Vũ Linh (Vietnam)

I spent one of my very first weekends in Vietnam right on the shores of Thac Ba Lake, a few hours from Hanoi by road. Having resolved to leave the city, I wanted to explore Vu Linh, a small village nestled in a landscape that many have compared to a fjord. After travelling several kilometers by motor scooter, I finally reached the first villages inhabited by the Dao ethnic minority, which are typical in this part of the country.

I, along with my two girlfriends, decided to stay at an interesting training center that is open to the public, and which provides courses in tourism-related jobs for disadvantaged young people from the region. I immediately fell in love, both with the lake and the spectacular views over the lake and its many islands, and with the charming village of Vu Linh itself, which is largely made from woven bamboo. During the several days that we spent there, we shared our daily lives with the students in the center and got to know the Dao culture in greater depth. It was a beautiful shared experience that I will always remember.