Springtime travel 2026: 4 fairytale-like villages in Northern Vietnam to 'heal' your soul.
Explore Khuoi Ky Stone Village, Si Thau Chai, or Lo Lo Chai to enjoy the peaceful Lunar New Year atmosphere, rich in cultural identity, amidst the majestic mountains of Northern Vietnam.
If you're looking for a peaceful place to start the Lunar New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse), the villages in Cao Bang, Lai Chau, and Tuyen Quang are perfect suggestions. With their idyllic natural landscapes and long-standing cultural values, these destinations offer a truly 'healing' experience for visitors during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.
Khuoi Ky Stone Village (Cao Bang): Architectural features hundreds of years old.
Visiting Khuoi Ky stone village is one of the new experiences for the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, according to Booking.com. This ancient Tay village is located in Dam Thuy commune, more than 80km from the old Cao Bang city center and only about 2km from Ban Gioc Waterfall.
The highlight of Khuoi Ky is its stilt houses, built entirely of stone and roofed with traditional yin-yang tiles. Visitors can stay in these stone homestays and participate in daily activities such as rice planting, vegetable harvesting, fishing, herbal foot baths, and folk art performances.
Si Thau Chai Village (Lai Chau): A 'fairy tale village' amidst the clouds.
Sì Thâu Chải is home to over 60 Dao ethnic minority households, perched precariously at an altitude of nearly 1,500 meters above sea level. Located about 50km from Sa Pa, the village is known by travel enthusiasts as the "healing village" thanks to its peaceful beauty amidst the clouds and majestic mountains of the Northwest region.
During Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), Si Thau Chai is adorned with the dreamy pink of peach blossoms, the pristine white of mustard flowers, and plum blossoms. Visitors can not only admire the scenery but also have the opportunity to enjoy local specialties such as grilled black chicken and local pork, and learn about Dao culture through traditional costumes and rituals.
Lo Lo Chai Village (Tuyen Quang): The best tourist village in the world.
Located right at the foot of the Lung Cu flagpole, Lo Lo Chai village has recently become a major tourist attraction after being recognized by the United Nations Tourism Organization as the "World's Best Tourist Village 2025". It is primarily inhabited by the Lo Lo ethnic group, with over 120 households.
Here, visitors can immerse themselves in the rustic lifestyle, experience linen weaving, traditional rice wine making, and enjoy thang co (a local stew) and smoked buffalo meat. Note that due to its popularity, visitors should book their accommodations early to avoid overcrowding during the Tet holiday.
Sin Suoi Ho (Lai Chau): The cloud paradise of the Hmong people
Located about 30km from the old Lai Chau city, Sin Suoi Ho village lies at the foot of Son Bac May mountain, and is known as a "paradise in the clouds". It was honored with the 3rd ASEAN Community Tourism Award in 2023.
Visitors to Sin Suoi Ho can trek through the primeval forest, conquer the peaks of Bach Moc Luong Tu or Pu Ta Leng. The village still retains its simple way of life with traditional houses built with earthen walls and stone fences, along with characteristic dishes such as men men (corn porridge), banh day (sticky rice cake), and "pig carried under the arm" (a local delicacy).
