I love Thon Tha! It is so beautiful here and completely different than Hanoi.
Thon Tha
There are hardly any other westerners and It is so peaceful. The people in the village belong to the Tay ethnic group. Many of the villagers do not speak Vietnamese and instead speak the Tay language.
Thon Tha village
Thon Tha is a very rural and sustainable village. The villagers raise their own animals and fish to eat. They harvest their own rice and tea (including the rice wine they love so much!)
Thon Tha
The homestay that I stayed in was part of an ethical tourism program that the community has embraced. Part of the money from the homestay goes back into the community. There are also other programs in place such as English classes geared towards teaching the villagers specific jobs related to tourism. For example, trekking guides not only learn basic English, but they also learn about the various plants and animals that can be seen on trekking tours.
A woman in Thon Tha
I had such a peaceful and relaxing time staying with the Cay family.
I had some of the best food ever here!
Granny and I
I only stayed one night because I was going to start teaching English in Ha Giang on the following day. I hope to come back.
Mr. Cay and his mother thought Photo Booth was the funniest thing ever! They would laugh hysterically!
