My First Trekking Trip – The Pristine Cua Tu Stream

Hello Hivers, how is your new week going? Vietnam is entering summer, which is also a beautiful time to venture into the forest or streams to experience the beauty of untouched nature. I had my very first trekking trip to Cua Tu Stream in Thai Nguyen. This first-time trekking adventure exceeded my expectations—it was absolutely amazing! Let me take you through some unforgettable moments from the trip in the post below.

While researching Cua Tu Stream, I booked both a homestay and a trekking tour through Hoang Nong Farm—a small and peaceful homestay located in Dai Tu District, Thai Nguyen. Thai Nguyen is famously known as the land of green tea and is one of Vietnam’s most well-known tea-producing regions. Endless green tea hills stretch around Hoang Nong Farm. The young tea leaves are lush and fresh. I even had the chance to pick the tea leaves myself to brew a pot of tea. Thai Nguyen green tea has a slightly bitter taste at first, followed by a sweet aftertaste. Thai Nguyen tea is also exported internationally. It pairs perfectly with a type of candy or pastry—like Vietnam’s traditional peanut brittle.

Back to the Cua Tu Stream trekking trip, it took me about 2 hours to get there from Hanoi. Cua Tu Stream is located 85 kilometers north of Hanoi. In summer, the stream is quite cool and refreshing, with an average temperature of around 30°C. At 8 a.m., the porter (our guide) led us to the stream to begin our adventure. Cua Tu Stream has seven “gates,” and the deeper you go, the more challenging the path becomes. My team explored the first three gates, as it was quite difficult to go further. The terrain at the first three gates included rocks, forests, and waterfalls. We mainly followed the stream path to feel the cool water flowing around our feet.

One of the highlights of the trip was cliff jumping and natural slide activities—two thrilling experiences, especially if you're afraid of heights. It wasn’t until my second jump that I truly felt confident in myself. If you're in Northern Vietnam this summer, don’t miss the chance to explore the refreshing paradise of Cua Tu Stream. It’s truly a magnificent natural landscape of mountains, forests, and cascading streams.
Cua Tu Stream isn’t considered one of the most difficult trekking routes in Vietnam, but it still requires a certain level of endurance and physical strength. I absolutely loved the feeling of climbing through the forest and sliding down waterfalls. There’s a Japanese term, “Shinrin Yoku,” which means “forest bathing”—immersing yourself in nature, in the woods, letting your soul rest among the trees. It’s a beautiful and powerful way to heal.

Thank you for reading my post. Wishing you a wonderful and productive day ahead!

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