Ngoi Tu Village, Yen Bai

Introduction to the village

The Northwestern region in Vietnam is famous not only for its beautiful landscapes but also for the authentic villages with long-lasting diverse cultures. Among them, Ngoi Tu village plays an important role in making Yen Bai more popular and is a key factor in developing community-based tourism here. About 200 km from Hanoi center, Ngoi Tu Village is situated on Thac Ba Lake, in Vu Linh Commune, Yen Binh District, Yen Bai province. Ngoi Tu has been a culture-tourism village for more than 20 years. Here is the home of many different ethnic minorities like Dao, Nung, or Cao Lan but Dao Quan Trang (Dao people with white pants) is the biggest group here.

There are around 130 households in this village nowadays. Their rich culture is well preserved for years and still can be seen in their daily life from 3-story house architecture, unique traditional handicrafts, traditional folk songs, local cuisine, folk games, and festivals. 

For a long time, stilt houses have been the most popular traditional house in the Northwestern mountainous region, since it is not only to live but also to avoid the attack of dangerous animals. Made from very simple natural materials like wood, bamboo, and rattan, they are situated in a high position. The stilt house protects people from the sun, and rain and is very cool in the summertime. Coming to a local stilt house and listening to the old story about the formation, the development of the village from an elder villager is surely an eye-opener to any visitor.

Cultural information

Ngoi Tu cultural village is home to many traditional cultural values, which are reflected in traditional handicrafts such as meticulously carved silver jewelry or delicately embroidered items. Patterns are printed with beeswax on the fabric. Referring to the highland cultural identity is referring to countless festivals, large and small, with many folk songs and dances. The love songs, trumpet dances, and stick dances are lively places to create the soul for festivals or weddings here.

Besides, folk games are a way for people in the village to be more united and stick together. Although the games are familiar such as: pushing sticks, walking on stilts, or fighting bird's nest, they have a strong attraction to local people and young people who come here to visit.