Perched at an elevation exceeding 1,000 meters above sea level, the enchanting Xa Phin Mountainous Village in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam captivates visitors with its unique charm -- ancient stilt houses adorned with a picturesque layer of moss.

Xa Phin, which is home to the Dao people, an ethnic group, is anchored in the midst of the Tay Con Linh Mountain Range.

The village is some 20 kilometers from the heart of Ha Giang City, which is the capital of the eponymous province.

Due to the impact from the northeast monsoon wind in late February, a road leading to the mountainous village has been shrouded in dense mist over the past week, reducing visibility.

The thick fog dims moss-topped stilt houses, drawing a mysterious picture of nature.

Locals say that they are acquainted with a layer of moss on their house roofs, which are made of palm leaves.

The moss turns yellow and dry in the summer, while it becomes green and develops well in the winter.

It takes seven or eight years to have a house roof covered with moss, said Dang Van Hiep, a local of Xa Phin Mountainous Village.

The thicker the layer of moss on a house roof gets, the older the house is, he said.

Hiep spent six years preparing and erecting a stilt house roofed with palm leaves.

Every stilt house in the village boasts a roof adorned with a lavish display of up to 10,000 intricately arranged palm leaves.

Constructed a decade and a half ago, Hiep's stilt house now wears a lush coat of green moss that has gracefully embraced its roof over the years.

Similarly, Truong Van Tuan's residence, standing for a decade, showcases a roof covered with a rich and velvety layer of moss, adding a timeless allure to his abode.

"Moss-covered roofs don't disrupt our daily lives but provide insulation, keeping our houses warmer in winter and cooler in hot weather," Tuan remarked.

Meanwhile, in many villages at the foot of the Tay Con Linh Mountain Range, households have begun to replace the roofs made of palm leaves with metal roofing sheets due to their increased durability.

Yet, Xa Phin locals see the roofs covered with moss as a highlight.

Both young and elderly villagers wish to maintain these roofs.

The uniqueness is expected to lure tourists to the mountainous village, Hiep stated.

Roofs made of palm leaves will be maintained for dozens or hundreds of years, he said assuredly.

A palm-leaf roof has a lifespan of some 40 years, said Ban Thi Chay, a 60-year-old resident of the village.

Chay, who has lived in Xa Phin Village since she was born, excitedly shared that tourists love taking photographs of her moss-topped stilt house.

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