestyle, the philosophy of environmental protection and the spirit of love for the community, making a strong impression on friends and international visitors.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lang-an-chung-noi-com-doc-nhat-vo-nhi-o-thai-nguyen-gay-sot-the-gioi-185250906144541617.htm