What's so great about Thai Nguyen?

“What’s so special about Thai Nguyen?” – That was our question when we joined the Heritage – Thai Nguyen photo tour because before that, we only knew about Thai Nguyen for its famous Tan Cuong tea, its safe zone (ATK) during the resistance war, or its iron and steel industry. But after three days of experiencing it, we likened this midland region to a beautiful girl sleeping in the forest, slowly awakening.

After the summer rain, the trees were lush and green along the winding paths in Thai Hai village. The Tay people in the village welcomed us with cheerful eyes and gentle smiles, as if we were meeting long-lost relatives returning home.

The first stop on the photo tour was also a place deeply marked by cultural significance, with traditional stilt houses and unique community customs. The village model, with nearly 200 inhabitants, lives like a large family, sharing meals, production, and expenses.

Children receive care and education, the elderly are provided with medical care, and working-age women and men are assigned jobs in production or to serve tourists visiting the village. Photographers had a valuable day of hands-on experience to create vivid images of life here: from carrying water, cooking rice, weaving agricultural tools to customs such as inviting guests to drink tea, performing traditional folk songs, and playing traditional games like throwing the ball...

The predicted rain still worried us on our photography trip to the outdoor experience spots. Luckily, the second day began with the clear, bright moments of a new day at Nui Coc Lake. A vast expanse of water and mountains in the distance provided countless poetic shots of this legendary blue lake. The song still resonates as we admire the results of the photographers' work that early morning:

Floating (oh) floating

Wobbly (oh) wobbly

The boat encounters passengers intoxicated by the wind.

The boat drifts, the boat drifts.

The oars stirred the surface of the deep blue water.

(Excerpt from "Legend of Nui Coc" by composer Pho Duc Phuong)

The outdoor scenery continues to stir the souls of photographers as they visit the gently sloping, lush green tea hills and the Cua Tu stream, its waters rushing after heavy rains. The creative inspiration of the photo tour group is further nurtured by the stories of the local people interspersed throughout the experiences.

This is the story of the female "captain" of the Hao Dat tea cooperative, dedicated to developing a clean tea growing area while protecting the ecological environment, producing products that have received the National 5-star OCOP certification. It's a story revolving around the meticulous handcrafted processing steps that produce the legendary bud teas, young tea leaves, and tea buds from the Tan Cuong tea region.

These are the cooking secrets shared during intimate meals featuring delicious dishes made with tea leaves, known by intriguing and poetic names such as "Imperial Green Tea," "Jade Hidden in the Clouds," and "Fish Stewed with Tea Buds"... These are the efforts of young people in Dai Tu district, where the Cua Tu stream is located, to build homestays and promote tourism to both domestic and international visitors. This area is also home to the Cua Tu stream, a perfect trekking route for those who love wild nature.

There are still so many stories and promises to come, urging us to return to Thai Nguyen to admire this charming girl with her subtle allure.

See you in Thai Nguyen on a beautiful sunny day!

Heritage Magazine