Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Cao Banh, Mong Sen treks to lure entrepid tourists

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Cao Banh, Mong Sen treks to lure entrepid tourists

Cottages have been built in Cao Banh Hamlet, Phuong Do Village, Ha Giang Town, to lure more tourists with community-based tours.
Stepwise: Tourists walk along terrace rice fields in Mong Sen Village in Sa Pa District of Lao Cai Province. Terrace fields are a typical landscape of mountainous provinces in the north.The village, situated at the foot of the Con Linh mountain range in the northeast province of Ha Giang near Sa Pa, is home to 400 ethnic Dao people who earn a living through agriculture and forestry.
Cao Banh is poor with a per capita income of only VND6 million (US$360) per year, the village isn’t connected to the national grid, but electricity is supplied by a small hydro-electric power station.
The local administration has decided to focus on trekking tours to promote development in the region.
Last year, the Ha Giang Culture, Sports and Tourism Department opened two villages, Tha and Cao Banh, to tourists as community-based trekking destinations.
Cao Banh Village, which is 7km from the centre of Ha Giang Town and over 400km north of Ha Noi, hosted over 2,000 visitors last year, but the village expects to attract more tourists next year as its reputation grows.
The trekking route takes visitors on a full-day adventure through terraced fields, palm forests and jungle, and tourists enjoy seeing how the Tay and Dao people live in the villages of Lung Vai, Khuoi Mi and Na Thac.
"Visitors really need a local guide as it is easy to get lost in the cardamom and cinnamon forests," said Tran Thi Huyen Thanh, a tour operator from the Wild Lotus Travel Agency.
"Trekking is only possible in the dry season, as in July and August roads are washed out," said Thanh.
"More than just a nature trek, visitors can also discover how farmers earn a living by working in the fields," said local guide Le Trung Khiet.
"In my experience, adventurers like to interact with villages rather than just lounging about," he added.
Visitors stay in stilt houses with villagers, each person pays VND50,000 ($3) to the host and VND70,000 ($4.2) per head for dinner.
"You can ask local guides to pre-order food if you have special requirements, or eat as the locals do, mainly rice and chicken," said Thanh from Wild Lotus.
"Vegetables and chicken are the staples of the region, they have turned these into a source of income," she said.
The Wild Lotus Travel Agency offers a four-day package at $64 from Ha Noi to Cao Banh.

more info-->>>VietNamNet - Cao Banh, Mong Sen treks to lure entrepid tourists

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.