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Sights - Ta Van Village
Ta Van holds a special place in my heart as it is not only a picturesque village but also my birthplace and where my family still live and farm today. The village is primarily inhabited by the Black Hmong and Dao, Zay ethnic groups.
Ta Van is the one of the few villages in the valley where you can find a pharmacy, snackie store and small electrical store selling mobile phone charger and cables etc. Alas you won’t find a single bank or cash machine here.
Travelling further up the one and only road, passing the homestays you find the top of Ta Van. This is where many of the farmers are still and the land is very much more exposed to the elements making it slightly colder. Access high up is only suitable for motorbikes as some of the grades are 20% or more. The other routes up there are mere muddy tracks. This is however perfect for trekking!
Trekking
Because of the nearby homestays and the access to the bamboo forest and other routes, Ta Van is the ideal place to start a trek. It is further down the valley so we are quickly into the forests and trails. We have one and two day trekking options from Ta Van.
Homestays
There are a lot to choose from, most being built in the last 3-4 years. They are located to the left of the bridge and up the hill or following the main road and then mid way up the valley. Both give excellent views. If you would like help choosing a place to stay because you are staying longer, we are only too happy to help.
Visitors here also have the opportunity to stay with local families, offering an authentic alternative to the more typical homestays.
Local life
Ta Van is a village and a “commune” at the same time. This means that it administers 6 other local villages and spans some 67sq/km. There are 4000 people spread out over this area, making the density extremely low.
Many of the people in the area are still farmers, though many now supplement their income by opening their own homestay - and its easy to see why. A farmer with a few hectares of land will be lucky with $120 a month income for the whole family. With a homestay, just a small part of that land will generate many times the income - enough for the whole family. Eco tourism gives these families a chance to have a happier, healthier and more modern life.
Shops, restaurants and cafes
We now have two local / western food restaurants near the river crossing where they also serve alcohol as well as the Hanoi favourite egg coffee. There are other places to eat further up, but they are local food only.
Cafe’s are slightly higher up on the road. The best ones are on the road that turns left and goes up the hill. This “road” has the best view of the valley and this is where the nicest place to have a coffee or drink are.
A great place to stay
If you miss the old Sapa, then Ta Van makes a great alternative. It’s only slightly developed and the locals have asked for a cap on future developments to preserve their village. There are many homestays to choose from and most are owned by the original farming families that have been there for centuries, so you get the chance to directly support them with Eco tourism. Other popular homestay locations are Su Pan and Giang Ta Chai.
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