
Healing products of the Dao people
In Nam Cang village (Muong Bo commune, Lao Cai), people often talk about Tan Lo Quay - a tall Red Dao man with a gentle smile and always full of energy. In addition to his conservation work at Hoang Lien National Park, he founded the La Pi Cooperative (in Dao language, meaning "hard as rock"), to work with the people to build an economy from the medicinal plants of the mountains and forests.

Mr. Tan Lo Quay attended many courses to develop cooperatives.
The Dao people are famous for their traditional knowledge of medicinal herbs. For generations, people have been used to picking leaves, drying them, and boiling them in water for bathing, soaking, and treating diseases in daily life. However, only when the Cooperative was established, were these products collected, processed, and widely promoted, appearing in many spas, hotels, and resorts in Sa Pa.
Red Dao bath leaf packages, foot bath water, products for postpartum women or the elderly have now been standardized, labeled, and become a source of pride for the community. " Tourists in Sa Pa now proactively come to the cooperative to buy products that suit their needs, especially for skin diseases. People are increasingly limiting the use of Western medicine, prioritizing natural products. That is the motivation for us to preserve the medicinal treasure of the Dao people" - Mr. Quay shared.

Red Dao woman in Nam Cang is picking herbs.

Cool liver leaves

Plum fruit.
After more than a year of operation, La Pi Cooperative has created jobs for about 10 local workers, mainly women. Dao women who used to only work on the fields are now confident in participating in the production chain, learning new skills and creating products that are popular with domestic and foreign tourists.

Dao ethnic medicinal herbs have long been famous and branded.
Experience health care in the middle of nature
Not only stopping at products, many highland people also directly participate in tourism, bringing indigenous knowledge closer to tourists. At Panhou Retreat (Thong Nguyen commune, Tuyen Quang ), visitors can sit quietly and enjoy a cup of Shan Tuyet tea from a hundred-year-old tea tree, or soak in a hot herbal bath made from more than 20 types of wild medicinal plants.

Local staff prepare herbal bath.

Relaxing spa.

Visitors experience herbal baths.
Panhou is not only a resort, but also a “cultural village” - where visitors can live with nature, experience the Red Dao and Tay cultures in a genuine way. Practicing yoga by the stream, trekking through villages and terraced fields in the golden season, gathering around the fire in the evenings to listen to stories of everyday life…, all of which nurture the connection between body, mind and spirit.
Many international visitors expressed their delight in the fact that the locals themselves are the ones who serve them, such as making tea, preparing herbs, and sharing traditional knowledge. This simplicity makes them feel the depth of the highland identity and humanity. Here, every experience guides people towards peace and healing in nature.

Recently, Panhou Retreat received the “Asia's Leading Green Resort 2025” Award from World Travel Awards.
Towards sustainable community tourism
Last August, in Thong Nguyen commune, a cooperation signing ceremony took place between the Commune People's Committee, Panhou Retreat and Intrepid Tourism Group. This is not only a cooperation document, but also a testament to the determination to develop sustainable community tourism.
Four core commitments were agreed: Protecting the natural landscape, not building illegally and cutting down forests; Training local human resources, especially women and ethnic youth; Restoring ecology by planting native trees; Developing green, responsible tours such as trekking, environmental education, and cultural experience tourism. Intrepid also hopes to turn Thong Nguyen into a model to be replicated in the province.

The beauty of Thong Nguyen in the ripe rice season from September to October.

Guests enjoy herbal tea.
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Nga - tourism expert, Vietnam has great potential to develop health care tourism. Not only stopping at spas and hot mineral springs, but also moving towards a model of medical tourism, resort combined with specialized therapy, taking advantage of the strengths of traditional medicine with acupuncture, acupressure, and medicinal herbs. To do that, we need to invest in infrastructure, train specialized human resources, and at the same time promote strongly to position Vietnam as an attractive health tourism destination on the world map.


Medicinal products are introduced in tourist areas.
Every trip is now not just for entertainment, but also a journey of healing. Highland medicinal products, herbal bath experiences, Shan Tuyet tea tasting, or simply a moment of tranquility in nature… all are contributing to building the Vietnamese tourism brand in a sustainable and humane direction.
A complete trip is not just to see the sights, but to return to yourself - healthier, more peaceful, and full of inspiration for life.
Source: https://vtv.vn/duoc-lieu-vung-cao-trong-hanh-trinh-du-lich-suc-khoe-100251015074732933.htm
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