Hang Kia - Pa Co valley (Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province) is located between four rocky mountains, covered with clouds all year round. This place not only has beautiful scenery like a fairyland but also contains many unique cultural features, becoming an ideal destination for tourists who love to explore.

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1. Where is Hang Kia - Pa Co?

Hang Kia - Pa Co valley belongs to Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province. From the center of Mai Chau district, moving about 30 km across a mountain with an altitude of about 1,200 m above sea level, tourists will reach Pa Co commune, go about 10 km more to Hang Kia commune. Looking down from above, on the eye is the green color of the mountains and forests, afar are some of the roofs of the Mong people in the smoky space. The landscape here always inspires photographers with the zigzag road with steep, narrow bends to the tea leave hills, stone fences, the yellow canola flowers embracing the space in front of each porch. Going deep into the village, sometimes we see Hmong women who are diligently embroidering, and children laughing and joking around.

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2. How to go to Hang Kia – Pa Co

Public transportation

You get on the buses to Son La or to Dien Bien, at the junction where turn to Hang Kia Pa Co you get off. From here, there are still a few kilometers to go to the homestay in the commune, you can take a motorbike taxi to enter. Pay attention to look for cars that run during the day, not at night, because if you ride at night, it's already around midnight when you arrive at this junction, which is not convenient for commuting.

Another option, you can take a bus to Mai Chau, rest in Lac village for a day, then rent a motorbike from Mai Chau to run into Hang Kia, the 30km road from Mai Chau to Hang Kia is relatively easy, there are only a few small passes. 

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Private vehicles

From Hanoi going to Hoa Lac, continue on the Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh route, then just follow Highway 6. Passing the Tong Dau intersection (turning into Mai Chau center) about 20km will come to the fork to turn to Pa Co, there is a signboard here, just turn here to get to the place you intend to stop. The location on Google Maps you need to find is Hang Kia Cloud Hunting Peak. Even more convenient is Hang Kia is located right on National Highway 6, the main route to Moc Chau, so you can completely arrange to visit here.

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3. Where to stay in Hang Kia valley

Homestay

As the most difficult communes of Mai Chau, the roads are not comparable to the district center, so everything here cannot be compared with the center. Currently, coming to Hang Kia - Pa Co, you can only stay in the stilt houses of local people, if you go in a large group, you can choose a dormitory, if you go with a family, you can choose a private room.

Some recommended homestays: A Pao Homestay (0987631048), A Dinh Homestay (0366662815), Y Mua Homestay (0355466801), A Do Homestay (0366376576)

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Camping overnight

If you like outdoor activities, with enough tents and sleeping bags, you can absolutely find a nice, airtight location to set up camp. There are many places that fully converge these factors in Hang Kia for you to consider.

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4. What to play at Hang Kia – Pa Co

Cloud hunting at Hang Kia peak

This is the point that everyone who comes to Hang Kia must come, this area is the most convenient to take beautiful shimmering "cloud hunting" photos. From the position, you can see Pu Luong peak (Thanh Hoa) and Pha Luong peak (Son La), as well as the panorama of 4 communes Bao La, Pieng Ve, Cun Pheo, Mai Hich. Currently, this area has been built a few basic entertainment works, providing both snacks and coffee for you to come here.

Some pictures of the ​​​​Cloud Hunting Peak in Hang Kia

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Notes for cloud hunting:

+ The best time to hunt clouds is from 6-8:30.

+ The beautiful cloud season lasts from October to April of the solar calendar, the most ideal time is from November to February next year.

+ Ticket price: 15,000 VND (including parking fee).

+ You should choose a good car, check the engine and brakes before moving.

+ The space is large enough for a 7-seater car.

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Ta Xong A plum garden

Ta Xong A ancient plum garden is in Pa Co commune, plum trees here are grown for fruit, the quality is not inferior to the type of plum commonly found in Moc Chau. If you want to visit the plum garden, you can go in the spring from January to April.

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Pa Co Market

Pa Co market meets every Sunday morning, at the center of Pa Co commune. The market sells everything, visitors will be "overwhelmed" by a variety of products from agricultural products, livestock, fabrics, brocades, agricultural tools to household appliances, electronics, music and cosmetics...

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Tat Nang Waterfall

About 15km far from Hang Kia, Ta Nang waterfall belongs to Chieng Yen, Van Ho, Son La communes. The waterfall is over 100m high, divided into 3 floors, surrounded by green trees.

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Visiting tea leave hill

Being at an altitude of over 1000 meters above sea level and foggy all year round, the Pa Co mountain area has hundred-year-old snow tea trees scattered throughout 9 villages of the commune. You can come here and participate in the process of picking and drying tea buds of local people.

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Experience the culture

Gau Tao Festival

Gau Tao Festival of the Mong ethnic group is a traditional folk festival, a feature of cultural and religious activities that has existed for a long time, held at the beginning of every new year. The ceremony began with special musical performances performed by the Mong ethnic people here. The festival took place with special art performances, playing sports imbued with national identity such as tu lu, pounding, tug of war, crossbow shooting... and food stalls introducing some local specialties such as Day cake, Thang Co, vegetables, products of blacksmithing...

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Craft paper making

Handmade paper making is a unique culture of the H'Mong here. For generations, they have known how to use the Sua tree to make paper with a very unique 300-year-old technique. Paper is not used for writing but for religious purposes. Paper made of Giang has high smoothness, beautiful bright yellow color.

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Brocade weaving

Brocade weaving has long been associated with the daily life of the people here, passed down from generation to generation, imbued with the unique culture of the Mong people. Vibrant colors and eye-catching brocade patterns create spiritual vitality, a special highlight in the culture of the Mong ethnic people.

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Source: Collected