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Pao's House - Discover The Hmong Ethnic Identity In Ha Giang

Do not miss Pao's House during your trip to Ha Giang

During your trip to Ha Giang, in northern Vietnam, Pao’s House is a must-see site, especially for those who wish to discover the cultural beauty of Vietnam's ethnic minorities. This 75-year-old house appeared in the famous Vietnamese film "Story of Pao" (Vietnamese name: Chuyện của Pao), which tells the life of a young Hmong girl named Pao. Find out in the article below why Pao’s House attracts more and more visitors as they explore the Dong Van karst plateau!

I. Overview about the Pao’s House

Who is Pao?

Why is it called the Pao’s House? The house takes its name from the main character of the film “Story of Pao” (released in 2006). Pao is a young Hmong girl. The story begins when Kía, Pao's adoptive mother, commits suicide. Pao then decides to go in search of her biological mother, Sim, in order to reunite her family. During her journey, Pao discovers a big secret about her family.

Story of Pao tells the life of a young Hmong girl

Story of Pao has won many national and international awards, including the Golden Kite Award for Best Feature Film and a special prize at the 51st Asia-Pacific Film Festival.

The film is highly appreciated not only for its content but also for its filming style, showcasing the majestic landscapes of Ha Giang. This film has made the region famous and has encouraged many visitors to Pao's House to relive the romantic and peaceful moments like the Hmong in Ha Giang.

Where is Pao's House?

Pao's House is located in the Lung Cam cultural village. The village is situated in the middle of the Sung La valley, highlighting the peaceful and poetic beauty of the Dong Van karst plateau. Pao's House is about 20 km from the Dong Van district and about 123 km from Ha Giang city.

Pao's House is located in the Lung Cu village in Ha Giang

Built nearly a century ago, Pao's House boasts an ancient beauty with the traditional architecture of the Hmong ethnic group, leaving a strong impression on visitors when they visit this house.

II. How to get to Pao's House?

Pao's House is located on Happiness Road 4C, which connects all the districts of Ha Giang, also known as the Ha Giang Loop. To reach Pao's House, you need to travel a distance of 123 km from downtown Ha Giang, which takes about 4 hours by car.

After arriving at Sung La, you will see a sign indicating the Lung Cam Cultural Village, turn there. Just walk a few more minutes to spot Pao's House. You will be able to visit a traditional house with an impressive stone fence.

It is advisable to travel by car as the road is quite steep and has many bends. However, if you are a thrill-seeker, riding a motorcycle or booking a motorbike tour will be an interesting and suitable experience for you.

You can check the detailed itinerary here: Ha Giang loop tour.

III. What to do at Pao's House?

1. Explore the architecture of the Hmong’s House in Ha Giang

Upon first entering the Lung Cam village, you will see houses situated very close to one another. This is where 36 households of the Hmong, Lo Lo, and Han ethnic groups live. Pao's House is one of the houses with typical Hmong architecture.

Pao's House is made entirely of precious wood, constructed entirely by hand by the local inhabitants. The main door leading to Pao's House is wooden. The columns and fences are made of stone. The roof of the house is entirely covered with tiles.

The house is built in a U-shaped architecture, with a two-story building in the middle used as bedrooms and a living room. Two secondary wings serve as a kitchen, storage, and for raising livestock and poultry.

In the center of the house is a courtyard carefully paved with stones. If you have the opportunity to come here in January or February, you can admire the peach blossoms in full bloom in the courtyard.

Pao's House has many traditional objects of Hmong people

During your visit to Pao's house, you will hear additional stories about the ethnic groups here. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to wear traditional Hmong costumes, which will be an experience not to be missed. These costumes are colorful with distinctive patterns, symbols of the beauty of the Hmong people.

2. Discover the life of the Vietnamese ethnic minority in the village

While visiting Pao's House, you will hear additional stories about the ethnic groups here. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to wear the traditional costumes of the Hmong, which will be an experience not to be missed. These are colorful costumes with distinctive patterns, symbols of the beauty of the Hmong people.

Living in mountainous regions, the Hmong are primarily farmers, cultivating corn as their main food source. They also grow flax for weaving. In addition, the Hmong also focus on livestock farming.

Hmong women are often involved in traditional embroidery, making traditional costumes, and crafting silver jewelry.

3. Visit the vast flower fields in Sung La Valley

As you enter the cultural village of Lung Cam, you will pass through Sung La Valley, where residents cultivate numerous flowers in the fields to decorate the village.

Sung La Valley during the buckwheat flower season

The best time to visit Pao's House in this village is in October and November. This is the buckwheat flower season in Ha Giang. At this time, the entrance to Lung Cam village is filled with the purple color of buckwheat flowers. You will also have the opportunity to participate in the Ha Giang buckwheat flower festival with many interesting activities, organized annually during this period.

If you come here in January and February, you can admire the golden mustard fields, bringing a poetic beauty to Lung Cam village. Notably, the path leading to Pao's House passes through mustard fields.

Golden mustard field in Lung Cu cultural village

IV. Some tips for visiting Pao's House

a) Do not wear all white: The Hmong people believe that the color white symbolizes funerals and bad luck. Therefore, it's better to choose brightly colored clothes. Additionally, it's advisable to bring a light jacket as the nights are cool in the mountains. Especially if you're traveling towards the end of the year, during winter in Ha Giang, you should also bring a hat and gloves to keep warm.

b) Do not touch the displayed objects in Pao's House: If you visit Pao's House or any house in the village, it is strictly forbidden to touch anything inside the house. Please ask for permission from the owner before entering the house or using their belongings.

c) Do not speak or laugh too loudly: You should avoid laughing too loudly. Moreover, do not touch the heads of village children because according to Hmong beliefs, it can make the children sick. Also, do not whistle, as residents believe whistling can summon demons to the village.

d) Ticket price for visiting the village: The entrance fee is 10,000 VND per visit to the Lung Cam cultural village. You will need to pay approximately 10,000 to 20,000 VND per visit to enter the flower field here.

e) Watch the film “Story of Pao” before traveling: It is recommended to watch the film "Story of Pao" for a complete visiting experience.

Please note the above tips when visiting Pao's House

Pao's House is a must-see place during your discovery in Ha Giang. If you have any questions about this destination or need assistance planning your trip to Vietnam, please contact Autour Asia, your Vietnam local tour operators. We will help you create your dream trip.

You can refer to:
> Hmong King's Palace
> Ha Giang Travel Guide
> Vietnam north tour
> Best of Northern Vietnam