If you do not have much travel experience in Ha Giang, surely few people will know that outside of Mount Doi, Quan Ba stopover also has a peaceful Nam Dam like the breath that makes any soul of a dream traveler. When arriving, I am also enamored to be immersed in nature and feel the warm human love here.
1. Where is Nam Dam?
Nam Dam is an ethnic minority village about 45 km from Ha Giang city, ideally located at the foot of Double Mountain is the tourist symbol of Ha Giang, about 8 km from Quan Ba Heaven Gate, on the way to Yen Minh Dong Van Meo Vac. With topography on the top of a high mountain and covered with primeval forests, the view of Nam Dam from above is picturesque.
This place has many favorable conditions for agricultural and tourism development such as: fertile land; many traditional narrators; there is a medicinal plant processing area; many attractive dishes and folk songs and dances of the Dao …
The peaceful beauty of Nam Dam. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
Realizing the advantages of community based tourism development of Nam Dam, Caritas organization (Switzerland) collaborated with the Center for People and Nature (PanNature) to implement a component of the Tourism for the poor project Nam Dam village. This component is part of the project “Integrated community development in Quan Ba province” with the implementation period of 3 years (2012 – 2014). The project mainly develops tourism products such as organizing the construction of trekking routes, enjoying local cultural and culinary activities, experiencing daily activities and production activities, and combining tourism. calendar with volunteer activities such as personal hygiene education and propaganda, environmental sanitation …
2. What does Nam Dam have to play?
2.1. Community based tourism experience
Right from the first days of launching the movement to build a typical cultural and tourist village, the term “community based tourism” began to be associated with Nam Dam village and the people here. During the implementation process, people and households in the village responded enthusiastically to participate. Houses with red earth walls are repaired solidly, neatly, fully equipped with equipment, every family can see in the house outside the clean alley, modern ancillary works, any household working abroad. In front of each gate, there is a signboard “Homestay” ready to welcome guests.
People in Nam Dam keep their distinctive cultural features. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
Locals in Nam Dam will invite guests to visit their community by providing a place to sleep, as well as introducing local cuisine, culture, scenery, practices and industries. In addition, every house will decorate and display handmade traditional crafts, medicine, medicinal herbs, or traditional musical instruments so that guests can watch, learn or buy as souvenirs.
An entire cultural space converges in Nam Dam village with the customs, customs and sacred values that this place still preserves. This type of tourism increasingly attracts the attention and choices of tourists, especially foreign tourists.
Experience in the fields with the people. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
Coming to Nam Dam, you will experience the daily life and work of the Dao ethnic group, cook and enjoy meals together with the homeowner in the house reported; experience in the Dao tobacco bath or experience the processing of medicinal herbs.
Eat rice with the people. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
2.2. Listen to traditional customs and cultural features
The Dao Cham people living in Nam Dam up to now still retain their national cultural identity, reflected in the customs, traditional rituals, daily activities such as folk songs, folk dance, costumes, House architecture, folk games and especially festivals. Typical as the ceremony – the ceremony that not a man of Dao ignored.
Dao people think that if a man has not undergone the promotion ceremony, even though he is old, he is still considered a child because he has not had an Venerable teacher, he has not yet been granted an enlightenment, and has no negative name. People who have passed the rank, even though they are young, are still considered as adults, are allowed to participate in important works of the village, be able to help the priest, be worshiped. They also think that it is only through the ceremony to know that the ceremony must be left and right in life, is it true that Ban Vuong descendants, when they die, they can reunite with their ancestors.
The opportunity for you to learn about the typical cultural features of the Dao. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
Play with children. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
Near Nam Dam also has another Mong village, Nam Son village. If you have the opportunity, you will be able to sit with them by a cup of corn wine, and hear about the “drunken custom” of the Mong. Dao people drink a lot, but sometimes they get drunk once in a while. While the Mong people drink, they get drunk, and drunken H’mongs sleep a lot along the road. . If a wife does not wait for her husband but leaves first, she will have a big fight.
2.3. Conquering Nai Waterfall
At the end of Nam Dam village, there is Nai waterfall – a destination for young people who love to explore nature. Many people choose to walk the jungle to experience, but if you are adventurous then you can choose a motorbike, it will definitely be one of the experiences that you will never forget.
