Leaving the city for the forest, the couple built a healing village in the middle of a pine forest

On the occasion of September 2nd, I followed my friends to Bao Loc and unexpectedly stopped at the healing village built by an 8X couple in the middle of a pine forest, after a life event.

On the occasion of the recent September 2nd holiday, from Ho Chi Minh City, the families in our apartment building drove to Bao Loc ( Lam Dong ) to rest. The trip was just a simple change of pace, but then unexpectedly brought us to a special place: a small village nestled in a pine forest, built by Bao Thi and her husband - an 8X couple over the past three years.

Nestled in the pine forest

From the old Bao Loc city, driving about 40 minutes on winding hill roads, the village gradually appears. The wooden house with sloping roofs lies next to the pine hills, the fish pond sparkles in the afternoon sun and the green vegetable beds… All create a strangely peaceful feeling. No one would have thought that just a few years ago, this place was still a wild coffee hill mixed with wild grass.

Ms. Thi wakes up early and cooks breakfast herself with clean food - PHOTO: LE NAM

Looking at the meticulously cared for landscape, from the paving stones to the bamboo rows and the prominent trumpet trees, I could understand the effort and love that Bao Thi and her husband put into it. "All good things will come", that is also the meaning of the name Van Thien that they gave to the village.

Peaceful morning in the small village of Van Thien - PHOTO: LE NAM

On the first morning in Van Thien, Thi and her husband woke up early to prepare breakfast from the food they grew themselves. We were taken to visit the garden, listening to her lovingly tell about each pumpkin, tomato plant, vegetable field… that they cultivate every day. The children who came with them happily fished in the pond.

Standing on the pine hill, she took a deep breath and said: "This feeling can never be found in the city. Whenever you feel stressed, come here with us." Those words echoed in me, simple but containing the sharing of someone who had gone through loss and found a way to heal herself.

Behind the Healing Village

A few years ago, the Covid-19 pandemic took away almost all of their loved ones. Feeling sad and disappointed, they wandered from Ho Chi Minh City to Bao Loc, looking for a peaceful corner to temporarily forget their loss.

"We lost both of our parents in just one year. Now that I think about it, money is not as important as having more time to sit with our loved ones," Bao Thi choked up. "At first, we only planned to build a small house to hide, listen to the sound of pine trees and crickets, to heal ourselves. But then we met people in the same situation, sympathized with each other, and everyone said we should build a small village together"...

Every brick and piece of wood here was chosen and built by the couple themselves. The village gradually took shape from their bond and a simple desire: to create a peaceful shelter, a place where one can breathe fresh air and feel human affection.

Clean vegetables are cherished and cared for by Ms. Thi... - PHOTO: LE NAM

The houses in the village are all in Japanese style, rustic yet sophisticated. Ms. Thi said, the idea started from a trip to Japan many years ago. "At that time, I was very stressed. But when I was in Japan, I saw small houses nestled in the forest, simple yet peaceful, so I thought why not try to bring them back to Vietnam"...

In the village, rows of pink trumpet trees bloom every April, making the scene resemble cherry blossom season. From June to August, the cherry blossoms take turns blooming. Amidst the pine forest, the scene is like a painting, reminiscent of both Japan and Vietnam.

They quit their previous business and spent most of their time living in Bao Loc. Every day they grew clean vegetables, dug fish ponds, and practiced chemical-free farming . They only went back to Ho Chi Minh City for a few days a month to visit their children, and the rest of the time they were attached to the pine forest.

From the place of healing after the incident, the couple met many new neighbors - PHOTO: LE NAM

"After 2021, people will value health and fresh air even more. Healing is not only from the environment, but also from the inner emotions," she said. I looked around and saw new neighbors building houses in the Japanese style. The whole area is like a small community, where people can easily visit each other, sit and drink tea, chat...

The trend of "leaving the city for the forest" is becoming more and more evident, especially after the pandemic. Not only in Bao Loc, but many other mountainous and highland areas have also become a destination for young and middle-aged people who are tired of work pressure, traffic jams, and dust.

Suggestions for tourists

From Ho Chi Minh City, you can drive your own car or take a bus to Bao Loc, a distance of about 200km. Currently, the travel time is about 5 hours, but when the Dau Giay - Tan Phu - Bao Loc highway is completed, the distance will be shortened to just over 2 hours.

The couple always welcomes friends from far away back - PHOTO: LE NAM

The village is located about 40 minutes drive from Bao Loc center. In addition to the relaxing experience, visitors can: Join in picking vegetables, fishing with the host; Walk under the pine forest, inhale the fresh pine resin smell; Enjoy afternoon tea, watch the sunset on the hill; Visit the tea hills, waterfalls around Bao Loc to combine the journey...

In the sound of pine trees, in the smell of new earth after the rain, I understand why this place is called "healing village". It is not only a tourist destination but also a journey for each person to find balance, love and peace in their soul.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-pho-ve-rung-cap-vo-chong-xay-khu-lang-chua-lanh-giua-rung-thong-185250904101029666.htm