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Discover the breathtaking beauty of Vietnam’s terraced fields, a stunning display of agricultural artistry nestled in the country’s highlands. From the iconic landscapes of Sapa to the enchanting slopes of Mu Cang Chai, these fields showcase the rich cultural heritage and labor of local communities. Join Vietnam Discovery Travel as we explore the top six most beautiful terraced fields, each offering a unique experience and unforgettable views that will leave you in awe.
1. Terraced Fields (Lao Cai)
Located in Sapa district, Lao Cai province, the Sapa terraced fields are renowned for their breathtaking landscapes, combining mountains and lush green fields. Travel and Leisure magazine (USA) has voted this place as one of the 7 most beautiful Terraced Fields wonders in the world. Indeed, it continues to be a popular tourist destination attracting millions of travelers each year.
Being a highland region with a tropical monsoon climate and waiting for the rainy season (locally called “water pouring season”), Lao Cai and other Northwestern provinces start planting rice around May or June each year. This is the time when the most beautiful summer scenes appear on the terraced fields, meandering around the high mountains of Sapa, Bac Ha, Bat Xat, and Si Ma Cai.
The terraced fields in Lao Cai have been around for hundreds of years and are the result of the hard work and dedication of the Dao and H’mong people. These terraced fields are not only beautiful artworks but also mobile rice granaries for the mountainous ethnic minorities. This method of agricultural cultivation has been effective and has contributed to creating unique tourism products for Lao Cai for many years.
2. Mu Cang Chai Terraced Fields (Yen Bai)
Located in Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province, about 300 km from Hanoi, this place is known as one of the most picturesque places to hunt for ripe rice, attracting many photographers and tourists both domestically and internationally. Mu Cang Chai terraced fields offer vast and stunning landscapes, captivating countless visitors. This location boasts the largest terraced field system in Vietnam and is the second-largest in the world, following the Banaue terraced fields in the Philippines.
When visiting Mu Cang Chai, you will find terraced fields sprawling across the hillsides. The terrain here consists of high mountains divided by streams, deep valleys, and dense pine forests. The landscape of terraced fields, like a tray of sticky rice, intertwines with forests, streams, and tiered layers, creating an extremely majestic scene.
During the flooding season (May – June), Mu Cang Chai exhibits a purely charming beauty that rivals the autumn. In the flooding season, the terraced fields have a primitive, simple beauty with dominant earthy tones, showcasing the essence of the Northwestern region. In the autumn (September, October), this is the time when the place attracts the most tourists each year. Travelers flock here to admire the terraced fields, shining like “golden stairs.”
The most famous and attractive place in Mu Cang Chai is probably the Mam Xoi Hill. The terraced fields here are cleverly shaped like round trays of “xoi” (sticky rice) and glow in the sunlight. This is likely why Mam Xoi Hill has become the symbol of Mu Cang Chai, an attraction that no traveler can overlook.
3. Hoang Su Phi Terraced Fields (Yen Bai)
Located in Hoang Su Phi district, Hà Giang province, the Hoang Su Phi terraced fields feature a stunning expanse of lush terraces that cover the mountainsides, creating a magnificent and attention-grabbing landscape. This land of Hoang Su Phi lies beneath the majestic Tay Con Linh peak, attracting a large number of tourists. Nestled amidst the mountains, the golden Hoang Su Phi terraced fields stretch along the route.
The flooding season in Hoang Su Phi has its own unique attractions. When summer arrives, the locals here utilize water flowing down from the mountains for cultivation. The sight of water cascading down each terrace and spreading across the valleys turns Hoang Su Phi into a series of reflecting mirrors under the sky.
Unlike the flooding and rice planting season from mid-April to June, Hoang Su Phi comes to life during the ripe rice season with its shimmering golden terraced fields, swaying gently with the wind. To witness the artistic beauty of terraced fields, travelers should visit Hoang Su Phi in September and October.
If you have the opportunity, visit Hoang Su Phi to witness the masterpiece of terraced fields during the ripe rice season, immerse yourself in the grandeur of the Northwest mountains, and savor the unique local specialties.
4. Y Ty Terraced Fields (Yen Bai)
Located in Hoang Su Phi commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, Hoang Su Phi terraced fields are an appealing destination with lush green rice fields and majestic mountain scenery. Hoang Su Phi is a highland commune in Bat Xat district, Yen Bai province, situated at an altitude of 2000m above sea level. Hoang Su Phi is known as one of the most beautiful “sea of clouds” in Vietnam. However, few people realize that this place also boasts magnificent ripe rice fields during the harvest season.
