Quynh Son community tourism village: A hidden cultural valley in Northern Vietnam
Quynh Son Village in Vietnam is a wonderful destination for those who love nature, are passionate about exploring highland culture, and especially want to experience the unique activities woven into the daily life of local residents.
Tucked deep inside a green valley in Bac Son District, Lang Son Province, Quynh Son Community Tourism Village is one of northern Vietnam’s most authentic rural travel experiences.
This is not a polished tourist resort or a staged cultural show. It is a living village where daily life continues much as it has for generations, and visitors are welcomed not as customers, but as temporary members of the community.
For travelers seeking slow travel, cultural immersion, and meaningful connections, Quynh Son offers something increasingly rare in modern tourism: sincerity.
Where is Quynh Son village and why is it special?
Quynh Son community tourism village is known as the world’s best tourism village in 2025, a title recognized by the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) — the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO),a UN agency dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism worldwide.
Quynh Son lies in the Bac Son Valley, about 160 - 180 kilometers northeast of Hanoi. The journey itself feels like a gradual transition from urban noise into calm mountain landscapes.
Limestone peaks rise around rice paddies, narrow rivers curve through the valley, and traditional wooden stilt houses cluster together like a living museum — except this museum breathes, cooks, sings, and farms.
The village is home primarily to the Tay ethnic group, one of Vietnam’s largest indigenous communities. Unlike many places where traditional architecture has been replaced by concrete houses, Quynh Son has preserved hundreds of wooden stilt homes built in a distinctive Tay style.
Roofs curve gently, wooden beams darkened by time support elevated living spaces, and open verandas face the valley breeze. But Quynh Son is not preserved as a relic. It thrives as a community that has chosen to welcome travelers while protecting its cultural identity.
A village built on community tourism
Community tourism in Quynh Son is not about mass tourism. It is about shared benefit. Families open their homes as homestays, local farmers guide visitors through rice fields, artisans demonstrate weaving and traditional crafts, and musicians perform ancient folk songs that are still part of daily life.
Income from tourism helps sustain the village while encouraging cultural preservation. Rather than transforming into a commercial attraction, Quynh Son has grown by strengthening what already existed: family life, agriculture, craft traditions, and hospitality.
Travelers who stay here are not passive observers. They participate.
You may help cook dinner, learn how sticky rice is steamed in bamboo baskets, join a farming activity, or sit around a fire listening to Then singing — a spiritual and musical tradition of the Tay people recognized as an important cultural heritage.
This participatory model is what makes Quynh Son unforgettable.
Living in a Tay stilt house
One of the highlights of visiting Quynh Son is staying overnight in a traditional stilt house. These homes are architectural expressions of both environment and belief.
Raised floors protect against humidity and animals, while open designs allow airflow during hot seasons. The wooden structure creates a warm, organic atmosphere that modern hotels cannot replicate.
Inside, the space is simple but comfortable. Bamboo mats, wooden floors, soft blankets, and mosquito nets create a cozy sleeping area. At night, the village becomes incredibly quiet except for insects and distant sounds of nature.
For many travelers, this silence becomes one of the most memorable experiences of the trip.
Morning light enters gently. Roosters crow. Smoke rises from kitchens. The valley wakes slowly. It is a rhythm completely different from city life.
Food that reflects the land
Meals in Quynh Son are deeply connected to the valley’s agriculture. Ingredients are local, seasonal, and minimally processed. Sticky rice, fresh vegetables, herbs, river fish, and free-range poultry form the foundation of daily cooking.
Some dishes travelers often encounter include:
Sticky rice dyed with natural plant colors
- Lang Son roast duck
- Traditional braised pork belly
Grilled pork marinated with forest spices
Bamboo-tube rice cooked over open flame
Herbal soups made from wild mountain plants
Fermented specialties unique to the Tay people
Meals are typically shared communally, encouraging conversation. Hosts often explain ingredients and cooking methods, turning dinner into a cultural lesson as much as a meal.
Eating in Quynh Son is slow, social, and deeply satisfying.
Exciting experiences in Quynh Son community tourism village
Rowing and Paddleboarding Along the Serene River
One of the most immersive ways to experience the beauty of the Bac Son Valley is rowing a small boat or paddleboarding (SUP) along the calm river that winds through the rice fields.
During the golden rice season — especially around harvest time — the river becomes framed by shimmering golden fields and limestone peaks, creating a breathtaking natural panorama.
Quynh Son’s experiential tourism packages often include these water activities so visitors can enjoy the landscape from the water, capturing unique photos and peaceful moments away from crowds.
Visiting the Yin-Yang Tile Workshop and Trying Tile Making
Just a short distance from the village center, you can visit a traditional tile-making workshop where local artisans produce the distinctive yin-yang roof tiles used on Tay stilt houses.
This craft is centuries old and has practical as well as aesthetic value — the curved tiles help regulate indoor temperature. At the workshop, visitors learn the step-by-step process: selecting clay, purifying it, molding each tile, sun-drying, and finally firing them in a wood kiln.
Tourists often get the chance to try shaping tiles themselves, making this a hands-on cultural craft experience.
