Located in Ha Giang 1 ward, Tuyen Quang province, Tha Hamlet has long been home to generations of Tay people. Today, it still preserves almost intact its traditional stilt-house architecture, customs, and distinctive rhythms of daily life.

The hamlet appears like a peaceful oasis nestled in a valley. Tha Hamlet has more than 130 households and over 600 residents, 99% of whom are Tay, living together as a close-knit community across generations.

Despite being close to the city center, the hamlet retains its unique way of life and a rare sense of tranquility. In 2019, Tha Hamlet was officially recognized as a new-style rural residential area, becoming a standout example in Tuyen Quang for preserving cultural identity while developing community-based tourism.

The hamlet currently has 122 stilt houses, over 90% of which still maintain their traditional architecture. Palm-leaf roofs, sturdy wooden frames and characteristic layouts of Tay homes create a harmonious and unified living space.

The palm-leaf roofs bear the marks of time, weathered by years of sun and rain. Beneath them, ironwood frames have stood firm across generations, supporting entire households.

Within this simplicity lies the craftsmanship of the Tay people - from selecting timber and carving pillars to assembling beams and rafters, down to the smallest details of floors, roofs and verandas.

Unlike the dramatic terraced rice fields rising sharply into the sky, Tha Hamlet offers a gentler landscape. Its low, curving terraces wrap softly around the stilt houses, creating a sense of calm and continuity.

Villagers place strong emphasis on preserving intangible cultural heritage. Traditional Then singing, the Tinh lute, various folk instruments, costumes and games are not staged for display, but remain part of everyday life.

Young people actively relearn the Tinh lute and Then melodies, join local performance groups, guide visitors through stilt houses, and share stories about the hamlet’s history.

At the hamlet cultural house, Tay heritage is carefully presented through musical instruments, traditional clothing, household items and archival materials.

The space also introduces local agricultural products, helping visitors better understand the livelihoods and identity of the Tay community in Tha Hamlet.

Currently, 22 households in the hamlet are engaged in community-based tourism, capable of hosting 150 to 200 visitors per day. Guests who stay overnight experience life as locals do - sleeping in stilt houses, waking to the sound of roosters and the scent of wood smoke, preparing traditional dishes, weaving brocade, dyeing indigo, pounding sticky rice cakes, learning Then singing, walking through terraced fields, or bathing in streams on sunny days.

With its pristine landscape, preserved traditions and peaceful atmosphere, Tha Hamlet has become an increasingly attractive destination for visitors seeking authentic cultural experiences.