Australian tourists amazed by the picturesque wild valley in Lao Cai

An Australian male tourist felt like he was lost in paradise when he saw Lam Thuong valley hidden among the wild mountains in Lao Cai - where nature is still intact and the pace of life flows slowly, as if it had never been touched by the modern world.

Mr. Paul Egan (58 years old, Australian nationality) and his relatives just had a nearly 20-day journey to explore Vietnam.

This is the second time the male tourist has come to the S-shaped country, since the early 1990s. He has traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to explore the Mekong Delta, to Da Lat (Lam Dong), to Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Hoi An (Da Nang), Hue, Quang Tri. In the North, Mr. Paul's family chose to explore Lam Thuong Valley (Lao Cai), Hanoi and Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh).

"Honestly, I am impressed with most of the places I have been to. Vietnam has changed dramatically compared to 3 decades ago, tourism has developed impressively. But what I love most is the wild, original, uncommercialized beauty of Lam Thuong valley," Mr. Paul shared with VietNamNet reporter.

Lam Thuong Valley is the most favorite destination for Australian tourists on their journey. Photo: NVCC

Lam Thuong is a highland commune in Lao Cai (formerly Luc Yen district, Yen Bai), more than 250km from Hanoi. It is located between the old Sa Pa and Ha Giang tourist routes (now Tuyen Quang) with rolling hills, pristine streams and waterfalls, fertile fields, peaceful stilt houses and hospitable Tay ethnic people.

The Australian tourist described: "Lam Thuong Valley is hidden among the wild mountains, where nature is still intact and life flows slowly as if it has never been touched by the modern world. The air here is so fresh that you just want to breathe deeply forever.

Early in the morning, when the mountains are still shrouded in mist, people leisurely lead their buffaloes to the fields, smiling brightly like the new sunshine. Stilt houses nestle between green forests and rice fields, where the colors change with the seasons, from soft jade green to golden honey. I wonder, perhaps this is the 'Shangri-La' in the novel?

The Shangri-La that the male tourist mentioned is the place mentioned in the famous novel Lost Horizon. The novel tells the story of a pilot who crashed and was taken to a Lama monastery in an unspecified place called Shangri-la in Tibet.

Later, Shangri-La was used by many tourists to name the pristine, peaceful, paradise-like lands filled with happiness. In Paul Egan's opinion, Lam Thuong is a Shangri-La.

The peaceful, wild beauty of Lam Thuong. Photo: Xoi Farmstay

In Lam Thuong, Mr. Paul stayed in the stilt house combined with the farm of the family of a Tay girl, Hoang Thi Xoi.

The guests sleep in a traditional stilt house. In the morning, when they wake up and open the door of the stilt house, they see clouds hovering over the village and smoke from the kitchens curling around the palm-leaf roofs.

The host welcomed them with delicious meals made from ingredients from their own garden, such as meat, fish, vegetables, and tubers. "They were hospitable, sincere, and brought a warm, Vietnamese feeling, simple but profound," said Mr. Paul.

In Lam Thuong, during the day, visitors can leisurely cycle or walk among the fields, enjoy breathing the fresh air, participate in mountain climbing, trekking through the forest, go gardening, plant rice with the locals, learn folk songs, Then singing, play Tinh lute...

From Tong Pang or Tong Pinh Cai village, visitors can cycle or trek a short distance to reach Khuoi Luong stream and Nam Chan waterfall.

Mr. Paul (in black shirt) enjoys the fresh air in Lam Thuong. Photo: NVCC

Mr. Paul remembers most the second night in Lam Thuong, right on the last Mid-Autumn Festival. "We brought some moon cakes bought from Hanoi, then gathered with the locals under the lights, listening to music, laughing, watching the bustling traditional dances. The surroundings were filled with the laughter of children.

Soon they pulled us up to dance with them, and even invited us to perform our own routine. And so, we performed Nutbush. Believe me, it was an 'international' performance that made the whole village laugh!", Mr. Paul said.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival night of tourists in Lam Thuong. Photo: NVCC

He called this a rare moment of peace, like leaving the busy world to return to the simplest happiness. "It made me realize that sometimes, happiness is just slowing down, breathing in the fresh air and seeing the pristine beauty of life around me," the guest confided.

Paul hopes that places with beautiful landscapes and unique traditional culture in Vietnam will be preserved forever.

Linh Trang - Trung Nghia

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/du-khach-australia-ngo-ngang-truoc-thung-lung-hoang-so-dep-nhu-tranh-o-lao-cai-2452418.html