What do our Vietnam Product Manager and Senior Product Designer have in common? Both Brice Van Huffel and Le Hoang Son love to take photos and explore the country in active ways. This is especially great for our Active team, because some of the best spots can only be found with your own two feet during a hike or cycle.
French native, Brice, and Vietnamese local, Son, recently went on inspection trips to Northern Vietnam, traipsing along new-found routes, unknown villages and busy, but friendly, local markets. Brice likes to use the term “wow!” for all things that are particularly special, and here he found a few that stood out. Near the China border, north of Sapa, they found “wow” landscapes, “wow” local activities, “wow” ethnic minority tribes (Red Dao, Hmong, Hani, Tay, Thai), and “wow” markets. They embarked on some easy, relatively flat hikes and downhills, but were also challenged with steep mountains and long day-hikes!
Take a look at the wonderful scenes they came across!
Brice shows a group of passing villagers the snapshots he took of them.
Son spots a water buffalo grazing in the rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai.
During hiking days travelers can meander through ethnic minority villages. Locals warmly welcome the occasional (respectful) visit.
Women from the Red Dao tribe regularly gather at the local market in Muong Hum.
A local market trader carefully peruses the clothes she will sell during the day.
Son and Celia, our Myanmar Product Manager, admire the view after an uphill climb in the Muong Hum area.
A man takes time to fix an engine in his backyard.
A cleared path takes hikers through forested hills.
A mother watches on as her children play in harvested corn.
Brice visits a family during a traditional Thai wedding ceremony, an experience travelers are likely to be surprised with when hiking in Vietnam’s northern countryside.
A young Hani woman smiles cheerfully while she waits to sell her vegetables at a local market.
The stunning northern mountains make for some of the most impressive views in Vietnam.
Water buffalo are a common sight at a local market in the Bac Ha region.
Markets in the north are great social meeting points for various ethnic minority tribes and are lively throughout the day.
A girl takes her younger siblings around the rice fields in a wheelbarrow.
A Thai woman pauses from her work in the rice field to smile for a shot. Many of the valleys in Northern Vietnam are mainly inhabited by Thai people and, according to Brice, are great places for interactions with friendly locals and a “heaven for photographers”.
Hani women select the best black beans to sell at their stalls. Most of the beans seen here will only be used by the family.
Local villagers hike up a long-winding road with fresh supplies.
Young children make their way back home from school.
Son on an easy stroll along the rice terraces in one of the many beautiful valleys of the North.
Interested in showing your travelers the mesmerizing beauty of Vietnam’s North, or want to discover more of our Active offerings? Get in touch with us today at [email protected]
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