ESCAPING THE CITY FOR A MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

People visit Yen Bai primarily to see the rice terraces, eat delicious dishes made from nuggets, and immerse themselves in the refreshing hot spring water. But, thanks to Hoi, a Tay ethnic friend from college, I recently learned about Lam Thuong Valley, a name that many people haven't heard of because it's very wild, peaceful, and, most importantly, untouristed. Many times, I've put work aside to carry my backpack to the remote mountain village to "hide."

On an early winter day, I took a 5-hour sleeper bus from Hanoi to the Luc Yen district of Yen Bai. After another 15 kilometers of zigzagging road in a motorbike taxi, I arrived at Tong Pang (Tông Pắng) village, Lam Thuong commune, which is nearly 260 kilometers from the capital.

It was almost noon because it was 7 a.m., and the villages deep in the Lam Thuong valley gradually appeared before my eyes. There is only one way to get to the valley. People in the village continue to raise livestock in order to be self-sufficient in food. When you visit Lam Thuong, you will see traditional Tay (Tày) stilt houses, streams, and waterfalls deep in the jungle, and even caves and high mountains with few footprints.

If you arrive in Lam Thuong, the majority of visitors will stop at The Xới – Xôi Farmstay. It is also the only homestay where you can experience the life of a genuine Tay ethnic family. She is a 9X Tay girl who has returned to her hometown after many years of learning to travel and work as a guide, transforming her own home into a place to welcome visitors, combining gardening and fish ponds to increase production for her family. As soon as I stepped through the gate, the entire family, from the elderly to the children, greeted me with questions, smiles, and kindness that made me feel at ease.

Initially, guests were just friends of the brothers in the house, but as time passed, someone shared and made small tours on their own, and eventually, foreign guests learned about it and chose it as a place to rest and relax. The longer he stayed in his hometown, the more he realized that his home and hometown could become a destination for those who prefer to live slowly, enjoy nature, and seek to rediscover themselves. As a result, she has decided to "escape to her hometown" as a homestay until now. I secretly admire you, one of the young people who dare to be themselves, to build a dream, and to lay the first brick for Lam Thuong to become a destination for those who want to learn about indigenous culture.

DIVE INTO THE PEACEFUL NATURE

On my first day in Lam Thuong, Xới took me to the Nặm Chắn waterfall, which is about 6 kilometers from my house. Because the waterfall water from the watershed flows out, it is very clear and cool, and both villagers and visitors agree that bathing is very enjoyable. People travel to the falls through rice fields, palm trees with umbrellas, and bamboo forests with green bamboo. If you can still see people's houses and flocks of ducks snuggling in the first paragraph, the next paragraph will be just you and the mountains and forests are overgrown with trees. Although the road has improved and can be ridden by motorcycle, most visitors to the falls prefer to trek. We crept into the forest to find the waterfall in the last days of the year, stomping our feet on the rustling dry leaves, following the sound of the Khuoi Luong stream, and then to the big waterfall. We stopped, closed our eyes, and took a deep breath before sitting down on the waterfall to feel the cool water around our feet, and soon saw the small fish come to "massage" us very pleasantly. If you want to push yourself even further, you can climb over large sprawling rocks and swerve through the last dense bushes to reach the top of the falls while watching the saliva splash white underfoot. The sound of the waterfall rumbling and flowing in unison with the sound of birds chirping in the middle of a lush forest. Visitors from noisy cities, like me, want to sit there forever, soaking in the atmosphere and sounds of the mountains and forests.

The fresh stream flows down from the waterfall at Nặm Chắn.

Stream flowing from the Nặm Chắn waterfall.

We returned home in the evening to eat a meal prepared by Xới's parents using the same ingredients as before, including chicken, rabbit, fish, and fresh vegetables. The warm meal in the yellow light of the courtyard at the foot of the stilt house was occasionally accompanied by laughter. Then, as the village went to sleep, we, strangers still sitting together, told headless stories, heard insects chirping, and gazed up at the starry sky before falling asleep.

Tày people's rustic dish of grilled skewered pork.

