Ta Van Chu in the season of dreams

During the plum ripening season, familiar names like "Moc Chau plums," "Pu Nhi plums," "Sa Pa plums," and even "Bac Ha plums" are often mentioned. Wherever there are orchards laden with plums, there is a spring shimmering with pristine white blossoms. The nickname "white plateau" for the Bac Ha region also comes from this – when spring arrives, pear, apricot, and plum blossoms burst forth, painting the land white.

Ta Van Chu is one of the most famous names in Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province, when the plum blossoms bloom. It's a commune in Bac Ha district with a large H'Mong population. In recent years, Ta Van Chu has become more well-known to the tourism community because of its beautiful villages, nestled among ancient rammed-earth houses. Most captivating is when spring arrives, the hills and mountains seem to be draped in a shimmering white cloak of flowers, luring tourists who travel long distances to visit the villages. Spring arrives in Ta Van Chu when the flowers bloom white across the hillsides, along the village entrances, and around the fences of houses… The villages and hills become more dreamy and magical than ever, whether in the early morning mist or in the gentle afternoon sun. Ta Van Chu, in the Hmong language, means "wide valley." The area has a complex topography, fragmented by many hills and mountains with steep slopes, nestled beneath mountain ranges. Therefore, getting to Ta Van Chu is not easy, and there are many areas without cell phone signals. However, it is precisely for this reason that tourists are always eager to overcome the challenges to set foot in this still unspoiled land. The Hmong people in Ta Van Chu cultivate many types of plants such as tea, plum trees, and medicinal herbs. In recent years, the area planted with plums has increased because the local plums are popular in the market, and importantly, local tourism products associated with plums have helped improve the lives of the people. According to the project to build an eco-village model in Lao Cai province, the H'Mong people here are being educated and trained on how to develop community tourism, especially in providing homestay services to tourists. Therefore, most tourists will be quite satisfied with the accommodation and food services here; they are just right, not lacking anything, yet cozy enough to appreciate the rustic charm of the highland culture. Don't hesitate to share a warm bowl of corn wine with the locals or generously tip them a little when borrowing their colorful traditional costumes to take photos with the flowers. The village of Lả Dì Thàng is considered one of the most beautiful places for plum orchards, with many traditional houses peeking out from behind the trees. There are ancient plum trees, some decades old, with gnarled trunks covered in moss, their branches spreading wide, their white blossoms bursting forth. A gentle breeze sends the delicate petals flying through the air. That moment blurs the boundaries between reality and dream.