Sights - Bamboo Forest of Ta Van

The bamboo forest is protected by the villagers, who use bamboo for many things as it is so versatile. Here, bamboo can only be harvested during specific times of the year to prevent over-forestation and to help manage and improve the local eco-environment.

To reach the bamboo forest - the largest in the valley, visitors must walk about 2km from the center of Ta Van. Along the way, you have the opportunity to enjoy panoramic views of the Muong Hoa Valley, with its beautifully terraced rice fields.

Once inside the dense forest, birdsong can be heard as well as seeing the occasional squirrel. The exposed hillside so high up means that there is a constant wind that blows though the bamboo, making a soothing swooshing sound.

While most of the forest is in Ta Van (it expands far out from the village centre), we also find the village of Giang Ta Chai. The village, home to the Red Dao people, is near the top of the hillside and forest. It seems impossible that people are able to live here with its inaccessibility.

Golden butterfly season

In mid May, the bamboo forest produces thousands of beautiful golden butterflies. These beautiful butterflies attract many tourists who love to take pictures of them.

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The thickness and density of the forest beautifully illustrated in this photo. It really is a trail used by local people who use the forest. There are not much in the way of niceties. Be careful as this path is literally cut by a machete like knife.

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Here we can see a group of golden butterflies in may. Here they are resting together. They are not eating as butterflies don't have mouths.

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The forest is not continuous, sometimes we cross little streams and areas that are used for farming.

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We come out of bamboo forest to find a track that leads even further up the valley. The views from up here are amazing though plan ahead as mist can roll across the valley later in the mornings.