Upstream Along the Khe River to Explore Tà Giang
Southern Vietnam has a trekking route for beginners. It is Tà Giang, a 2-day, 1-night journey following Khe Stream and crossing wide, windy green grasslands. With Tổ Ong, you will experience Tà Giang trekking in a very distinctive way. Let’s explore it with Tổ Ong.
1. A Few Notes About Tà Giang:
Tà Giang is a commune in Khánh Sơn District, Khánh Hòa Province. It is the homeland of the Raglai people, where the sound of the Chapi instrument carries a deeply emotional melody. “Those who love freedom should go to the mountains to hear the Chapi instrument.” Indeed, Tà Giang is a paradise for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in open, free nature.
The Tà Giang route only opens in the dry season when the stream level is low. The journey to conquer Tà Giang takes 2 days and 1 night to complete a 20km route. Tà Giang’s terrain is unusual. One side is flat, with the stream and uneven rocky banks. Right next to it are steep earthen hills with coffee farms and banana gardens. Khe Stream is part of the river of the same name. The stream winds around old forests and provides water for generations of Raglai people. Trekkers cross streams to camp on a hill over 1,000m high.
A signature feature of Tà Giang is its strong wind, especially when passing open areas such as stream banks and grasslands. You will feel the force of the wind as it rustles through the trees, blending with the sound of flowing water to create the song of the great forest.
2. Details of Tổ Ong’s Tà Giang Trekking Route:
Day 1: Upstream Along the Khe River to the Camping Hill
Crossing the shallow stream:
Starting from Tà Giang Village, Khe Stream greets visitors from afar with its cheerful flowing sound. Trekkers meet the porter team and organize their luggage for the trip. The blue stream takes you past charming wooden houses and Raglai farms. The stream here is quite shallow, and the clear water lets you see the pebbles on the bottom. If there were a speed contest between trekkers and porters, the porters would surely win. Even with heavy loads on their shoulders, their experience and strength allow them to move quickly across uneven rocky banks.
Crossing the stream requires team support. Although the water is not deep, the bottom is full of uneven stones. Combined with strong wind, the process can be a little challenging. The Tà Giang trek reveals the excellent teamwork of travel companions.
Passing through primary forest:
After several hours of stream crossings, you stop in the forest for lunch. Large white rocks by the stream are an ideal place to rest. Sunlight filters through the forest canopy, while the Khe River sparkles in jade-green shades, a truly captivating sight. After eating and taking photos, the group continues toward the camping hill.
Walking through the reed grassland:
Leaving the forest, the reed grassland will leave you amazed. In spring, young green grass seems to stretch endlessly. In early summer, reed flowers open in pure white, like countless snowflakes. Following the wind, tiny flowers swirl, scatter, and drift in all directions. When autumn arrives, the reeds turn a faded yellow. The trail through the flower field is a beautiful photo spot that can produce hundreds of striking shots.
Setting up camp as night falls
You will arrive at the camping site just before sunset. Tổ Ong has a separate camping area amid the vast grassland. Here, the whole group enjoys a BBQ feast, chats, and sings together as night falls. Tà Giang’s night sky is crystal clear, with countless stars shining down on the earth.
Day 2: Downstream Along the Khe River Back to the Village
While the land is still damp with morning mist, wake up early, sip a cup of coffee, and welcome the sunrise with Tổ Ong. The dawn light in the distance makes the scenery clearer. Around this hill, forests and layered mountains stretch in every direction. Khánh Hòa is blessed with terrain ranging from coastal plains to high mountains. This creates a striking contrast between two worlds: one side is lively urban life, the other is wild nature.
When the sun rises higher, the group returns to the village. The way back passes bare hills covered in green grass during the rainy season and yellow grass during the dry season. The route is mostly downhill now, so it is less tiring. Creeping grass grows close to the ground, covering the whole area in green.
Tà Giang is the land of solitary banana forests. This type of banana does not grow in clusters like common banana trees. From seed to maturity, flowering and fruiting, the solitary banana lives alone. After the fruit ripens and drops seeds, the plant gradually withers and dies, ending a lonely life cycle.
Returning to the stream in the forest, join Tổ Ong to cook bamboo-tube rice using simple tools. The rice is cooked inside a bamboo tube, with white grains carrying the aroma of bamboo and a light smoky note.
3. Trekking Tà Giang with Tổ Ong:
Tà Giang is not only blessed with beautiful nature; it also has sincere people and distinctive ethnic culture. Start your trekking journey with Tà Giang and Tổ Ong.
