VnExpress International
The most read Vietnamese newspaper
Vietnamese Edition
| Contact us | Follow us on       
Travel Places Food Guide Visa Puzzle
reddit Share via X Print

The golden glow of northern Vietnam's rice terraces

By Thanh Huong    October 21, 2019 | 09:59 pm PT
Freelance photographer Pham Hoang Cuong journeyed across the highest rice terraces in Ha Giang Province, and captured how they blend with the clouds.
The Hoang Su Phi terraced fields are recognized as a national monument in 2012. The fields cover 11 communes in the northern province of Ha Giang: San Sa Ho, Ho Thau, Nam Ty, Thong Nguyen, Ta Su Choong, Ban Nhung, Po Lo, Thang Tin, Nam Khoa, Ban Luoc, and Ban Phung. The last two mentioned are the communes where the terrace has the biggest height in Vietnam.The fields here are estimated to be around 300 years old; created by the hands of non-stop working, creative people of La Chi, Dao and Nung ethnic groups.

The Hoang Su Phi terraced fields were recognized as a national monument in 2012. They cover 11 communes in the northern province: San Sa Ho, Ho Thau, Nam Ty, Thong Nguyen, Ta Su Choong, Ban Nhung, Po Lo, Thang Tin, Nam Khoa, Ban Luoc, and Ban Phung. They soar to their highest points in last two mentioned.

The fields are estimated to have been cut into the mountainside around 300 years ago by the La Chi, Dao and Nung ethnic groups.
In the harvesting season, Hoang Su Phi terraces emit a golden glow that attracts numerous tourists and photographers, helping Ha Giang people grow their tourism business activities.  

During the harvest season the Hoang Su Phi terraces shine like gold, attracting many tourists and photographers and helping the poverty-stricken Ha Giang develop its tourism.  
A view of the fields in Nam Khoa commune dyed in sunlight.There are two ways to get to Hoang Su Phi: one begins in Hanoi and cuts through Tuyen Quang Province, while the other snakes through Lao Cai Province. Both routes are around 300 kilometers, starting in downtown Hanoi.

A view of the fields in Nam Khoa Commune.

There are two routes to Hoang Su Phi from Hanoi, one through Tuyen Quang Province and the other through Lao Cai Province, both around 300 kilometers long.
Photographer Pham Hoang Cuong suggested the hunt for best shots of the ripe rice fields to go from Thong Nguyen, Nam Khoa, Ta Su Choong to Ban Phung commune.

Photographer Pham Hoang Cuong suggested that for the best shots of the ripe rice fields, one should go through Thong Nguyen, Nam Khoa and Ta Su Choong communes to Ban Phung Commune.
Ta Su Choong is located about 21 km southwest of Hoang Su Phi district center. Many Hmong ethnic people live here. The commune’s tourism is naturally blessed with many ideal conditions such as its location in the national monument complex of terraced fields. The complex is also home to primeval forests, ancient Kitamura green tea forest, and pristine waterfalls.

Ta Su Choong is some 21 km southwest of Hoang Su Phi District, and has a large Hmong population. Its tourism is benefiting from its location in the national monument complex of terraced fields, primeval forests, ancient Shan tuyet green tea forests and spectacular waterfalls.
The terraced fields in Ban Phung commune, where most La Chi ethnic people reside, is famous for its uncanny overlapping with the highland floating clouds. From the center of Vinh Quang town, visitors wind through a 30-kilometer small mountain pass to get to the center of Ban Phung commune where they can admire the view.

The terraced fields in Ban Phung Commune, home to ethnic minority group La Chi, are famous for nestling amid clouds. From Vinh Quang town, visitors need to take a 30-kilometer mountain pass to reach the center of Ban Phung Commune.
Though the rice terraces in Hoang Su Phi are not described as a top tourist destinations in Vietnam like those in Lao Cai Provinces Y Ty and Yen Bais Mu Cang Chai districts, they are not in any way less eye-pleasing.  The rice fields in Ban Phung ripen later than those in other, from early to middle of October. The harvesting season usually comes in late September and lasts until early October.in Hoang Su Phi terraced fields. 

The rice crop in Ban Phung Commune ripens later than elsewhere, and the harvest lasts from early to mid-October. The rest of the Hoang Su Phi terraced fields are harvested from late September to early October.

The rice terraces in Hoang Su Phi are among the top tourist attractions in Vietnam's northwestern region, together with those in Lao Cai Province's Y Ty and Yen Bai's Mu Cang Chai districts.  

 
 
go to top