Muong Lay in memory

Delta - The area is less than 12,000 hectares but TX. Muong Lay is located in a long, narrow valley, at the intersection of three water streams: Da River, Nam Na River and Nam Lay Stream. When the water level of the lake bed of Son La Hydropower Plant rises more than 200m in a space of more than 100 acres of land, Muong Lay becomes a romantic lake bed area. Standing in the middle of this land, the human soul seems to be connected between the present and the past.

Delta - The area is less than 12,000 hectares but TX. Muong Lay is located in a long, narrow valley, at the intersection of three water streams: Da River, Nam Na River and Nam Lay Stream. When the water level of the lake bed of Son La Hydropower Plant rises more than 200m in a space of more than 100 acres of land, Muong Lay becomes a romantic lake bed area. Standing in the middle of this land, the human soul seems to be connected between the present and the past.

Ban Xa bridge on Da river.

If you have the opportunity to visit the lake, tourists can stop by Lai Chau to visit and learn about the Thai king's palace Deo Van Long, and visit the cage fish farming model of indigenous people. This place is also always attractive to those who love to explore and adventure with fishing activities on the Da River, climbing mountains to explore Ban Bac cave or strolling through the forest to visit villages hidden on the cliffs. Cliff. From Muong Lay to Lai Chau, you can start from the new Hang Tom bridge through the romantic road to Chan Nua and then Pa Tan - Phong Tho with a length of more than 100 kilometers. Nam Na River follows the winding lines of the old road in the past. Many sections of the river suddenly spread out, flooding all the way to the cliffs and horizon, where in the past there were fields, water wharves for villagers to cool off in, or mudflats for cattle and buffaloes to graze amid the sound of forest gongs in the afternoon. Standing far away, we can only see the village with lovely stilt houses on high hills, hidden among the hazy clouds. Occasionally appearing on the river, dugout canoes pass by like shuttles between brocade silk sheets, adding poetic touches to the mountainous region.

Not only famous for its stilt houses, Muong Lay is also adorned with bridges. That is Hang Tom bridge, once known as "the first bridge of Indochina" - the largest bridge in Indochina. This bridge connects the two banks of Dien Bien and Lai Chau. Like the palace of Lord Thai Deo Van Long, the entire old Hang Tom bridge has now sunk into the incredibly deep lake. Then every time we stand on the new Hang Tom bridge, we suddenly feel nostalgic for a time. Mr. Kham Ching, our guide to Muong Lay, told us that under the ancient Tom Cave bridge, there was a shrimp cave with countless giant freshwater prawns, which became a source of food for the Thai lord and the people of Muong Lay. Muong Lay not only has poetic natural landscapes but also captivates people's hearts with the diverse and unique cultures of the ethnic groups living together. Each ethnic group here has its own cultural identity, creating extremely diverse beauty. Muong Lay is considered the capital of the White Thai people in Dien Bien, the birthplace of graceful hat dances, scarf dances, and fan dances. Many ancient Thai dancers were once selected by Thai Lord Deo Van Long to enter the palace. Performing at fun events or on occasions to welcome Western officials from the mother country. After the liberation of Dien Bien, the dancers in the dance team escaped from the situation of fish bowls and caged birds, and then they passed on their once-wonderful skills to the next generation...

Row of stilt houses in Muong Lay.

Coming to Muong Lay today, tourists can also visit traditional craft villages such as brocade weaving, making traditional musical instruments in Na Lay ward, producing and processing wooden furniture in Song Da ward, or weaving furniture. household appliances in Lay Nua commune. In the evening, stopping in the traditional stilt houses, we can enjoy attractive specialties such as bon soup, flower salad, salad, sausage, grilled fish dishes, especially the fish dish. Lang Lang and Da River shrimp are famous throughout the region. Amidst the scent of corn wine flying in the ecstatic breeze, we join in the dance and let our souls be followed by the sweet voices of Thai girls. Leaving the legendary Hang Tom bridge, the car took us across Muong Lay without realizing it because the name change story had made the places on Highway 12 become confused in our memories. Lai Chau town of Lai Chau has now been renamed Muong Lay; The place name Muong Lay at that time has now been renamed Muong Cha.

When the pale rays of sunlight on the top of the high mountain slowly fall, TX. Muong Lay seems to be covered with golden light in the middle of the sunset. Standing on the bridge of Xa village, looking down at the Da river, my heart suddenly remembered the writings of writer Nguyen Tuan. But the legendary Da River not only embodies a cruel person in the midst of storms and floods, but the river also forever nourishes the Thai people here with shrimp and fish products that fill the canoes returning after the expedition. restore nature. The products that Da River offers are specialties that welcome guests from far away, enjoy once and remember forever. Our car drove along the Da River under the golden moonlight, illuminating the road as soft as a silk strip, passing by houses on stilts with stone tiles built close together, with a few Thai girls with white skin and soft hair on the gables. The sky is filled with moonlight amidst the thin, soft, graceful mist.

Goodbye Muong Lay, goodbye Da river, hope to return someday.

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Update day : 19/10/2023