Simply Hmong - family lunch experience
Experience code: EthosSpirit
If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him... the people who give you their food give you their heart.
Duration: 1 day
Departure time: Flexible between 8.30am and 10am
Transport: Your choice of trekking or by car
Physical activity: Easy to moderate
Location - Small traditional villages
Travel Style: - Cultural immersion and participatory activities
Connectivity: Wifi - None, Mobile coverage - good.
Background
The Hmong value their independence and tend to live at high altitudes, away from other tribes. The principal food plants are rice and corn. Besides irrigated rice fields, they also cultivate rice on terraces. In the corn fields, they alternately plant various leguminous plants such as green beans and peas. The principal fibre plant is the hemp. Cotton is also grown and the Hmong are known to be good weavers.
Hmong families living a hand to mouth existence meaning that of their produce are for family consumption and not for sale. This means that a typical meal is simply boiled rice sometimes accompanied by a vegetable. Meat is an important luxury reserved for special occasions such as weddings, funeral and Tet (New Year). Malnutrition is still prevalent.
The Hmong still live in considerable poverty and ETHOS feel that tourism has the ability to empower and support local families. Through the supply of good quality food, and in cooking together, this experience helps to fight the malnutrition that blights many families.
What to expect:
A truly authentic dining experience with a Black Hmong family. You will pass through beautiful landscapes surrounded by rice paddies and mountains covered by ancient forest under the protection of the Hoang Lien National Park. ETHOS always use local guides with a great deal of experience. Information about Hmong homes, handicrafts, food and customs will all form part of your experience.
Departure time: Flexible between 8.30am and 10am
Transport: Your choice of trekking or by car
Physical activity: Easy to moderate
Location - Small traditional villages
Travel Style: - Cultural immersion and participatory activities
Connectivity: Wifi - None, Mobile coverage - good.
Background
The Hmong value their independence and tend to live at high altitudes, away from other tribes. The principal food plants are rice and corn. Besides irrigated rice fields, they also cultivate rice on terraces. In the corn fields, they alternately plant various leguminous plants such as green beans and peas. The principal fibre plant is the hemp. Cotton is also grown and the Hmong are known to be good weavers.
Hmong families living a hand to mouth existence meaning that of their produce are for family consumption and not for sale. This means that a typical meal is simply boiled rice sometimes accompanied by a vegetable. Meat is an important luxury reserved for special occasions such as weddings, funeral and Tet (New Year). Malnutrition is still prevalent.
The Hmong still live in considerable poverty and ETHOS feel that tourism has the ability to empower and support local families. Through the supply of good quality food, and in cooking together, this experience helps to fight the malnutrition that blights many families.
What to expect:
A truly authentic dining experience with a Black Hmong family. You will pass through beautiful landscapes surrounded by rice paddies and mountains covered by ancient forest under the protection of the Hoang Lien National Park. ETHOS always use local guides with a great deal of experience. Information about Hmong homes, handicrafts, food and customs will all form part of your experience.
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Itinerary
Visit the local food market filled with various ingredients – some familiar, many exotic and colourful. Source food for lunch and receive information about Sapa specialities and local products. If you wish for your guide to purchase the food prior to your experience, this is also an option. Make your way to the Hmong home via the famed rice paddies and bamboo groves. Meet and greet your Hmong hosts. Receive a guided tour around an authentic home and prepare and cook food with the family. This is a genuine and authentic way to find out about Hmong cooking and culture. Explore the surrounding area and navigate through the rice paddies along the paddy walls. If you choose, you can integrate a walk down to the river (about an hour away) and swim on a hot day. |
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Included:
Notes: Hmong families often don't have access to meat and malnutrition is common. This tour focuses on creating a unique experience for guests but also supports the local community in a sustainable and ethical way. Part of the experience fee is used as payment for the host family.
Costs: |
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In Sa Xeng Village (located 18km from Sapa)
Being part of a Hmong family meal was really cool. The food was great, the stories were fun and we were made to feel totally at home. We would definitely recommend this experience to anyone visiting Sapa - Egbert (Netherlands)
