Tran Tan Tai during a visit to Aur Village.
Tran Tan Tai, a young YouTuber from Hai Phong, owns a personal channel with nearly 40,000 followers. He specialises in sharing videos exploring unique and unusual stories in Vietnam and abroad. He has travelled to many countries and across numerous provinces in Vietnam to capture and share fascinating travel experiences. Below are his insights into Aur Village, widely regarded as Vietnam's cleanest village by many visitors.
Despite its precarious location at an altitude of over 1,000 metres above sea level, requiring a 5-6 hour trek through dense forests to reach, Aur Village in the central province of Quang Nam has become a popular tourist destination due to its fresh atmosphere, cleanliness and intriguing lifestyle.
Aur Village is perched on a mountain in Tay Giang District, Quang Nam Province. It is home to 23 households with a total population of 98, all belonging to the Co Tu ethnic group.
To reach the village, I was fortunate to meet a local, Mai An, 25, who guided and accompanied me.
We departed Hoi An City at 3 am, travelling by motorbike for over 100 km through winding mountain roads to reach the foot of the A Vuong 1 Bridge at 10 am. We embarked on a 20 km trek along the only footpath leading to Aur Village, arriving at 3 pm. The route passed through pristine forests, streams, waterfalls, and mist-covered hills.
Upon arriving in Aur Village, I was most impressed by its simplicity and cleanliness. Although the paths were all dirt tracks, no litter or even fallen leaves could be seen.
My first impression of the village was exactly as people had described it, a place dubbed Vietnam's cleanest village.
Mai An shared that the villagers uphold a strong sense of responsibility for cleanliness. Every household regularly cleans its surroundings, ensuring no waste, not even a plastic bag, fruit peel, or a scrap of paper, is discarded carelessly.
Livestock and poultry are kept away from residential areas. Anyone found littering is required to clean the entire village as a penalty. Children are taught early on to dispose of rubbish correctly and maintain a clean environment. Thanks to this collective effort, both private homes and communal spaces remain impeccably tidy.
Beyond its pristine environment, my two-day stay in the village introduced me to many other fascinating aspects of life there.
The village has no electricity, waste treatment, or mobile phone signal. After 6 pm, villagers rely on solar-powered lamps. When necessary, they use petrol to operate specific machinery.
Remarkably, there is no market, medical centre, or roads suitable for vehicles.
Despite the challenging journey and the lack of modern conveniences, the warmth and hospitality of the villagers made me fall in love with this place.
As dusk settled, the villagers carried trays of food prepared at home towards the communal house. These trays typically contained bowls of rice, plates of vegetables, and sometimes boiled chicken, grilled stream fish, or smoked pork.
In no time, a hearty dinner was served, featuring various delicious dishes reflecting the village's culinary traditions. The villagers warmly invited me to join them for the meal.
The Co Tu people have preserved this practice of communal dining for generations. According to the village elder, whenever a guest arrives, each household contributes something, whether a bowl of rice, a cup of rice wine, or a grilled fish.
That evening, I tried several traditional beef dishes, including stir-fried beef intestines, finely chopped beef tongue cooked with brain, and roasted cowhide.
These dishes, considered local delicacies, were specially prepared to welcome visitors from afar.
The meal was so delightful that I drank a fair amount of rice wine and fell into a deep sleep until 7 am. The following day, I enjoyed breakfast with Mai An's family.
That breakfast also featured unique and delicious dishes such as field rat meat, fern vegetables, and grilled stream fish.
Moreover, I had the opportunity to participate in the Co Tu people's new rice offering ceremony, which involves preparing boiled chicken and hot rice. This ritual is typically held at the beginning of the rice harvest season.
Every moment in Aur Village was truly invaluable. The villagers were warm-hearted, affectionate, and incredibly hospitable. When I left, the entire village gathered to bid me farewell.
I have travelled extensively and visited many remote villages across Vietnam, yet Aur Village remains the most extraordinary place I have ever encountered. The remarkable customs and experiences here will remain cherished memories I will never forget.
