Hong Thai, Tuyen Quang is a peaceful place in Northern Vietnam, where the local way of life, rice fields, highland houses and fresh mountain air are still very much a part of everyday life. What makes this place special can often be found in the simplest moments of local life. And one of the most beautiful of them is an autumn morning.
The morning begins with kitchen smoke
Before the sky is fully bright, a new day has already begun in Hong Thai. From the houses in the village, light kitchen smoke gently rises and blends into the thin mountain mist. Some families are preparing breakfast, some people are getting ready to go to the fields, while others are boiling water for tea.
There is no noisy traffic here, and no crowds rushing by. There is only the sound of the wind, birdsong and the familiar sounds of a highland village. It is a very simple morning, but perhaps it is this simplicity that makes it feel so peaceful.
When sunrise reaches the mountains
The sun does not appear all at once in Hong Thai. Light slowly spreads across the mountain slopes, while clouds continue to drift gently through the valley. At times, the clouds almost completely cover the distant mountains. A few minutes later, the wind carries them away and a wide stretch of green appears again.
The autumn air is cool, but not too cold. It is just cool enough to make you want to put on a light jacket, sit outside on the veranda and watch the clouds slowly move across the mountains.
Here, simply sitting quietly for a while can already feel like an experience.
A cup of Shan Tuyet tea in the cool mountain air
In the gentle chill of the highlands, a hot cup of Shan Tuyet tea feels especially comforting.
Shan Tuyet tea is one of the characteristic products of the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam.
The old tea trees grow in a cool climate, producing a rich flavour that is strong but not harsh.
Holding a warm cup of tea in your hands and taking a small sip, you can slowly feel the warmth spreading through your body. Outside, the clouds continue to move, kitchen smoke still rises from the houses, and the morning continues at its own slow pace.
It is simply part of everyday life here.
The scent of ripe rice in autumn
Autumn is also a special time in Hong Thai because the rice fields begin to turn golden.
When the wind passes through the fields, the scent of ripe rice spreads through the air.
It is a fragrance that is difficult to describe if you have never stood in the countryside during harvest season.
It is not strong or overwhelming, but it is enough to stay in your memory for a long time.
Rice fields surrounded by mountains, small roads winding through the village and houses appearing quietly through the mist create a very different view of Vietnam.
A place to slow down
Take some time to walk around the village, talk with local people, drink tea, look across the rice fields, watch the clouds over the mountains, or simply sit on the veranda and enjoy the fresh air.
Hong Thai offers a very authentic side of Vietnam, through its natural landscapes, local culture and the simple, warm-hearted people who live here.
Wake up on an autumn morning, watch the clouds drift across the mountains and take a sip of hot tea. Then you may understand why this is a place that makes people want to stay for a few more days.
Website: Hidden North Vietnam
Hotline: (+84) 828 288 328
WhatsApp: (+84) 328 537 966
