Having visited Ngoi Tu, Thac Ba commune three times, Albert Querol and Béatrice Truc (French tourists) still feel the same excitement as the first time. For them, each return trip is a completely different experience.
"The first time was a surprise, the second time a feeling of familiarity, and this time, I feel like I'm returning to my own place," shared Albert Querol.
Every time they visit Vietnam, the couple always goes to Ngoi Tu. What keeps them coming back isn't the new services, but the subtle changes in nature with the seasons—the palm trees shedding their leaves, the mist drifting gently in the early morning, or simply the everyday stories shared around the campfire by the locals, each visit a new discovery .
Not only is Ngoi Tu a popular destination for foreign tourists, but it has also become a familiar meeting place for many international groups living in Hanoi . One group of 15 people regularly returns here once a year as a way to "escape the city".
Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of life, they find tranquility in simple things: riding motorbikes through village roads, rowing boats on the calm surface of Thac Ba Lake, casting a fishing line, or simply sitting quietly on the porch of a stilt house, listening to the wind.
"We've already planned our next trip, and it will be a lakeside camping trip," said Thomas, a French national and member of the group, excitedly.
Nestled within an area of approximately 2 km² in Thac Ba commune, Ngoi Tu appears as a picturesque rural village that has been preserved almost intact.
Stilt houses nestled under palm trees, gently sloping hills, and wisps of smoke drifting lazily through the tranquil air. In the distance, the emerald green surface of Thac Ba Lake reflects the clouds and sky, creating a scene that is both poetic and strangely peaceful.
The spacious surroundings, cool climate, and especially the breezes blowing in from the lake make the early summer sun feel gentler.
In Ngoi Tu, perhaps it is the harmony between people and landscape that makes it an ideal stop for those seeking a slower pace of life amidst the hustle and bustle of city life.
Ms. Ha Thi Huong, owner of Lake View homestay, said that in the summer, the number of tourists visiting Ngoi Tu increases significantly. They usually travel in small groups, staying for 2-3 days to have enough time to fully experience the local life.
Lukas Meier (a Swiss tourist) shared that while searching for a destination with a strong ethnic minority identity for his vacation, he was introduced to Ngoi Tu by his friends.
“Everything here is new to me. I especially like the stilt houses, where the locals live and work in tourism , creating a very intimate atmosphere. The local women's clothing, with its red and black colors and white trousers, is also very impressive,” Lukas Meier expressed.
Local cuisine is also an unforgettable experience. Traditional dishes such as grilled chicken, crispy fried lake fish, wild banana flower salad, chicken stew with sour bamboo shoots, or grilled meat... are all prepared in the traditional way, preserving their natural flavors.
As night falls, the village becomes more vibrant with the folk songs and dances of the Dao people, blended with the fragrant aroma of rice wine, creating an atmosphere that is both cozy and rich in cultural identity.
For first-time visitors to Ngoi Tu like MacDonald Glen Alan (American), it was an authentic and memorable experience: “The dishes may not be overly fancy in presentation, but they are delicious. If you don't like them, the host can still cook other dishes upon request. The people here feel very friendly and hospitable.”
According to Mr. Tong Van Nam, owner of Vulinh Homestay, one of the long-standing community tourism businesses in the village, what makes Ngoi Tu unique is the way the locals approach tourism from their own lives. They maintain their daily routines such as farming, gardening, and livestock raising. And it is this simplicity and authenticity that gives tourists the feeling of being immersed in the local life.
Currently, Ngoi Tu receives over 1,000 visitors annually, with approximately 80% being international tourists from countries such as France, Australia, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. Notably, the rate of returning visitors is quite high, with some even staying for a whole week – a unique characteristic demonstrating the special appeal and connection Ngoi Tu has for its tourists.
According to Mr. Luong Thai Son, Vice Chairman of the Thac Ba Commune People's Committee, in the coming time, the locality will continue to improve the community tourism model in a sustainable direction; focusing on preserving the environmental landscape, improving service quality, training tourism skills for the people, and establishing performing arts groups with strong local identity.
To further solidify Ngòi Tu's reputation as an attractive destination for tourists in the future, Mr. Luong Thai Son added: "Developing unique tourism products is also identified as an important direction in the sustainable tourism development of Thac Ba commune. From experiencing the culture of the White-Pants Dao people, eco-tourism tours exploring Thac Ba Lake, to agricultural tourism models linked to local life..., all aim to increase value while preserving the unique characteristics of Ngòi Tu."
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ngoi-tu-binh-yen-niu-chan-du-khach-post899781.html
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