Travel Guide Nam Dam

The village of Nam Dam is a jewel set in a verdant valley amid a landscape of steep slopes and karst peaks. It is inhabited by members of the Dao ethnic group (pronounced dzao), farmers and herders. On a daily basis, the women continue to wear their traditional tunics. One of the special features of Nam Dam village is that its houses are built of rammed earth, a traditional "green" technique that keeps out the heat in summer and the cold in winter. The houses blend harmoniously into their surroundings, and the bare earth walls are superb when tinted with different warm colors at different times of the day. Another special feature of the village is that it has developed a community-based eco-tourism project through guest houses and home-stay accommodation. There are no hotels in Nam Dam: you're welcomed into the traditional home of a Dao family, with whom you share a delicious, hearty family meal in the common room or garden. A stay in this haven of peace is highly recommended, either as a prelude to the climb to the Dông Van plateau, or on the way back to the hustle and bustle of the capital. What's more, you'll be happy to extend your stay...