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Immerse yourself in daily life in the heart of the Thai Hai village of the Tay ethnic group. Discover the traditions, local craft techniques, and way of life of the Tay people. "Live my Tay life"...

Highlights

• Immersion in daily life in the heart of the Thai Hai village of the Tay ethnic group.
• Discover local traditions, craft techniques, and way of life.
• 'Live my Tay life' - A unique, enriching, and memorable experience.

Description

DAY 1: HANOI – THAI HAI VILLAGE 8:30 a.m.: Welcome by the guide and transfer to the Thai Hai village of the Tay ethnic group. This is perhaps the only place that comes closest to the true model of community-based tourism in Vietnam. Faced with modernity, some 200 pure-blooded Tay people decided to found this village in the hope of preserving their ancestral traditions. The community has been entirely self-sufficient for many years. Tourism has only very recently become an additional source of income. Lunch with a local family Your immersion with the Tay people begins in the afternoon. Depending on the availability of the villagers, here are some of the activities you can do there • Meet with a therapist and learn about medicinal plants. The Tay people use alternative medicine for healing. You can participate in making a recipe • Discover the process of distilling rice alcohol • Introduction to making typical dishes: Bánh Gai (sticky rice cake with black sesame seeds), Thịt treo gác bếp (buffalo sausages) Immersion in the tea plantations. In the minds of the Vietnamese, Thai Nguyen green tea is the most popular. After a small tasting of very concentrated green tea to get into the spirit of the region, we begin to explore the tea gardens. In this region, picking is done exclusively by women, due to their dexterity. The difficult work explains why some older women have deformed hands and broken backs from staying bent over. With the help of the workers, you will learn the techniques of tea picking. Then you will discover the process of drying the tea and sorting the leaves. In Thai Nguyen, most of the farms are family-run. Each family picks and processes its own tea leaves using simple equipment. All members of the family participate in the different stages of tea processing. You will help prepare dinner with your host family. The family will be selected by the village chief. In the evening, you can join the bonfire that brings all the villagers together. Fire is sacred in the animist culture of the Tay people. The villagers organize the event to pay homage to the God of Fire. This is when the villagers play music and sing. DAY 2: THAI HAI VILLAGE - HANOI In the morning, it's time for the 'live the Tay life' immersion day. Depending on the availability of the families, here is a non-exhaustive list of activities you can participate in. You'll need to be flexible, as the villagers don't have a specific schedule. A Zen lifestyle reigns here. • Rice processing (grain) • Attend a Tay dialect class with elementary school students. • Collect latanier leaves (a type of palm tree) used to roof houses. • Gardening. Lunch with locals. Return to Hanoi.

Includes

Homestay accommodation. 1 breakfast; 2 lunches; 1 dinner. Air-conditioned vehicles for transfers and ground transportation. Local French- or English-speaking guides throughout the tour. 2 bottles of water per person per day. Entrance fees to sites.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund