The Golden Season from the Northwest “Back of the Sky”
Visitors can see ripe rice while paragliding from Khau Phạ Pass, as well as the wild and majestic beauty of the mountain soaring like a horn in the blue sky.
Nguyen Thao Nhi (28 years old, Binh Tan district, Ho Chi Minh City) rushed forward after hearing the pilot's departure signal. The red parachute took off in a split second, soaring into the air.
It was sunny, clouds flew across her head, and she couldn't help but be amazed by the captivating beauty of the Northwest mountains as she looked down.
In Mu Cang Chai, you can parachute over a sea of ripe rice.
The Khau Phạ paragliding point in Mu Cang Chai district is one of four beautiful flying spots in the country.
Thao Nhi safely landed at the landing site in Cao Phạ commune after 15 minutes of experiencing the sensation of wild birds (Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai).
Thao Nhi revealed that she had to wait several years for this unique experience. Knowing about the annual ripe rice season paragliding festival a few years ago, due to the epidemic's impact, Thao Nhi arrived in Yen Bai in 2021. However, when she arrived in Mu Cang Chai last year, she was forced to return to Ho Chi Minh City due to an unexpected job.
Thousands of people flock to the Northwest highlands during the rice harvest to experience the sensation of flying in the sky.
To carefully prepare for the trip, she contacted a paragliding company about a week in advance in 2022. Nhi chose a 9-seat limousine priced at VND 600,000 to travel over 2,000 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi in mid-September (Mu Cang Chai district). She contacted the paragliding organizer and requested transportation to the take-off point.
Nhi previously paraglided in Son Tra Peninsula (Da Nang), but the experience of flying in Khau Phạ Pass and viewing the rice terraces is unique.
One of the appealing travel trends that draws a large number of young people to experience discovery is flying umbrellas.
The Khau Phạ Pass connects the Yen Bai province districts of Van Chan and Mu Cang Chai. This is one of Vietnam's "four great passes," known for its ruggedness. With an elevation of about 1,200 meters above sea level, the pass is fogged in all year.
The Thais called the pass Khau Phạ, which means "horn of heaven," while the Hmong called it "sour" (windy mountain).
What's more exciting than paragliding? Instead of watching the terraces from a low altitude, you never expect a picturesque view to appear right in front of you.
As a result, tourists like Thao Nhi can take off paragliding from Khau Phạ Pass and not only see the ripe rice but also admire the wild and majestic beauty of the mountain soaring like a horn in the blue sky.
Mr. Nguyen Huy Tuan (32, Dong Da district, Hanoi) enjoys traveling and participating in extreme sports as a technology engineer. Paragliding during the golden season is a perfect match for both of his interests.
Mr. Tuan, his wife, and their children took a private car to the Mu Cang Chai district. He volunteered to take his wife and children to famous ripe rice check-in points like Raspberry and Horseshoe Hill...
Weekend paragliding was extremely popular, so Tuan's father and son had to wait more than a day for their turn. "When I discovered that the sport was appropriate for young children, I decided to purchase a ticket for my 12-year-old son to participate. We were accompanied by professional pilots during the flight, so we felt very safe and confident "Tuan stated.
The most appealing experience that makes you fall in love with the journey to Mu Cang Chai is parachuting.
Because it is the peak season for watching rice ripen, the paragliding service is frequently overcrowded on weekends, so Vu Dieu Linh (Long Bien, Hanoi) and a group of three friends booked a flight during the week. Linh stated that the group had booked a two-day, one-night trip to Mu Cang Chai. They pay 2.2 million VND per person for paragliding tickets purchased separately.
Linh stated that she was nervous before flying, so she researched the sport. However, prior to takeoff, Linh was meticulously guided by the pilots. Linh only needs to coordinate smoothly and follow the pilot's instructions for a successful flight.
"My favorite moment is when I lift my feet off the ground and feel as if I've grown a new pair of wings," the Hanoi girl explained.
Linh enjoys the smoothness of flying parachutes, and the pilot occasionally makes swings that give her more thrills in the sky. Linh, in particular, can save those costly moments with video equipment and take Gopro photos to create memories or share with friends.
"The previous afternoon, after several flights, the pilots terminated the flight due to unfavorable weather conditions. After days of waiting, many passengers beg to fly. However, for the sake of the visitors' safety, the pilots flatly refused. As a result, I realized that they work very professionally and always prioritize the safety of visitors "Dieu Linh contributed.
Skydiving on the vast terraces and traveling through the hills and mountains will undoubtedly be unforgettable memories.
Many visitors come to Mu Cang Chai during the ripe rice season to take part in the skydiving festival and watch the rice ripen.
Mr. Dang Van My - paragliding coach of Mebayluon Paragliding, head of the organizing committee of Mu Cang Chai Paragliding 2022 - has been in Mu Cang Chai for about 2 months now to serve tourists from all over the world flocking to Yen Bai.
According to Mr. Dang Van My, Khau San Peak is one of the best places to paraglide. This flight point has a significant difference, as do many other destinations in Vietnam. However, because of the mountainous terrain, visitors who paraglide at Khau San Pass have the sensation of flying higher than at other points.
Visitors to Kha San can not only see the terraces from above but also learn about the Hmong and Thai cultures and breathe in the fresh air.
Experimenting with one of the "four great passes."
The Khau San Pass at Mu Cang Chai is beautiful all year, but there are only two seasons suitable for skydiving. It's the season of ripe rice and of pouring water.
Professional paragliding pilots from Vietnam and many other countries, including Indonesia and Nepal, have gathered in Mu Cang Chai in recent days to participate in the Festival Paragliding Mu Cang Chai 2022. They've also helped hundreds of tourists fly through the sky to see the terraces. Every day, 30-70 flights are made here, depending on wind and weather conditions.
The rice ripening season in Mu Cang Chai is currently at its peak; by the end of October, the rice will be harvested. Along with visiting places like Tu Le, Raspberry Hill, La Pán Tẩn, and the "dinosaur spine,"... When visiting Yen Bai during the golden season, you should also try your hand at paragliding.
The Mu Cang Chai Paragliding Festival 2022 attracts approximately 100 domestic and international pilots. This is a highlight that contributes to the realization of the goal of developing Mu Cang Chai district into a tourist district for this area. The paragliding festival will take place in the Khau San pass area until the end of October 2022.
Source: Toàn Vũ - Phạm Hồng Hạnh