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Journey: Celebrate Tet with the Tay People – An Authentic Cultural Journey in the Northeastern Highlands

Tour Overview

Few travelers have the opportunity to experience Lunar New Year in a highland village, where Tay traditions and customs continue to be preserved and passed down through generations within the local community. Celebrate Tet with the Tay Community: Rather than simply observing, you will truly immerse yourself in the traditional Tet atmosphere of the Tay people, learn about their customs, and, when appropriate, participate in early spring activities under the guidance of local hosts and community members. Explore Na Hang–Lam Binh Lake: Cruise across emerald waters surrounded by majestic limestone mountains. Stop at Khuoi Nhi Waterfall and relax beside the cool streams in the heart of nature. Stay in a Traditional Homestay: Experience the slow pace of life in a traditional Tay stilt house, enjoy home-cooked meals prepared with local ingredients, and feel the genuine hospitality of the local community. Join the Long Tong Festival: Take part in the traditional spring farming festival of the Tay people, one of their most important celebrations at the beginning of the year. This is a special opportunity to learn about harvest-praying rituals, folk games, and traditional performances in a festive atmosphere. Taste Highland Cuisine: Enjoy Tay traditional dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients and locally sourced food products. Meet the Community and Capture Meaningful Moments: From the warm smiles of local residents to breathtaking natural landscapes, every day of the journey brings authentic stories and reveals unique moments of daily life and scenery in Vietnam’s northeastern highlands. Responsible and Sustainable Travel: Every journey contributes to creating livelihoods for local communities, supporting the preservation of cultural values, and raising awareness of protecting the natural landscapes of Na Hang–Lam Binh. This journey offers a closer perspective on the daily life, culture, and Tet atmosphere of Vietnam’s northeastern highlands.

Highlights

  • Celebrate Tet with the Tay Community: Rather than simply observing, you will truly immerse yourself in the traditional Tet atmosphere of the Tay people, learn about their customs, and, when appropriate, participate in early spring activities under the guidance of local hosts and community members
  • Explore Na Hang–Lam Binh Lake: Cruise across emerald waters surrounded by majestic limestone mountains. Stop at Khuoi Nhi Waterfall and relax beside the cool streams in the heart of nature
  • Stay in a Traditional Homestay: Experience the slow pace of life in a traditional Tay stilt house, enjoy home-cooked meals prepared with local ingredients, and feel the genuine hospitality of the local community
  • Join the Long Tong Festival: Take part in the traditional spring farming festival of the Tay people, one of their most important celebrations at the beginning of the year. This is a special opportunity to learn about harvest-praying rituals, folk games, and traditional performances in a festive atmosphere
  • Taste Highland Cuisine: Enjoy Tay traditional dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients and locally sourced food products
  • Meet the Community and Capture Meaningful Moments: From the warm smiles of local residents to breathtaking natural landscapes, every day of the journey brings authentic stories and reveals unique moments of daily life and scenery in Vietnam’s northeastern highlands
  • Responsible and Sustainable Travel: Every journey contributes to creating livelihoods for local communities, supporting the preservation of cultural values, and raising awareness of protecting the natural landscapes of Na Hang–Lam Binh
  • This journey offers a closer perspective on the daily life, culture, and Tet atmosphere of Vietnam’s northeastern highlands
Day-by-day Itinerary

DAY 01: HANOI – THUONG LAM (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Afternoon: Your guide will take you on a walk through the small village paths. Depending on the timing of your Tet holiday visit, you may encounter local families visiting relatives and neighbors to exchange New Year wishes. Amid the atmosphere of early spring, you will have the opportunity to observe how the Tay people welcome the New Year, listen to stories about their customs, beliefs, and cultural traditions that have been passed down through generations. What do the first days of the year mean in the spiritual life of the Tay people? How do they prepare for Tet? What is the meaning behind their New Year wishes? Through conversations with local residents, you will gain a deeper understanding of the significance of Tet in the community life of the Tay people.

Evening: Enjoy a traditional dinner in the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a Tay stilt house, bringing the first day of the journey to a memorable close. Overnight at Thuong Lam Homestay.

DAY 02: EXPLORE NA HANG – LAM BINH LAKE (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Morning: Wake up surrounded by the peaceful mountains of Northeast Vietnam and enjoy breakfast at the homestay.

08:00 – Board the boat and begin exploring Na Hang – Lam Binh Lake. The tranquil water reflects the endless limestone mountains, creating a landscape that is both majestic and poetic. The boat will take you through magnificent mountain ranges to Coc Vai Phạ, a famous landmark of the Thuong Lam lake area. Surrounded by vast forests and emerald waters, you will have time to admire the untouched beauty of nature and capture unforgettable moments. 09:30 – Visit a local fish farming area on the lake, where residents share stories about their daily lives and how they care for floating fish cages throughout the year.

10:00 – Continue the journey to Khuoi Nhi Waterfall, a hidden waterfall nestled within the natural forest. The crystal-clear, cool water flowing year-round and the peaceful surroundings create a relaxing stop along the journey. Depending on weather conditions, guests may soak their feet in the refreshing stream and experience small fish gently swimming around their feet — a unique gift from nature. 12:00 – Enjoy lunch on the boat.

Afternoon: The boat returns to the pier. Transfer back to the homestay for relaxation. 19:00 – Enjoy a warm dinner in the traditional stilt house. Overnight at a homestay in Thuong Lam.