The way down to Nai Waterfall. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
The hill road leads to the top of the waterfall, where a large lake creates a stream of water. However, before attempting to conquer this place you will need to find a companion (or several). The mountain forest is murky and without a shadow of people, the deeper you go, the more you fear, fear of danger and even ghosts.
Guide to Thac Nai. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
Nai Waterfall. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
3. Where to go to Nam Dam?
3.1. Dao Lodge
Dao Lodge (Dao guest house) is a bold traditional architecture of the indigenous people but still ensures living amenities for guests. Located in a valley, Dao Lodge stands out in a warm sunny yellow color with a curved dome like a swallow’s wings – a symbol of beauty, luck and harmony by the swallow, which is a bird that resides under the roof long time knife man. The house will definitely impress you from the first time with beautiful modern architecture on a traditional frame of bold identity. This work was designed by architect Hoang Thuc Hao and colleagues and won the Green Architecture Gold Award 2015 – 2016.
Dao Lodge. Photo: Collectibles
Homestay is bold tradition. Photo: Collectibles
The first floor is a kitchen and living space with local bamboo furniture, along with 2 bedrooms, information counter as well as dining table for visitors when needed. The second floor space includes 3 bedrooms with connecting corridors, the bedrooms are decorated to welcome natural light, the materials used are still bamboo, wood, but there are some more modern conveniences such as fireplaces, fans. or television. The room is decorated quite simply, but the balcony has lake and mountain view, giving you a sense of comfort, close to nature.
Common living space of Dao Lodge. Photo: Collectibles
Bedroom at Dao Lodge. Photo: Collectibles
Price reference room: 800,000 – 1,500,000 VND / room
3.2. Toong Homestay
Toong Homestay is also a typical Dao house, located at the end of Nam Dam village, leaning against the mountain with a small lake on the front porch and surrounded by peaches, plums and sandwood. This homestay is poetic, like a charming painting.
Toong Homestay. Photo: Collectibles
Toong Homestay is simple but clean. Photo: Collectibles
Rooms at Toong Homestay are simple but clean and spacious, including a romantic dormitory and double room with lake view. From the 2nd floor balcony of the bungalow, you can breathe the morning air, watch the sun, sometimes the scent of the new wood is still subtle. In addition, the host brothers and sisters are very enthusiastic, friendly and generous, ready to advise and introduce local features.
Shared activities at Toong Homestay. Photo: Collectibles
Price of reference carpet: 100,000 VND / person
3.3. Ly Đanh Homestay
Ly Đanh Homestay can accommodate 20 guests, is designed in the style of stilt houses combined with traditional ethnic rooms to bring a warm feeling of winter, cool in summer with modern clean style. The rooms here are fully equipped to meet the needs of guests, creating a sense of comfort for guests to stay as if they were in their own space, enjoy the taste of life and Breathe fresh natural air at affordable prices, rare anywhere else.
Ly Đanh Homestay. Photo: Collectibles
Balcony at Ly Đanh Homestay. Photo: Collectibles
Bed room at Ly Danh Homestay. Photo: Collectibles
Ly Đanh Homestay is a favorite destination for you. Photo: Collectibles
Reference room price: 120,000 VND / person
3.4. Mun Homestay
Mun homestay is a house built in the style of a Dao Cham walled house with earth walls surrounding it, built inside and made of wood. The inside of the house is divided into 2 floors and 3 compartments, the 2nd floor is made of wood and divided into 3 bedrooms, each room has an area of 17m2 and 3 Japanese-style cushions.
Mun Homestay. Photo: Collectibles
Mun Homestay entrance. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Anh Minh
The house is located in a position with a front view facing the sunrise, rocky mountains and fields, coming here you will feel a quiet space and fresh air, immerse yourself in the lives of people. Dao ethnic group, by themselves in the kitchen to make dishes with the owner, gather by the wood stove on cold days, take part in farming work with the people, …
Dormitory at Mun Homestay. Photo: Collectibles
In addition, at Mun homestay, there is also a tobacco footing service of the Dao and serving ethnic performances (excerpt “ceremony of dignity”). Near Mun homestay, there is a Dao tobacco bath service provided by Nam Dam Community Cooperative, along with esoteric remedies of the Dao people sold at the cooperative.
Reference room price: 120,000 VND / person
Photo: Internet