Experiences

The Red Dao fire dance is a sacred ritual that embodies strength, faith, and spiritual devotion. Performed during the Ban Vuong ceremony, it’s honoring the legendary ancestor of the Red Dao. It is meant to bring peace, prosperity, and protection from illness and misfortune. Before the ceremony, participants offer prayers and incense to seek divine permission. As the fire blazes, Red Dao men who have completed the Cap Sac initiation rite step barefoot into glowing embers, dancing fearlessly to the beat of drums and gongs that echo through the night

Follow the artisans at Phin Ho Tea Workshop to observe every step of the tea-making process from picking tender, dew-covered tea buds in the early morning to pan-firing, rolling, and scenting the leaves using traditional techniques preserved for generations. Savor Shan Tuyet, a rare and ancient tea harvested from century-old trees that grow high in the misty mountains of Tuyen Quang.

The Ethnic Pastry Making Class is a hands-on journey into the rustic, traditional flavors of the northern highlands. Guided by local women, you’ll pound sticky rice, shape soft, fragrant bánh giầy (glutinous rice cakes), and fold leaves to wrap bánh chít –  the signature hump-shaped sticky rice cake of the Red Dao people, often prepared during festivals and New Year celebrations. Beyond cooking, the experience offers a moment to listen, share, and connect through heartfelt stories steeped in the scent of the forest and the warmth of local life.

The Hung Khau Cooking Class is where you not only learn to cook traditional ethnic dishes using age-old techniques, but also take part in the entire journey of preparing the ingredients yourself.

From Monday to Saturday, you’ll join local residents in harvesting fresh ingredients, picking vegetables, gathering roots, and collecting bamboo shoots before returning to the Hung Khau kitchen to prepare signature highland dishes such as bamboo-tube rice, clay-roasted chicken, grilled snail wrapped in bamboo, and five-colored sticky rice.

On Sundays, the journey begins early at the local market, where vibrant stalls of handwoven textiles and regional produce await. Here, you can handpick the freshest ingredients to bring back and craft your own authentic meal.

Blending traditional massage techniques with natural herbal essential oils, the massage treatments at Panhou offer a deep sense of relaxation and renewal. Every touch is performed with care and precision by skilled local therapists, helping to release muscle tension, improve blood flow, calm the mind, and restore lightness to both body and spirit.

Reconnect with your inner balance through mindful yoga and meditation sessions. Surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of the forest, each breath becomes deeper and lighter. These sessions are not simply about movement or stillness, but about rediscovering harmony — with yourself, with nature, and with the peaceful rhythm of life.