They were seven – five girls and two boys from France. They booked a stay through Booking.com and arrived at our home at 3 a.m., driving themselves through the dark mountain roads. Despite the long journey, their faces showed excitement rather than exhaustion.
Instead of resting, they sat with us by a small fire in front of the house. I brewed a pot of hot tea. In the flickering firelight and the quiet of the night, even without sharing the same language, we understood each other through smiles, warmth, and simple gestures. Around 5 a.m., we sat together on the hillside and watched the sunrise. The sea of clouds slowly lit up in soft orange and gold — it was so beautiful that no one dared to speak.
After a short sleep, we began our journey to explore Tà Xùa — not through deep forests or long trekking routes, but by chasing the sunset at Khe Cải. That afternoon, we were almost racing against time. If we had been just a little bit late, we would have missed it — the sun sinking into a sea of clouds, the sky glowing red and gold, and the valley bathed in magical light.
The trip became even more memorable when, at the time of payment, their Visa card couldn’t be used, and we didn’t have a card machine. So we all got in the car and drove to the nearest ATM in town. That was also where we said goodbye. With a final hug and thank-you, they continued their journey back to Hà Nội, while I returned to our mountain Home.
It was a short journey, but one I’ll never forget — a story of dawn and sunset, friendship, and the quiet connection between strangers in the misty mountains of Tà Xùa.