The next day, I borrowed a bicycle by myself and cycled around the villages of Tông Pắng, Tông Pình Cại, and Thâm Pất. Even though I had harvested all of the golden roots smelling of ripe rice, I was engrossed in watching the field and inhaling the clear air. Valley Lam Thuong was surrounded by mountains and forests, and he noticed clouds swooping down on the roofs early in the morning. Because the villagers are farmers, they frequently get up early, cook breakfast, release cattle, and then go to the field to work as a refuge. As a result, if you look up at the high mountains and see the sun shining, blue smoke has surrounded the palm roofs when you look down at the village.

After breakfast, Xới led us to climb Khau Chảu mountain more than 2km from home. Because the road is not too long but steep, everyone must eat well to climb without faltering. The way up the mountain does not have streams or waterfalls, but in return, it passes many orchards and green trees, and wherever they go, whether patrons or strangers, they are happily invited by the villagers. Along the way, you also encounter herds of cows, buffaloes grazing, and uncles crossing the forest road to harvest corn and bamboo shoots at the end of the season.

Tourists climb Mount Khau Chảu.

Everyone is surprised at the top of Khau Chau Mountain because the peak is not pointed but flat like plain, green grass and dotted with a few large palm trees. Khau Chau is only a few hundred meters high, but the route up many steep sections, whoever comes to Lam Thuong, just set foot in the Tay stilt house, you will immediately feel the airiness as well as the villagers' hospitality.

The Tay people here primarily farm, growing rice, corn, and crops, as well as raising cattle and poultry. Every family has a fish pond in addition to the vast rice fields that cover the valley. Water from mountain streams flows in, keeping the pond stocked with food for the fish and ducks. Many households have more chickens, pigs, rabbits, and dragon fruit plants... Lam Thuong people make many fresh specialties to treat guests, such as purple sticky rice, fish, gourd duck, native chicken, bamboo shoots, and spring moss, thanks to the fertile soil and abundant spring water.

During the harvest season, rice fields become fragrant.

A meal in the village costs only 80,000-150,000 VND but provides both eyes and a full stomach. If you do not order rice at people's homes, trekking journeys, picnics, or streams, there is a shack where you can make a field meal when purchasing meat and fish in the village. Local chickens and ducks roam the field, ensuring that the meat is firm and chewy; fish raised in ponds for natural spring water should be consumed, particularly fish that is not fishy but also very valuable.

Currently, an Xới house serves as a community tourism service in Lam Thuong. Although the village is small, visitors from far away come to the house every year to play Tet and experience the idyllic life and very unique culture of the Tay people. He builds a pair of small stilt houses next to the stream, right next to the big house, for guests to enjoy some privacy when accompanying the couple or family, in addition to the large house that three or four generations of families live in.Upper green rice season in Lâm Thượng Valley.

And if you come here during the Tet holiday, you won't have to travel far because the Tay people in the village already have specialties in the house. They slaughtered pigs to eat until January, prepared kitchen meat, pork sauce, cooked fish, and gourd ducks, wrapped flowers to offer rice to ancestors and traveled long distances to treat guests. Tet visitors can try on traditional indigo dresses, shop for holiday items, go to the market, and actively participate in folk games such as tug of war, pushing sticks, blindfolds, and duck catching.

Lam Thuong does not have particularly unique or well-known scenery, but hidden within him are the breath of peace and soul, quiet but warm nights, and mornings full of clear clouds that cause everyone to feel lightheaded in a moment of simple but profound happiness.

Source: Hương Chi

Thac Ba Lake is known as a wonder of Yen Bai province and has been designated as a National Scenic Historic Site since 9/1996.The large and small islands of various shapes on the surface of Thac Ba Lake are the tops of bowl-style hills resembling midland terrain. These islands will be used to grow specialized crops.Thac Ba Lake is exploited for tourism with a variety of accompanying services, such as sightseeing boat rides on the lake, based on its charming landscape.On Thac Ba Lake, a local fisherman catches shrimp and fish.Initially, the primary function of Thac Ba hydropower was to provide a stable source of electricity to meet the living needs of people in the North, which served as the foundation for the construction and development of key economic sectors. Later, the lake will be used to regulate and mitigate floods in the delta, as well as to develop Yen Bai tourism and to improve the environment and natural ecosystem.The Thac Ba Hydropower Dam Memorial, located on the dam's surface, honors those who helped build, fight for, and sacrifice for the North's first hydropower project.The lake's water source is the Flowing River itself; the lake has a clear blue watercolor and is surrounded by lush green vegetation. The lake is located in the Yen Bai province's districts of Luc Yen and Yen Binh.In addition to the flowing river, Thac Ba Lake has another river system that pours in, increasing the lake's large amount of silt and abundance of species.This area had two strong-flowing waterfalls known to locals as Thac Ong (Thác Ông) and Thac Ba (Thác Bà) before being exploited to build a hydroelectric dam.Currently, in the rising water season, the water surface area is greater, the islands are lower, and the landscape is changing as a result. Tourists believe that during the shallow water season, Thac Ba Lake will be more beautiful and that the color of the lake bed will be more diverse.Aerial view of the Thac Ba hydropower lake.