Video tour of a traditional yin-yang tile-making village - Created by: Dental Trip:
Trekking to Na Lay Mountain for Panoramic Views
For those who love nature and viewpoints, hiking to the summit of Na Lay Mountain (about 600–700 meters above sea level) is a must-do.
The moderate trek takes you up forested trails and rocky paths, rewarding you with a panoramic vista of the entire Bac Son Valley, dotted with stilt house rooftops and winding fields below.
From this vantage point you can photograph the sweeping landscape, spot the village nestled in its green valley, and witness moments like sunrise, sunset, or even sea-of-clouds scenery on cooler mornings.
Exploring the local morning market
To experience the daily rhythm of village life and local commerce, visiting the early morning village market — known as chợ bản — is a memorable activity.
Held in the early hours, this market brings together villagers to trade fresh produce, traditional foods, handmade products, and local specialties.
Walking through chợ bản gives visitors a chance to taste regional snacks, buy artisan goods, and observe authentic interactions between residents, providing a deeper understanding of Tay community life beyond sightseeing alone.
(While specific online guides on the morning market are limited, this type of village market is a well-known cultural element in community-based tourism villages like Quynh Son.)
Guided village tour with local storytelling
Perhaps the most meaningful way to connect with Quynh Son is joining a village tour with a local guide.
Unlike typical tours focused only on sites, these guided walks are woven with stories of history, culture, and everyday life — from ancient architecture to traditional practices and the Tay people’s beliefs behind their south-facing stilt houses.
Guides often share insights about the village’s historical context (including its location in the Bac Son Uprising heritage area),explain symbolic features of homes and villages, and introduce traditional music and craftsmanship.
This narrative experience enriches your understanding of Quynh Son far beyond simple sightseeing.
A model of sustainable travel
Quynh Son represents a growing movement in Vietnam toward responsible tourism. Rather than replacing tradition with modern infrastructure, the village demonstrates how economic opportunity and cultural preservation can coexist.
Homestays are locally owned. Crafts are produced by villagers. Food comes from nearby farms. Waste management and environmental awareness are community priorities. Tourism here does not feel extractive — it feels collaborative.
For international travelers increasingly concerned about the impact of their journeys, Quynh Son offers a rare opportunity to support a destination that actively protects its identity.
Your presence contributes to continuity, not erosion.
Best time to visit
Each season offers a different personality:
Spring (Feb–April): Mild weather, planting season, vibrant greenery
Summer (May–July): Warm, lush landscapes, active farming life
Autumn (Sept–Oct): Golden harvest season, best photography
Winter (Nov–Jan): Cool air, misty mornings, peaceful atmosphere
Autumn is often considered the most visually spectacular, but quieter winter visits appeal to travelers seeking solitude.
How to get there?
From Hanoi, Quynh Son is about 4 hours by car. Travelers can hire a private vehicle, join a small tour, or take a bus to Bac Son town and continue locally. The route passes through scenic mountain roads, making the journey part of the experience.
Because infrastructure remains modest, Quynh Son attracts travelers willing to trade luxury convenience for authenticity. And that is exactly its charm.
Who should visit Quynh Son village?
This destination is ideal for:
Cultural explorers
Photographers
Slow travelers
Backpackers seeking authenticity
Families interested in educational travel
Anyone wanting to disconnect from city life
It is not designed for nightlife, shopping malls, or luxury resorts. Its appeal lies in quiet immersion.
Travelers who embrace simplicity often leave feeling unexpectedly enriched.
The emotional impact of staying in Quynh Son village
Many visitors describe their time in Quynh Son not as a sightseeing trip, but as an emotional reset. Living even briefly within a traditional community highlights alternative values: patience, cooperation, closeness to nature, and intergenerational continuity.
Conversations happen slowly. Meals are shared. Elders sit outside telling stories. Children run freely through fields.
These scenes remind travelers of a rhythm modern life rarely allows.
Quynh Son does not entertain through spectacle. It restores through presence.
A village that welcomes without losing itself
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Quynh Son is how it balances openness with integrity. The village welcomes outsiders warmly, yet it has not reshaped itself to match external expectations. Visitors adapt to the village, not the other way around.
This reversal is powerful. It invites humility, curiosity, and respect — qualities that transform travel from consumption into exchange.
And that is why Quynh Son lingers in memory long after departure.
The article above is shared by Dental Trip based on our firsthand experiences that we personally documented, along with additional information gathered from various official sources.
We hope it has provided useful insights to help you prepare thoroughly and enjoy a smooth journey filled with memorable moments.
About us
Beyond sharing travel stories, Dental Trip is also a trusted platform in Vietnam specializing in dental tourism.
For travelers who wish to combine exploration with healthcare, Dental Trip makes it possible to plan a holiday while accessing internationally standard dental treatments at significantly reduced costs — often saving up to 70% compared to prices in many countries.
From appointment coordination to travel support, the platform is designed to simplify the experience, allowing visitors to enjoy Vietnam not only as a destination, but as a place for safe, high-quality care alongside unforgettable journeys.