DAY 03: IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE LONG TONG FESTIVAL (Breakfast & Lunch)

07:00: Enjoy breakfast at the homestay. After breakfast, check out from the homestay and transfer to the venue of the Long Tong Festival, one of the most significant spring festivals of the Tay people. The festival marks the beginning of a new farming season and expresses wishes for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and a peaceful life. You will encounter elderly people dressed in traditional costumes, multi-generational families gathering to join the celebration, the lively sounds of conversations and laughter, folk games, harvest-praying rituals, and a hopeful atmosphere filled with the spirit of early spring.

12:00: Enjoy lunch. After lunch, the group will return to Hanoi. As the three-day journey comes to an end, what remains is not only beautiful photographs of the mountains and the spring festival, but also cherished memories of a Tet holiday in the northern highlands of Vietnam — simple, intimate, and deeply meaningful.

Duration

3 Days 2 Nights

Pick-up & Drop-off

Hanoi → Hanoi

Group Size

Private cultural experience (2–12 guests)

Activity Level

  • Travel time: moderate
  • Terrain: highland Tay village
  • Continuous activity: light–moderate
  • Fitness & age: family-friendly from age 10+
  • Signature activities: celebrate Tet with the Tay community, spring customs

Best Time to Travel

Lunar New Year (Tet); book early before the holiday period

Accommodation

Tay stilt-house homestay

Transport

Tourist vehicle as per itinerary

Tour Guide

Cultural tour guide

Services Included

  • Transportation by tourist vehicle according to the itinerary from Hanoi
  • English-speaking tour guide throughout the journey, with local support at selected experience sites
  • 2 nights of accommodation: Traditional stilt house stay with a local family. Guests sleep on individual mattresses in a shared space. Shared bathroom; hot water; Wi-Fi; fan; towels; hair dryer provided
  • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: 3 breakfasts and 5 main meals
  • Entrance tickets to all sightseeing sites included in the program
  • Boat trip on Na Hang – Lam Binh Lake with life jackets provided according to safety standards
  • Boat excursion on Na Hang – Lam Binh Ecological Lake
  • Drinking water on the vehicle (01 bottle of 500ml/person/day)
  • Domestic travel insurance with maximum coverage of 50,000,000 VND/person/incident
  • Complimentary travel hat for each guest

Services Excluded

  • International and domestic flights
  • Vietnam entry visa, if required
  • Personal expenses (telephone, laundry, minibar, beverages outside the program, etc.)
  • Voluntary tips for the tour guide and driver
  • Any additional costs arising from force majeure events that are beyond the scope of confirmed services. Any additional arrangements and related costs, if applicable, will be informed and discussed with guests before implementation, except in emergency situations where immediate action is required to ensure safety
  • Services not mentioned in the “Tour Price Includes” section

Traditional Tet Celebration in a Tay Village 3 Days 2 Nights
Starting from: 530 USD/guest
(Applies to groups of 10 international guests or more)

Single Supplement

A single-room surcharge applies for solo travelers or private rooms; the amount will be confirmed at booking.

Child Policy

  • Children under 5 years old: Free of charge (sharing a bed with parents; parents are responsible for any additional expenses incurred, if applicable).
  • Children from 5 to under 10 years old: Charged at 75% of the adult

Deposit Policy

A deposit is required upon confirmation; the amount and payment schedule will be advised when booking.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Cancellation and refund terms follow the booking conditions; please contact us for details based on your departure date.

Health Requirements

Guests should be fit for long transfers and light highland walking. Please inform us in advance of any medical conditions or special dietary needs.

What to Prepare

Tet clothing in the highlands

  • Bring a warm jacket — mountain mornings and evenings can drop during Tet.
  • Non-slip shoes for village walks and festival activities.
  • Modest, respectful clothing for temples, pagodas, or Tay Tet ceremonies.

Luggage & money

  • Travel light for a Tet homestay; small shops may be closed or cash-only (VND).
  • Homestay Wi-Fi may be weak in the mountains and on the lake.

Also bring

  • A valid passport meeting Vietnam entry rules.
  • Personal medication if you are in treatment or have allergies.
  • Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, insect repellent if needed.
  • A power bank and a camera/phone with enough storage.

Weather & Safety Notes

Tet weather

  • Late winter / early spring in the Northeast: cold mornings and evenings, possible drizzle or mist; milder days.
  • Waterfall visits and herbal foot soaks depend on weather, water levels, and the guide’s safety assessment.

Boat & festival safety

  • Always wear a life jacket on boats; follow the guide and boat operator.
  • Do not leave the group in forest or lakeside areas.
  • Long Tong / Tet gatherings can be busy — keep children close; do not crowd worship spaces.

Respect Tay Tet

  • Ask before photographing people; do not enter worship areas unless invited.
  • Respect customs, keep noise down, and minimize single-use plastics.

WHY CHOOSE HIDDEN NORTH VIETNAM:

  • Our local team has an in-depth understanding of the culture, people and actual conditions at destinations in Tuyen Quang.
  • Visitors experience the daily life of local people in an authentic and natural way while respecting the customs and living spaces of the community.
  • Each group is limited to a maximum of 10 guests in order to maintain a close and personal experience and minimise the impact on the private daily life of local families.
  • Priority is given to services provided by local residents, helping to create livelihoods and encourage responsible tourism for the community and the environment.
FAQ

Is this tour private or shared?

We operate private and small-group journeys. Published rates may assume a minimum group size; contact us for a private quote.

What is included in the price?

See Price Includes / Excludes on this page. Final inclusions are confirmed in writing.

Can the itinerary be customized?

Yes. Use Customize This Tour or the enquiry form to tailor the journey.

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