Source: Hữu Nghị

The scenery of Mu Cang Chai impresses female tourists (Photo: Riri Phuong Trinh).

Phuong Trinh (24 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) has just returned from a 9-day-8-night trip with friends to conquer the Northwest provinces, with Mu Cang Chai being the most anticipated and impressive destination (Yen Bai).

"Mu Cang Chai is stunningly beautiful and serene. My group consists of friends who are passionate about travel and prefer to travel independently rather than on tours so that they can freely experience their favorite destinations and immerse themselves in local activities and culture "Phuong Trinh stated.

Many tourists enjoy Mu Cang Chai's self-sufficient travel (Photo: Riri Phuong Trinh).

Many tourists have flocked to Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai) in the last ten days to celebrate the arrival of the rice season. Many young tourists prefer to travel independently rather than on tours or in groups, particularly those coming from the north, such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh...

The most common itinerary is 2 days 1 night or 3 days 2 nights for 1.5 - 2 million VND/person.

Tourists frequently visit Mu Cang Chai for two days and one night or three days and two nights (Photo: Quynh Trang).

According to a number of travel agencies, northern mountainous tour products, particularly the mu Cang Chai golden season tour, continue to attract visitors. Many units exceeded their goals and quickly increased the number of tours available to meet the needs of visitors.

"We served approximately 3,000 visitors to the northern mountainous tours during the 2/9 holiday period."

Despite the fact that we evaluated the golden season tour's appeal, this is still a rather surprising number. "With the Mu Cang Chai tour, we need to open more tours on a regular basis to meet the needs of our customers," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Hien, Deputy Director of PYS Travel.

Vietravel has also received over 6,500 visitors who have registered to book northern mountainous tours.

According to Mr. Bui Thanh Tu, Marketing Director of BestPrice Travel Company, tourists from the North frequently visit Mu Cang Chai for three days and two nights.

This type of visitor frequently books car combos - hotels or hotels. Meanwhile, visitors from the south tend to prefer package tours. "Southern customers can combine Mu Cang Chai tours with visits to Hanoi, Ha Long, and Ninh Binh," Tu explained.

According to research, the cost of a Mu Cang Chai tour package (from Hanoi) is between 1.6 and 2 million VND/person/2D1D and between 2.7 and 3 million VND/person/3D2. For visitors from the south, the Mu Cang Chai tour package costs around 5 million VND/person/3D2D. Many discount programs are also implemented by travel agencies when customers buy tour products in groups, book early...

Mu Cang Chai still has a limited number of accommodation establishments and tourism services. If you book late on the weekend of 9-10 months, it is difficult for visitors to find a suitable room. As a result, many people prefer package tours for the best service.

Furthermore, package tours are ideal for office visitors with limited time. Ms. Pham Ha (Hoang Mai, Hanoi) and her colleagues recently returned from Mu Cang Chai. To save time and have the best schedule and service, the group opts for a 2-day-1-night tour, which costs about 1.5 million VND per person.

The route to Mu Cang Chai's famous check-in points, such as Png Luong commune bamboo forest, Raspberry Hill (La Pán Tẩn commune), and Horseshoe hill... is quite difficult. As a result, visitors are frequently required to ride a motorbike taxi of locals from the gathering point to the most beautiful point, which costs between 80,000 and 100,000 VND per person.

"There was congestion in the motorbike taxi park area at Horseshoe Hill in the afternoon of August 18," Ha said.

Mu Cang Chai Timetable: 2 days, 1 night

During the night, visitors from Hanoi can take a Limousine. The average travel time is 6 hours (starting at 10 pm).

