Khuoi My in the Mist: A Fairyland on the Slopes of Tay Con Linh
(TITC) – Just 12 kilometers from Ha Giang Center, Khuoi My village feels like it belongs to another world. Perched at nearly 1,000 meters above sea level, the Dao community here lives in a realm where mist lingers all year long. Clouds weave between the stilt houses, fences, and terraced slopes, giving the village the dreamlike appearance of floating among the mountains.ư
Moss-Covered Roofs, Timeless Charm
Khuoi My seems untouched by time. It has the stillness of a quiet oasis, hidden from the rush of modern life. The first impression that captures visitors’ hearts is the moss-covered roofs.
The Dao families that inhabit the village – around 50 households in total – still roof their stilt houses with palm leaves, a tradition passed down for generations. Over decades, these roofs gather moss that thrives in the damp, cool mountain air. No one tends to it, yet layer upon layer forms naturally, binding the houses to the forest around them. Some homes have not needed new roofing for over 40 years.
Walking through the village, you see roofs blending seamlessly into the greenery, like gentle strokes in a watercolor painting. A few families have replaced palm leaves with corrugated iron sheets, but in the mist, the moss-covered houses remain the true soul of Khuoi My’s beauty.
A Cultural Treasure in the Highlands
Step inside these homes, and you discover a cultural heritage as rich as the scenery outside. The Dao people here still speak their mother tongue in daily life. Rituals tied to the cycles of nature – planting, harvest, weddings, and spiritual ceremonies – are performed just as they were centuries ago. Traditional costumes, with their striking embroidery and patterns, are not reserved for special displays but are part of daily identity.
Life in Khuoi My unfolds slowly, in rhythm with the forest and the clouds. Modern conveniences may have reached Ha Giang, but up here, the Dao choose to live closely with the land, keeping their traditions intact while welcoming curious travelers.
Seasons of Beauty
Khuoi My is beautiful in every season, each with its own mood. In April and May, when water is channeled into the terraced fields, the hillsides shimmer like giant mirrors reflecting the sky. In late summer, August and September, the rice ripens into a sea of gold that cascades down the mountainside. The sight is breathtaking but never ostentatious – quiet beauty that invites you to linger.
Beyond the landscapes, visitors are drawn by the chance to experience life here. You might follow locals to harvest tea leaves from centuries-old Shan Tuyet trees, join farmers in the rice fields, or sit by the hearth at night listening to elders recount stories of ancestors and mountain spirits. Even simple acts – walking the dirt slopes, waking up in the mist, breathing the crisp air – become memories that stay with you long after you leave.
A Different Kind of Destination
Khuoi My is not bustling with homestays or commercial shops. Instead, it carries a quiet depth, offering visitors not just sights to see but ways of life to share.
A few households have begun to explore community tourism, welcoming guests into their homes and guiding them through village traditions. Done with care, this path offers opportunities without erasing what makes Khuoi My unique.
The future of Khuoi My lies in balance – between preserving its moss-covered roofs and Dao heritage, and opening its doors to respectful tourism. If guided well, the village could become a living heritage site, where traditions are not staged but lived, and where visitors can witness culture as part of daily life.
For now, Khuoi My remains a hidden gem – a place where the mist never lifts completely, where each roof and path carries the breath of the mountains, and where life moves slowly in harmony with nature.
To step into Khuoi My is to enter a fairyland suspended in time, a world of moss, mist, and enduring traditions that remind us that true beauty often lies in the quietest places.
Tourism Information Technology Center
