Not as noisy as Sapa, not as famous as Mu Cang Chai, Xim Vang has its own beauty, the green rice season stretches across terraced fields, surrounded by rolling mountains and small villages nestled under the forest canopy.

Every year, from June to August, the entire highland area seems to be covered in a new coat: green terraced fields, winding from the mountainside down to the valley, reflecting the clear morning sunlight. Photo by Diep Huu Dat

To get to Xim Vang, visitors often depart from Hanoi, take a bus or private car to the center of Bac Yen district (Son La), then continue to cross a mountain road about 25 km to reach the village. Photo: Diep Huu Dat

 

Although the road is not long, the section from town to Xim Vang is quite bumpy, with many bends and is slippery when it rains. However, this road is an indispensable part of the experience, because the scenery on both sides of the road appears like a painting: endless green forests, small villages located halfway up the mountain, and clouds drifting across the front of the car. Photo by Diep Huu Dat

Upon arrival, the first thing that surprises visitors is the quietness. No car horns, no bright signs, Xim Vang appears simple with houses with dark yellow earthen walls, faded po mu wood roofs, vegetable gardens in front of the porch and children playing in the sun. The Mong people here still maintain their traditional lifestyle: manual farming, weaving brocade, smoking meat hung on the stove, eating men men, drinking corn wine and living in harmony with nature. Photo by Diep Huu Dat

The green rice season in Xim Vang is not as brilliant as the ripe rice season, but it brings a feeling of freshness and purity. The rice fields are like layers of rice waves hugging the foot of the mountain, interspersed with red dirt trails and a small stream flowing across the village. Photo by Nguyen Phuong Thao

In the early morning, when the fog still covers the roofs, visitors can follow the villagers to the fields and observe how they weed and tend the rice seedlings – tasks that are repeated every year but are still filled with love and patience. Photo: Diep Huu Dat

 

To serve the increasing tourism demand, some travel companies have started to include Xim Vang in their summer exploration of the Northwest. Vietravel organizes the tour “Son La – Bac Yen – Xim Vang 3N2D” with shuttle bus, accommodation in stilt houses and local cultural exchange activities. Photo: Diep Huu Dat

PYS Travel introduces the “Green Northwest” tour combining Xim Vang and Ta Xua, ideal for young travelers who love nature, cloud hunting, slow living and photography. Travelogy Vietnam also designs private tours for small groups, bringing visitors to fully experience the indigenous culture with activities such as farming, hand embroidery and cooking with the Mong people. Photo by Diep Huu Dat

Accommodation in Xim Vang is currently mainly in the form of community homestays. Each house can accommodate 6-10 guests, with basic but clean and cozy conditions, and especially hot meals with wild vegetables, dried meat, men men, squash soup with bones, and fragrant corn wine. Such meals are not only delicious but also a way for visitors to experience the most authentic flavor of the mountains and forests. Photo by Diep Huu Dat

If you come to Xim Vang on the weekend, you will also have the opportunity to participate in the Hang Chu market - where people from the highland villages gather, bringing home-made products such as wild honey, sticky rice, dried bamboo shoots, brocade, etc. The market atmosphere is bustling but still retains the authenticity and simplicity of the highlands. Photo: Diep Huu Dat

A few small notes when coming to Xim Vang: bring a thin jacket because it can be chilly at night; prepare a spare charger because the phone signal is weak and there are few power outlets; absolutely respect the local culture, do not take photos of people, especially women and children, without permission. Photo by Diep Huu Dat