Trip Overview

This 3-day journey takes you from Hanoi to the peaceful villages of Sung (Hoa Binh) and Phu Mau (Son La), home to the Dzao Tien and Thai ethnic communities. Immerse yourself in local culture through hands-on workshops, scenic walks, and traditional wellness experiences. Stay in cozy homestays, enjoy authentic cuisine, and reconnect with nature and heritage.

Highlights:

• Genuine cultural immersion: connect with local families and daily village life in a way most tourists never experience
• Diversified transportation: experience not just car travel, but also local motorbike taxis and a scenic boat ride
• Beeswax painting & indigo dyeing with Dzao artisans
• Traditional Dao herbal bath & natural Bo Am hot spring
• Trek to the “Divine Fish Stream” through forest and rice fields
• Make your own Dó paper and “shell-shape” rice cake

Day 1: Hanoi – Sưng village (2.5-3hrs by car)

08h00: The car and the English-speaking supporter will pick you up from your hotel. After 3,5 hours driving through the picturesque countryside, you will arrive at Sung Village, Cao Son commune home to the Dzao Tien minority people. There are around 78 households and about 400 residents in the village and they live on farming and forest plantations, you will take a leisurely walk around the village.

11h30: Arrive at Sung village. Check-in at homestay. Rest and relax

12h00: Have lunch at homestay

14h00: Walking tour: Discover the village

Discover Sung village (walk around 3 km). During the walk, you will have a chance to learn more about the lives of people through their traditional houses, see “Doi tree” and the “Palm garden” and get to know how locals have built their community spirit through the years. Besides, you will also randomly see herbal plants and their practice in daily life. Continue to “Sung Cave”, and listen to its legend and the spiritual life of the villagers. Then, pass by a community house where locals teach the traditional Dao language to young people, keeping this important cultural aspect alive. Come back to the village center, have a short tea break at the healthcare facility, and learn more about herbal medicine and healthcare in Sung village.

16h00: Beeswax painting and indigo dyeing workshop

The beeswax painting and indigo dyeing experience tour will last for approximately 2 hours

You will visit the traditional indigo workshop of the Sung village. Here, you will have the opportunity to converse with the local community and gain insight into the significance, patterns, and process of creating traditional Dao Tien attire. You will receive guidance on the principles of beeswax painting and batik dyeing from the local artisans. Subsequently, you will practice and create your piece of art. The memorable takeaway from this experience is not only the fun and hands-on activities but also an indigo product adorned with your beeswax patterns.

Visit the brocade group, learn how to print the texture by beeswax, and discover the indigo dyeing process. You also have a chance to create your scarf under the instruction of the craftsman.

18h00: Dao Tien traditional herbal bath

Get your clean clothes to take Dao Tien Herbal bath in another local family. This is home of a “traditional doctor” in the village. Taking hot bath in different kinds of herbal leaves will bring you deep relaxation and help with blood circulation.

19h00: Dinner at the homestay.

21h30: Overnight at the homestay.

Day 2: Sung – Phu Mau (B, L, D)

07h00: Breakfast at the homestay.

08h00: Do Paper workshop

You will visit a local household in the village where you will receive guidance on the traditional handmade dó paper-making process. This will include steps such as selecting the right tree, stripping the bark, sun drying, soaking, cooking, fermenting, and more. You will also actively engage in some exciting and challenging steps like ‘sewing paper’.

The memorable takeaway from this experience is not only the fun and hands-on activities but also the dó paper product that you create for yourself.

11h00: Have lunch at homestay.

13h00: Get transfer by moto taxi from Sung Village to the Túp boat dock.

13h30: Take a 1 hour 20 minutes boat ride to Bai Sang Harbour.

Get transfered by car to Phu Mau CBT Village – home of Thai community in Van Ho, Son La.

15h00: Arrive Bai Sang Harbour. Get transfer to Phu Mau village by car.

15h30: Arrive homestay. Check in. Rest and relax.

17h00: Bo Am Natural Hot Spring

From your homestay, you will take a short walk in the village passing through traditional houses of local people, rice fields on the two sides of the village road… While walking, converse with your guide to learn more about the local people and their daily life and livelihood. Then heading toward Bò Ấm Hot Spring (about 750m away), where mineral-rich thermal waters (35-40°C) flow directly from mountain springs into three naturally tiered pools. Soaking in these warm mineral waters offers both health benefits and complete relaxation – the perfect way to rejuvenate in nature.

(Note: Bring your swimwear and a change of clothes. There are changing rooms at the hot spring site.)

19h00: Diner at homestay.

20h00: Learn how to make “bánh ốc – shell shape rice cake” – a traditional food of local people.

21h00: Overnight at the homestay.

Day 3: Phu Mau Village – Hanoi (B,L)

07h00: Breakfast at homestay.

08h30: Trekking to Bướt Village and explore Fish Devine Stream (~6km, 3 hours)

From your homestay, your local guide will lead you on a 6km trek along a forest trail to Bướt Village – a peaceful small village of Thai and Muong ethnic communities. Along the route, you will be surrounded by diverse, beautiful and lush natural scenery: vast rice fileds, hillside corn fields, bamboo groves, arrow root farms and ancient forests filled with big tall trees. Finally, you’ll visit a fish stream protected and preserved by the villagers. This clean, crystal-clear stream is home to man different colored fish- primarily gold, blue, and black. The locals even call it the “Divine Fish Stream“, where the sight of fish darting playfully beneath the surface create a fairy-tale atmosphere.

Get transfer back to your homestay by moto taxi.

12h00: Have lunch at homestay.

13h30: Say goodbyes to your host and get transfer back to Hanoi.

17h20: Arrive Hanoi. End the service.