On day one, visitors can rent a car and drive themselves to Tu Le to see how nuggets are made, then to the tourist culture of Búng Sổm, Lìm Mông village to see ripe rice and learn about the lives of local ethnic people. These two versions have a lot of unexplored territories. After that, you can go to Khau San Pass to see the golden ripe rice valley and go paragliding.

Visitors are drawn to the paragliding experience (Photo: Hien Mai).

Day two takes visitors to Raspberry Hill, Mu Cang Chai town, and Horseshoe Hill.

Visitors should book their accommodations 5-10 days in advance (Photo: Hien Mai).

Visitors should dress in bright colors to stand out in the middle of nature, and bring comfortable, easy-to-move shoes/sandals.

The white costumes will look great in the setting of the ripe rice season at Mu Cang Chai (Photo: Riri Phuong Trinh).

Note

Nguyen Thi Quynh Trang (Hanoi, 2001) shared: "Currently, transportation to Mu Cang Chai is very convenient, and visitors can easily refer to the schedule from bloggers, so many young people, including myself, prefer to travel independently. Mu Cang Chai's services are not diverse, but they are reasonably priced, with no price tag status ".

However, in Quynh Trang's experience, self-sufficient visitors to Mu Cang Chai should keep the following points in mind:

- Research coach houses thoroughly to avoid units with poor service that have received a lot of negative feedback. Currently, many tourists reflect the situation of overcrowded sleeper buses on the Hanoi-Mu Cang Chai route.

- The weather in Mu Cang Chai on September - 10 is quite complicated, and sunny - rain is erratic, so visitors should bring more windbreakers and raincoats. The weather forecast is not always accurate in relation to the actual local situation.

- Avoid going on weekends to avoid overcrowding.

- Visitors will require a solid steering wheel to navigate difficult roads to the check-in location.

Source: Toàn Vũ

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

Tà Chì Nhù (in Xà Hồ commune, Trạm Tấu district) is known as "Yen Bai roof," "cloud paradise in the lower world," and stands 2,979m tall. This is also Vietnam's seventh highest peak, and tourists first conquered it in 2013.

Tà Chì Nhù is a popular climbing destination not only for cloud hunting but also for the beauty of the purple flower that grows wild on the hillsides. That is a flower.

The name comes from the fact that when people ask about wild purple flowers, the natives also say "chi pâu" (Hmong means "do not know", "do not understand"). Because no one knows where this flower came from or what it's called.

Just know that every year in late autumn, from September to October, the brilliant purple color of this wildflower can be found all over the hills and mountains of Tà Chì Nhù.

Tà Chì Nhù Peak

The best time to see the flowers is from mid-September to early October, while from November to March of the following year, Tà Chì Nhù becomes the ideal cloud hunting coordinates for visitors.

Mr. Do Van Tuyen, who has "hunted" flowers on Tà Chì Nhù twice, claims that there are two ways to reach the peak.

To begin, visitors should take the Hanoi - Trạm Tấu (Yen Bai) road. There are numerous places to eat, rest, and shower. This is another popular trail, but the road is quite steep and difficult to navigate.

Alternatively, visitors can take a sleeper car from Hanoi to Nghia Lo town and spend the night there before taking a car or motorbike the next morning to run directly to the climbing point, which is about 30 kilometers away.

Second, visitors can ascend via the newly opened route that follows the Hanoi - Ngoc Chien (Son La) route. However, this walkway has fewer food and sleeping options, but the road is less steep.

From a distance, the flower field appears to be a giant purple carpet suspended between the hillsides.

The flowers are as lovely as buckwheat flowers (Ha Giang), plum blossoms (Son La), peach blossoms (Lao Cai), and so on.

The total distance traveled from the beginning of the climb (Lead Mine - Mỏ Chì) to the resting shack at 2400m is approximately 6km. Tà Chì Nhù, about 3 kilometers away, can be seen from the resting shack. The average person takes about 2 hours to reach the summit, according to the guides.

The road to the Lead Mine - Mỏ Chì is quite difficult to walk; it is all gravel with rocks, so it takes a long time to move, approximately 9-10 hours to begin climbing. Leo begins at 9 a.m. until around 4 p.m. The next day was spent at the rest stop.

Guests rest, eat at the rest shack, and get up early in the morning, about 4 hours, to begin their ascent. If you go early, you will arrive at the top in time for dawn, allowing you to capture a romantic moment on high.