This place is considered the most unique “cloud hunting” destination in Vietnam. During the flooding season, the terraced fields are layered and winding, displaying a variety of beautiful colors that leave every visitor amazed and captivated. In May and June each year, when the first summer rains pour down, the highland residents of Bat Xat prepare for a new farming season, and it’s also the time when the terraced fields in the highland of Bat Xat enter the flooding season.
Terraced fields are a distinctive feature of the ethnic communities in the Northwestern highland regions, especially in Bat Xat. They are linked to the history and development of each ethnic group living here and are the result of labor, experience, creativity, and the cultivation of water rice on high hills.
During the farming season, people gather to plant and sow rice together. This is also an opportunity to witness the community spirit of the ethnic groups in Bat Xat. Depending on the water level in each field and to ensure the crop’s success, a labor exchange system is still maintained by the local ethnic groups in Bat Xat.
5. Pu Luong Terraced Fields (Thanh Hoa)
Pu Luong is located in Bá Thước district, Thanh Hóa province. This is a new resort destination that is currently attracting a lot of attention from tourists. The journey from Hanoi to Pu Luong takes about 3 to 4 hours, covering a distance of approximately 190 km from Hanoi. Pu Luong is undoubtedly no longer unfamiliar to most backpackers and travelers who love exploring nature and are passionate about moving around.
Pu Luong, in the Thai language, means “highest peak.” It covers an area of more than 17,600 hectares and boasts a rich ecosystem with the pristine beauty of tropical rainforests. It is also one of the destinations known as “Northwest tourism” that attracts many tourists.
At the end of May and the beginning of June, Pu Luong dons a new “gentle green” coat as it enters a new rice season. The terraced fields, each layer radiating a fresh green hue of young rice plants, create a soothing atmosphere. Despite being in the summer season, the weather in Pù Lu
Around September and October is the most beautiful time, it’s when Pu Luong enters its “golden season,” and this is the answer to the question of “when is the best time to visit Pu Luong.” At this time, all the fields and terraced rice paddies turn into a brilliant golden color, blending harmoniously with the aroma of ripened rice, providing you with feelings of peace, simplicity, and a sense of familiarity.
6. Hong Thai Terraced Fields (Na Hang, Tuyen Quang)
Hong Thai has been blessed with a cool and pristine climate, magnificent mountains, and the enchanting sight of winding terraced fields on picturesque hillsides. Anyone who has set foot in Hong Thai can feel the allure of this strangely captivating land. It takes just over an hour’s drive from Na Hang, Tuyen Quang to reach this place, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage of the Dao and Mong ethnic groups.
Spanning across a total area of 82 hectares, these layered terraced fields are concentrated mainly in the Khau Trang, Pac Khoang and Na Nu villages, scattered along the inter-communal road, surrounding the central area of Hong Thai commune. Some terraced fields gracefully climb the mountain slopes near the road, while others seem to cascade down from the mountain peaks to the streams below.
During the rice ripening season in September and October, the rice paddies collectively turn into a vibrant golden hue. The undulating waves of golden fields along the mountainside make this place one of the most attractive tourist destinations.
Visiting Hong Thai during these days means immersing yourself in the cool and refreshing atmosphere, gazing upon the majestic mountain ranges, and witnessing the peaceful and idyllic scenes of the small villages in the distance. It’s a place where the worries of travelers simply melt away.
By skillful hands that have sculpted these unique natural formations, you’ll gain an even clearer appreciation of the beauty of these captivating terraced fields. It’s the beauty born from diligent labor, creativity, and the close-knit community of the Dao, Mong, and Tay ethnic groups living in this area.
7. Conclusion
In conclusion, the terraced fields of Vietnam offer a captivating glimpse into the country’s rich agricultural heritage and stunning natural beauty. Whether you choose to explore the iconic landscapes of Sapa or the golden waves of Mu Cang Chai, each destination provides a unique experience that will leave lasting memories. For those looking to embark on an unforgettable journey through these picturesque locations, Vietnam Discovery Tours is here to help you plan the perfect adventure. Don’t hesitate to reach out via WhatsApp to start your exploration of Vietnam’s most beautiful terraced fields today
