Every year, from June to early July, entering the flooding season, the terraced fields of Hoang Su Phi turn into giant mirrors reflecting the beautiful clouds and sky. If the plains are characterized by rice fields with storks flying straight, then in the high mountains of Northern Vietnam, terraced fields are a familiar scene. The rice fields here are structured like successive steps from low to high, winding around the undulating mountainside.
Amazed by the beauty of Hoang Su Phi terraced fields
The terraced fields in the Northwest are said to have the most beautiful scenery during the flooding season (May to early July) and the rice ripening season (September and October). At these times, the terraced fields are poetic and attract many visitors.
Terraced fields in Vietnam are mainly concentrated in the northern mountainous regions. The most famous are the terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai), Sa Pa, Y Ty (Lao Cai), and Hoang Su Phi (Ha Giang).
A few words about Hoang Su Phi
Hoang Su Phi is a western district of Ha Giang, about 80 km from Ha Giang city. Established in 1906, Hoang Su Phi now has 24 communes and 1 town, including 4 border communes with a total border length of more than 40km.
Hoang Su terrain is fertile, mountainous, steep and strongly divided.
Located in the upper reaches of the Chay River, Hoang Su Phi is characterized by mountainous terrain, steep slopes, ruggedness and strong fragmentation. The district is also home to many large and small streams cutting through the valley. Hoang Su Phi is home to a community of 12 ethnic groups with their own cultural identities. Here, the Dao, Nung, La Chi… ethnic groups still maintain the farming method on Hoang Su Phi terraced fields. The majestic landscape, the creation of nature and human hands on the masterpiece of terraced fields, has become a great potential for tourism development.
Hundreds of thousands of terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi are stacked layer upon layer like steps to the sky. The roads in the village wind along the fields like thin threads. The green forests of the majestic Tay Con Linh range and the cypress trees growing straight above the fields, interspersed with ancient tea trees create a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
Terraced fields – an ancient custom
Terraced fields are a long-standing farming practice of people in the highlands of Southeast Asia and Northwest Vietnam. In Hoang Su Phi, terraced fields were formed 200 to 300 years ago. Over a long period of time, Hoang Su Phi terraced fields have been preserved by generations of people and have not been lost to this day.
Since ancient times, due to the strongly fragmented terrain and steep slopes, some places up to 45 degrees, making it difficult to grow rice, people here have come up with a method of farming in steps hugging the hillsides. This method helps to limit soil erosion in these rugged areas.
The flood season is also the beginning of the new rice crop. People go to the fields to plow and plant.
Climate and soil conditions only allow people in Hoang Su Phi to grow one rice crop per year. When spring comes, from January to February, people begin to reclaim the land. Bushes are cleared at this time to start the new rice crop in time for the summer. The fields are built high to retain water. Each Hoang Su Phi terraced field is about 0.5m – 1m apart. From May to early July, water is poured into the fields. The stream water flows through a manual water supply system created by the people themselves. Each bank will have a slot to flow from the high terrace to the low terrace. Like that, in about 1 month, water fills all the fields. Although it is handmade, this water supply system is extremely scientific. After the fields are plowed by buffalo, people begin to plant young rice seedlings. In July and August, green seedlings grow and cover the fields. In September and October, the fields are covered in bright yellow when the rice is ripe.
In the morning, Ban Luoc hovers in the clouds. Ban Luoc and Ban Phung are the places with the highest terraced fields in Vietnam.
The beauty of the flooding season in Hoang Su Phi
Not only is it a valuable indigenous knowledge that has been preserved for generations for hundreds of years, Hoang Su Phi terraced fields also create a captivating beauty in the highlands, attracting tourists and photographers to come and explore. From late June to early July, during the water pouring season, the terraced fields are as splendid as giant sparkling mirrors. The entire sky and forests are reflected on the water surface like a watercolor painting.
During the flooding season, terraced fields look like mirrors reflecting the clouds and sky.
The terraced fields of Hoang Su Phi are most beautiful at sunset. At that time, the whole sky is red and pours over the water. Red and purple rays of light swirl around the billowing clouds. The fields also shimmer magically. The space is quiet, with only the sound of wind, flowing water and rustling grass and trees.
Terraced fields in Ban Luoc.
Also in this season, the atmosphere in the terraced fields of Hoang Su Phi is urgent as people start the new rice crop. Buffaloes diligently plow the heavy furrows, loosening the soil. Streams flow through each field, gurgling day and night, covering the fields. Young rice seedlings take root in the ground and cover the hillsides with green. On the roads in the village, adults and children carry baskets to the fields. In the fields, the stooped figures of farmers are planting rice.
Places to see beautiful terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi
Of the total 3,700 hectares of terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi, 1,380 hectares of terraced fields in 11 communes of Ban Phung, Ban Luoc, San Sa Ho, Ho Thau, Thong Nguyen, Nam Ty, Ta Su Choong, Ban Nhung, Po Lo, Thang Tin, and Nam Khoa have been recognized as national scenic sites. These places are endowed by nature with beautiful natural landscapes with overlapping mountains and terraced fields here also have a majestic and overwhelming beauty.
Nam Khoa commune has an area of about 300 hectares of terraced fields, located in 9 villages. Of which, the most beautiful terraced fields in Nam Khoa commune are concentrated in Khoa Ha village.
How to get to Hoang Su Phi
Hoang Su Phi is a district in the west of Ha Giang, 80 km from the center of Ha Giang city.
Hoang Su Phi in the flood season attracts many tourists and photographers to come and explore.
There are two ways to get to Hoang Su Phi. From Hanoi, you can travel by bus to Bac Quang and then rent a motorbike to travel through Thong Nguyen commune of Hoang Su Phi. Alternatively, you can get off the bus in Ha Giang city and ride a motorbike along National Highway 2 and turn onto the road leading to Hoang Su Phi. On this route, you follow DT177 to pass through the terraced fields that are classified as historical sites.
From My Dinh bus station, there are many bus routes to Ha Giang. You can choose the evening bus at around 9pm to arrive in Ha Giang in the early morning. The roads in Hoang Su Phi are in bad condition and are under repair, making it extremely difficult. Drivers must be very careful. In addition, during the flood season, Hoang Su Phi often experiences thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Stay in Hoang Su Phi
With majestic landscapes and diverse indigenous culture, Hoang Su Phi is a land with great potential for developing community tourism. In many localities such as Ban Phung, Ban Luoc, Thong Nguyen, … people have opened homestays to serve guests to stay overnight with many choices, from bungalows to quite comfortable community rooms. In addition, the accommodation facilities also serve meals with unique dishes of their ethnic groups.
Not only is it a treasure trove of indigenous knowledge of the people in Hoang Su Phi, the terraced fields also create a captivating picture. In addition to the terraced fields, when coming to Hoang Su Phi, you can also explore the ancient Shan Tuyet tea plantations, trek to the top of Tay Con Linh, Chieu Lau Thi, explore the cultural space of Hoang Su Phi market… In particular, the ethnic communities here still maintain many unique customs. Hoang Su Phi is also located on the route from Lao Cai to Ha Giang – Cao Bang, a route with majestic and diverse mountain landscapes from the West to the Northeast, which will be a worthy reward for those who love to travel and explore.
