Experience A Day As A Dao Person In The Vast Phong Quang.

There are trips that make you remember because of the beautiful scenery. There are trips that make you remember because of the people. And there are also trips that months later still make you smile every time you think back. A day as a Dao person in Phong Quang is such an experience.

Walking through the vast forest and ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees

In the morning, the journey begins with a trekking route through the forest. The small path takes us through the ancient Shan Tuyet tea fields, lush green bamboo forests, and cool streams winding beneath the tree canopy. The fresh air is so pleasant that just taking a deep breath feels much more comfortable.

The deeper we go into the forest, the more magical nature becomes.

There are moments when I have to stop just to admire the swarms of yellow butterflies filling an entire area of the forest. Hundreds, even thousands of butterflies gather by the damp patches near the stream, creating a scene so beautiful that it feels like stepping into a movie.

The sound of flowing water, the chirping of birds, and the endless green of the mountains make all the worries of everyday life seem to disappear.

Wearing a Dao outfit worth nearly 100 million VND

The most special thing about the journey is experiencing the life of the local Dao people.

I got to try on the traditional outfit of Dao women. At first glance, anyone would think it’s just a normal ethnic costume, but when hearing the locals tell the story, I realized its value is immense. The outfit is completely hand-embroidered with thousands of small details. Completing one set can take many months, even years. The most special part is the accompanying silver jewelry. The necklaces, bracelets, and traditional accessories are made from real silver worth tens of millions of VND. The total value of the outfit and jewelry can reach nearly 100 million VND.

When I put on that outfit, I not only felt more beautiful but also sensed the pride, skill, and cultural values that the Dao people have preserved through generations.

Going into the forest to pick bamboo shoots and vegetables like the locals

I also got to follow the locals into the forest. The Dao people can identify many types of forest plants that people from the lowlands like me have never heard of. After just a short walk, the basket was full of young, vibrant vegetables and freshly sprouted bamboo shoots.

Cooking a meal rich in mountain flavors with the locals

There are no modern kitchens or complicated recipes. Everything happens very simply. The meat is skewered on bamboo sticks and grilled over hot coals. Freshly dug bamboo tubes are roasted next to the fire. The vegetables are prepared right after being picked.

I also got to experience pounding sticky rice cakes with mugwort leaves - a traditional dish of the Dao people. The task seems simple but is quite labor-intensive. It takes many people to take turns using the pestle continuously for the cake to achieve the desired chewy and fragrant texture.

When the cake is finished, everyone in the group eagerly enjoys the fruits of their labor.

Drinking a cup of wine with the Dao people

Perhaps what I remember most is not a specific dish. But the atmosphere of the meal.

Everyone sits together, raising cups of fragrant corn wine, sharing stories about life, the mountains, and traditional customs that have existed for a long time.

There are no distances. Just sincere people sharing a simple meal in the vast forest.

Going to the stream to catch fish

In the afternoon, we continued down to the stream with the locals. The clear water flows over large and small stones. Everyone uses very simple methods to catch stream fish, something the locals have been doing for generations.

Laughter erupts continuously when someone misses a catch, slips, or unexpectedly grabs a fish hiding under a rock.

Those are very ordinary moments but bring joy that is hard to find in the city.

An experience I will never forget

When leaving Phong Quang, what remains with me is not just the green forests, the ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees, or the cool streams. The most memorable thing is the feeling of slowing down for a day. Wearing the traditional outfit of the Dao people. Going into the forest to pick vegetables, dig bamboo shoots. Sitting by the fire to grill meat. Raising a cup of wine with the locals. Listening to the simple stories of mountain life.

Just one day, but enough to understand that amidst modern life, there are still places that preserve intact cultural values and a way of life worth cherishing.

And for me, that is an experience I will never forget.