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Unveiling a Mountainous District Over 100km from Hanoi: A Scenic Escape for Healing and Rejuvenation

20 June, 2025

Da Bac is located at an elevation of approximately 560 meters, with many mountains rising over 1,000 meters above sea level, resulting in a cooler climate compared to the lowland areas. The district enjoys a pleasant climate year-round, although its terrain is quite challenging, consisting mainly of mountains, hills, rivers, and streams forming narrow strips of land. The best time to visit this area is from September to December when the weather turns to autumn, offering picturesque landscapes with less rain and easier travel conditions.

For those seeking an escape from the summer heat, Da Bac offers an ideal cooler retreat from Hanoi. The highland area enjoys a refreshing and comfortable climate, perfect for weekend getaways and outdoor activities.

Da Bac district boasts pristine and majestic natural scenery, highlighted by the Da River with its picturesque landscapes. This river also inspired the famous Vietnamese writer, Nguyen Tuan, to create the well-known work “The Raft Pilot on Da River” in Vietnamese literature. There are several other interesting tourist spots in the area worth checking out, including:

Xom Ke

Xom Ke, located in Hien Luong commune, Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province, is a representative community-based tourism destination in the Northwest mountains. Nestled beside the romantic Da River, Xom Ke offers not only pristine natural scenery and fresh air but also preserves the rich cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group, one of the oldest communities in Hoa Binh.

Visiting Xom Ke allows travelers to immerse themselves in the peaceful atmosphere of the mountains, listen to the birds chirping, admire the calm lake reflecting the sky, and experience the simple lifestyle of the local people.

Kayaking on Da River in Xom Ke.

Attractive tourism activities in Xom Ke include kayaking on the Da River, swimming, cycling around the village, forest trekking, bathing in streams, and fishing. For those interested in exploring the local culture, Xom Ke is an ideal place to learn about the traditional stilt houses, enjoy mountain specialties such as sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, grilled fish, wild bamboo shoots, and Can wine, and participate in folk festivals, traditional games, and the unique Muong Xoe dance.

Visitors can also stay overnight in local homestays, built in the style of stilt houses with modern amenities, providing a cozy and friendly environment. The locals are very hospitable and eager to share their daily stories, customs, and guide tourists to explore every corner of the village.

Mo Hem Village

Nestled amidst the majestic mountains of the Northwest, Mo Hem Village in Nah Nghe commune, Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province, is an intriguing and captivating destination for those interested in community-based tourism and cultural exploration. With its elevated and open terrain, Mo Hem offers visitors a peaceful natural environment and breathtaking panoramic views.

The village offers exploration activities such as walking through the hamlets, cycling, mountain climbing, and rafting, as well as experiencing the lifestyle of the ethnic minority groups, promising a fascinating experience for visitors, especially the youth.

Unlike popular tourist spots, Mo Hem retains its pristine, simple, and authentic mountain-area charm. Here, visitors can engage in exciting activities like long-distance hiking through primary forests, conquering high points for panoramic views of Da Bac’s landscape, or delving into the cultural life of the Hmong community, including their cuisine, customs, traditional weaving, and festivals.

A unique feature of Mo Hem is the homestays run by the local people. These simple yet cozy stilt houses provide the perfect setting to savor mountain specialties such as black chicken grilled with Mac Khen pepper, sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, and corn wine amidst the majestic mountains of the Northwest.

Thac Bo Temple

Located on the peaceful Da River, Thac Bo Temple in Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province, is a prominent spiritual tourist attraction in the Northwest region, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and Buddhists every year. The temple was built to commemorate the Thac Bo Lady, who greatly contributed to supporting King Le Loi in transporting food and stabilizing the people during the resistance war against the Ming invaders.

With its sacred atmosphere, ancient architecture, and picturesque river scenery, Thac Bo Temple offers visitors a sense of tranquility and serenity amidst the majestic mountain landscape. To reach the temple, visitors will embark on a unique journey by boat along the Da River, enjoying the spectacular scenery of Hoa Binh lake.

The temple festival takes place in early spring, from the 7th day of the first lunar month to the end of the third lunar month, attracting a large number of pilgrims who come to offer prayers for fortune and peace. Thac Bo Temple serves not only as a spiritual destination but also as an ideal stopover to explore the culture and religious life of the Muong and Thai people living along the Da River.

Tan Minh Fair

Tan Minh Fair, located in Tan Minh commune, Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province, is a unique cultural feature that has been preserved amidst modern life. The fair is held on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th days of every lunar month, bringing together ethnic groups such as the Muong, Dao, and Tay from the highland villages for trading and cultural exchanges.

Unlike bustling urban markets, Tan Minh Fair exudes indigenous charm, where each stall showcases a vibrant slice of mountain life.

From the early morning, the road to the fair is bustling with people carrying goods, leading buffaloes, and bringing their handmade textiles, agricultural products, and poultry for trading, creating a lively yet rustic scene.

Here, visitors can find traditional handicrafts such as Dao ethnic dresses and hand-embroidered headscarves, along with various types of corn wine and an abundance of fresh forest vegetables and medicinal herbs harvested by the locals themselves.

Tan Minh Fair is not just a place for trading but also a unique cultural exchange venue.

People come to the fair not only to trade goods but also to socialize, make new friends, and even find love. The lively conversations, colorful traditional costumes, and aromatic flavors of delicacies like “thang co” (a traditional Mongolian hotpot), corn cakes, and sticky rice from the upland fields make the fair an unmissable experience for visitors to Da Bac.

Tan Minh Fair is not just a showcase of daily mountain life but also a “living museum” preserving ethnic culture in the midst of modern times. A visit to this fair is a chance to connect with the authentic and heartfelt soul of the mountainous region of Hoa Binh.

Da Bac’s allure extends beyond its serene and majestic natural scenery to its distinctive cuisine, captivating food enthusiasts with a myriad of delicious dishes carrying the essence of the Northwest mountains. Indulge in mouthwatering specialties such as roasted pork, grilled chicken, stream-cooked fish, and sour bamboo shoots with chicken, making your trip to Da Bac an unforgettable culinary journey.

Da Bac is indeed a worthy destination for travelers seeking a nature-immersed escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. With its pleasant climate, picturesque landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, Da Bac promises a unique and captivating experience for all visitors.