The forgotten ancient village in Dong Van - Ha Giang

Most of the houses in the village of Thien Huong, Dong Van, Ha Giang are over 100 years old, is one of the tourist destinations that attract a lot of tourists to come and experience the life of the local people in  Dong Van, Ha Giang.

Following Mr.Than, a photographer in Dong Van, I came to Ma Pang village or Thien Huong village. The roads to the village, in one side is the cliff, the other is the abyss. The high mountains up to the clouds gave me the feeling it is the "sky portal" of Dong Van.  

I heard the local people saying Nho Que River runs from China, passes through Lung Cu. The part runs through Lung Cu is its upstream.

From the center of Dong Van town, it takes about 30 minutes to reach this beautiful village. The village is home to many large old trees, standing despite the destruction of time. This place was built by the people for worship.
In the village, there are women weaving cloths, children carefreely playing showing their radiant faces.

Thien Huong village is an ancient village, inhabited by the ethnic minority Tay people. They live on farming and making wine. Moving deep into the village, you will see the ancient roof over 100 years. Each house is built in the style of ancient architecture, roofed yin and yang, walls built of earth. The house consists of two compartments, the upper room for furniture, the living room for cooking and living.

Moving deep into the village, you will see the ancient roofs that are over 100 years. Each house is built in the style of ancient architecture, covered by the yin and yang roof and solid walls. The house consists of two compartments, the upper room for furniture, the living room for cooking and living.

The most prominent feature of the Tay house is the altar. The altar is arranged solemnly, the two sides are lines of parallel sentences. At the door of the house, three talismans will be hung to combat evils and demons.

The women in the village still wear traditional clothes with black robes wrapped around their heads while working. Men also wear black outfits like Mong men for their daily activities.

Walking in Thien Huong village, I feel like I'm lost in the ancient town of Hoi An, very quiet, quiet but gentle.

                                                       
If you mention Dong Van, people will immediately remember the corn-herb wine. But if you have ever tried Thien Huong wine, you will just have the same thinking as me: This is the best wine ever.

Thien Huong wine is a specialty of the village which takes plenty of time and effort to make just a tiny amount of the wine. The wine is made with a strict process. At first, people will pick more than 30 kinds of leaves to make yeast, then pour the corn into the pot to cook until the corn expands as big as a finger then pour out to chill. Continuing this process, people will take yeast and start to glaze, mix well and piled up. Incubate thoroughly. It should be a week till the yeast is ready to be brewed to wine.

After an elaborate procedure, Thien Huong wine has a smooth and sweet taste, which is just perfect to keep you warm in the dense, heavy mist of Dong Van in the winter days.

Thien Huong Village has gone through hundreds of years but still retains the traditional beauty. Sadly, many villagers still live in poverty. The road to the village is difficult to drive on or even walk on especially on rainy days when it gets muddy. Maybe that’s why tourists feel "afraid" when traveling to this place.

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