Quang Thua – Where the Town Meets the Forest

“My family was among the first five households to arrive in Quang Thua to clear the land, establish a village, and cultivate persimmons and coffee. At that time, Quang Thua was still a wild valley on the edge of the Tuyen Lam area, with no permanent residents,” recalled Le Tan Giao, a resident of Quang Thua Residential Area in An Son 2 Quarter, Xuan Huong – Da Lat Ward.

According to Giao, in 1977–1978, when the government encouraged people to reclaim land for cassava and coffee cultivation, five pioneering households followed forest trails and streams into the area, laying the foundations of what would become Quang Thua Village.

“The name Quang Thua comes from the fact that most of the early settlers were from the former provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Thua Thien Hue,” he explained.

Today, Quang Thua lies along the extended An Son Road leading to the Tuyen Lam Tourist Area, connected by a smooth asphalt road. Fifty years ago, however, the settlement was almost completely isolated from the dreamlike Da Lat. Although located only six kilometers from the city center, Quang Thua felt like a world apart.

“In those days, we lived mostly in wooden houses, clearing land to grow coffee and persimmons. We would only go into Da Lat once every few weeks or even months to buy rice, cooking oil, fish sauce, and other essentials. We traveled on foot because there were no roads for vehicles,” the veteran farmer recalled.

Living in the Heart of the Forest

“Quang Thua is like a small valley surrounded by forests—from the forests of the Tuyen Lam National Tourist Area to those stretching toward Ta Nung,” shared resident Tran Thi Kim Van. “All of us live within the embrace of the forest.”

Encircled by vast pine forests, Quang Thua enjoys a tranquil atmosphere filled with the subtle fragrance of pine pollen. Local residents make their living from coffee, persimmon, and strawberry cultivation. Life here remains calm and unhurried, flowing gently with the seasons.

In recent years, a number of small homestays established by local residents have welcomed visitors seeking an authentic forest experience. According to tourism entrepreneur Pham Thi Hue, Quang Thua’s forest walking trails have become increasingly popular because they offer easy access from the city while retaining the untouched character of the surrounding woodland.

“Quang Thua is a small community of only around 150 households and remains relatively secluded within An Son 2 Quarter,” said Tran Cong Han, Secretary of the local Party Cell.

Han takes great pride in the community, describing Quang Thua as a place free from pollution and social problems, where residents work together to maintain a clean, green, and beautiful living environment.

Throughout the settlement, environmental protection is a shared responsibility. Roads are meticulously maintained, flowers bloom year-round, and greenery flourishes in every corner. Quang Thua has established a community security team that also serves as a forest protection force, conducting regular patrols to prevent illegal logging, forest encroachment, and wildfire.

Residents actively contribute in their own ways—those with land plant flowers, while others join patrol teams. The result is a safe, harmonious, and attractive community deeply connected to nature.

A Road Built Through Community Spirit

Near the An Son–Tuyen Lam intersection stands a large stone marker indicating the beginning of the 1.4-kilometer road leading into Quang Thua. More than just a transportation route, it symbolizes the unity and determination of local residents.

Through close cooperation between the community and local authorities, an old gravel road was transformed into a modern asphalt roadway, stretching like a silk ribbon through the pine forests.

“The road now accommodates two-way traffic comfortably. The total investment was VND 5 billion, of which local residents contributed more than VND 2 billion. Together with government support, we completed this beautiful road in 2025,” Han said proudly.