Join us to celebrate the New Year with the Blue H’mong community in Hang Kia Pa Co, a hidden valley nestled within the high mountains of Mai Chau. The Blue H’mong people celebrate their New Year one month earlier than the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, with GAU TAO FESTIVAL as a highlight.
| Destination | Mai Chau, Van Ho & Pa Co |
|---|---|
| Included |
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| Excluded |
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 Travel With Bus |
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Discount for larger group is available; please contact our travel consultants at
lam@dcttravel.vn or send us inquiry through the contact form
We will depart from the DCT Responsible Travel office located at 17 Cau Go and leave the bustling city behind as we travel through a craggy, mountainous landscape to reach the beautiful Mai Chau Valley. Our arrival will be at around 10:30, where our hosts will welcome us into their world of new customs and traditions.
After a tour briefing, we will begin cycling through the rice fields and along narrow lanes to reach Na Phon village. Here we will visit a weaving workshop and learn the traditional White Thai weaving, dyeing and embroidery techniques. We will also get a chance to experience a hands-on natural dyeing workshop hosted by a Thai lady. You will be able to take home the products you make and fond memories of the time spent with the beautiful people.
Later, we will return to the homestay and enjoy a lunch of Mai Chau specialties, delicately prepared by your host family. In the afternoon, we will hop on bicycles and start cycling through the beautiful trails of Mai Chau Valley. These trials will take us through quaint villages and rice and cropping fields where you can stop anytime to catch beautiful moments of nature or talk to friendly villagers.
Once we are back at our homestay, you can chill out in the reading corner or walk around Na Phon village. In the evening, we will enjoy a BBQ dinner prepared by your hosts with their fantastic culinary skills before joining a folklore music performance.
Finally, we will spend the night in the peaceful atmosphere of the village. 
A full day to discover the untouched valley of Hang Kia and Pa Co and to celebrate the New Year of the Blue Hmong ethnic group. After an early breakfast at the homestay, our driver will transfer you to Pa Co village. Be ready to immerse yourself in the Gau Tao Festival with the local community in unspoiled nature and the authentic Blue H’mong culture!
First, we will join the festival with many outdoor activities, and traditional games such as Khen dancing, Pao throwing, Flute performance, Leaf Trumpet performance, and Steamed sticky rice pounding. Savor the authentic food of the Blue H’mong, such as Bánh Dày (round-shaped steamed sticky rice), smoky beef, and grilled buffalo.
Lunch at a local family. After a break, let’s stroll into villages, meet with locals, and learn more about their customs and traditions during the New Year.
We will then come back to Mai Chau following Bao La direction. This new road connects two remote communities in the Mai Chau district. The journey takes around 2 hours, but the scenery is worth it. We will go through H’mong, Muong, and Thai ethnic villages.
We will arrive in Mai Chau at the end of the afternoon. Dinner with the family. Overnight at homestay. 
Starting with an early breakfast, we then get in the car to Tat Nang waterfall. Hidden behind the terraced paddy fields, Tạt Nàng Waterfall flows all year round. It is a source of water for the paddy fields and a place for reflection.
Stop for a tea break here and swim. Or you can skip the swimming until we reach Phụ Mẫu hot spring where you can soak and rejuvenate your body in these natural hot springs. Lunch at our friend's Thai family in Chieng Xuan village.
After lunch, we will head back to Mai Chau. On the way, stop at Hoà Bình Lake, formed during the construction of the Hoa Binh hydropower plant, the lake is called Halong Bay on the mountain thanks to its stunning views of the jade reservoir.
Arrive at Mai Chau at around 3:30. Time for a shower for refreshment (if you wish) and a short break with some snacks before hopping on the car back to Hanoi. The estimated arrival time is about 7 pm. End of our services.
Note: You can extend your trip by staying more at Mai Chau to enjoy the peaceful valley or take another adventure with a 1-day extension to Pu Luong National Park. Contact our team for more details. 
Company Name: Công ty TNHH Du lịch Bền vững DCT
International Name: DCT Responsible Travel Limited Company
Address: 17 Cau Go St., Hang Bac Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Business registration number: 0110076259
Date issued: July 28, 2022. Issued by Hanoi Authority for Planning and Investment
Representative: Dang Thi Hoang Lam
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17 Cau Go St., Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
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