Journeying to Hong Ngai

      Hong Ngai Hamlet in the northern province of Lao Cai is a great place to visit off the beaten track.
Located in Bat Xat District’s Y Ty Commune, the little hamlet is full of rice fields, tended to by around 70 households.
The inhabitants are made up of mainly Mong ethnic people and the community remains almost untouched by tourism due to its remote location.
To visit Hong Ngai, you can take a train to Lao Cai Province from Hanoi, then cross Y Ty Commune, and Bat Xat District. However, as there is no paved road leading directly to the hamlet, visitors will have to walk on foot for several kilometers to reach the area. For those willing to undertake the difficult hike, however, the spectacular scenery will be well worth the trip.
The route that traverses Y Ty Commune comprises 70 kilometers of road made from just pebbles and stones. Along the way, you will pass Y Ty Valley, which looks like a large hollow surrounded by the breathtaking Nhi Co San Range.
From Y Ty, you will cross Lao Chai, Sin Chai 1 and Sin Chai 2 hamlets. The steep red-earth road runs over babbling brooks and on both sides are thick-walled houses. The only way to cross this 10 km stretch is to hike. The journey can be challenging with several steep and slippery sections and you may have to camp overnight along the way.
After covering the first section of the earthen road heading straight toward a waterfall, you will continue to walk for another 7 km to reach Hong Ngai, the most remote area of Lao Cai Province.
Here, mountains and water dominate the landscape. Small houses appear behind rice fields and rolling hills. Herds of buffalo leisurely chew grass in the terraced fields.
A road to the hamlet is currently under construction and set to open in the next two years. But for now, Hong Ngai remains mostly unknown to outsiders.
Be sure to prepare well for the trip to Hong Ngai and take necessary safety precautions. Dress comfortably, wear good hiking boots and bring along a flashlight with extra batteries, food, water, a raincoat, sleeping bag, and a tent, if possible.