"Climbers must walk the forest road for about 20 kilometers, including the return trip," Tuyen explained. "The road to conquer Tà Chì Nhù is primarily bare hills, so climbing is nearly impossible in the sun, and slippery in the rain."

Before visiting Tà Chì Nhù, visitors must first navigate the road through the complex mountainous terrain of the Hoang Lien Son range, which includes many steep slopes and a harsh climate.

Visitors can admire the beautiful scenery on the top of the high mountain at the end of their climbing journey.

According to him, visitors should pay attention to preparing for good health and fitness before climbing for several days due to the high altitude. Moving the forest road for two days with limited food and drink will erode climbers' health and make travel difficult.

It is not recommended that those without climbing experience attempt this journey on their own. Visitors can join groups, go on guided tours, and have porters help them transport their belongings.

Furthermore, visitors should learn more about how to deal with situations such as centipede snakes, hypoglycemia, fainting, heat stroke, and so on.

The flowers are light purple and grow in clusters on steep cliffs in the mountains.

Visitors can see goats grazing on the cliffs at the top of Tà Chì Nhù, along with dreamy purple flowers.

Although the path to Tà Chì Nhù peak is difficult, visitors will find the effort well worth it when they see the poetic scenery, such as the European sky on a field of chi beard flowers.

The flowers are arranged in small bunches that are not as dark as lavender but are a delicate, pure white color. Flowers bloom on the mountain slopes, creating a soft, picturesque purple scene.

According to many climbers, in addition to watching and photographing chi beard flowers, visitors to Tà Chì Nhù can also hunt clouds and catch the romantic sunrise.

Source: Khải Anh - Photo: Đỗ Văn Tuyến

On the 9th, when the blue sky stopped and was flecked with white clouds that fluttered like a chiffon scarf on the shoulders of the young woman, when the yellow crocodile leaves ran under the wind, when the sun was only passionate and not harsh, golden without brilliance, and when people's hearts suddenly sagged before the old lotus leaf, is the time when the desire to roam the Northwest roads suddenly arises from the depths of the soul.

Terraced fields will have a golden color on the Northwest's hilly peaks and hills in less than a month. From the base of the mountain to the clear blue sky, the Hmong's ladders to the sky appeared to be lavishly covered with gold inlay.

The Hmong people's terraces in the Tu Le valley, La Pán Tẩn, and Mu Cang Chai are incredibly lovely. The Hmong people have formed large and small fields with the same level of sugar, the same height, and the same water level to create the most beautiful rice terraced field population in Vietnam using only a butterfly hoe (small tongue hoe, butterfly-shaped), the strength of their hands, and thousands of years of experience.

The fields were lined up and as dark as piano keys, and many metropolitan tourists were astounded by them. The limitless music of mountains and forests, the mountain breeze, the split water, and the laughing of the harvest are all mingled with those warm, vibrant keys.

As a result, many travelers enjoy Mu Cang Chai's golden season. Highway 32 suddenly crushed many people who "left the street in the forest," hoping to shake off the dusty, dull, and busy city to live a few days in the wilderness. As the hillsides turned from green to yellow, online forums and Facebook pages were filled with plans to "go on a golden season" throughout the South and North.

Move along! Like a snake eating an apple, the words were like honey flowing into one's ears. The distance between Hanoi and Mu Cang Chai, as determined by wheel spins, is 380 kilometers; nevertheless, the route is winding, writhing like a snake, with a high mountain on one side and a deep abyss on the other.

Visitors are happy to ignore Tu Le on their journey to Mu Cang Chai's golden season. It was a tiny valley that was just stunning. When the cliffs by the wayside are painted purple by the setting sun, stop here.

According to the saying "Glutinous Tu Le, Muong Lo," Tu Le is well known for its glutinous rice. So, pick up a bowl of five-color sticky rice that has been made with Tu Le sticky rice right now. This season, the rice has just been harvested and freshly pounded, so the aroma is present from the moment a grain of rice is formed. How then can it be resisted when the alluring smell in the passenger's palm and throat turns the sticky nut into sticky rice?

For many years to come, that aroma will linger in the soul and develop into a scent that generates remembrance. So that anytime the yellow leaves rustle, people's hearts are flooded with memories of a mountain sunset, sitting in the mountain wind with their soulmates, and delicately tossing a sticky bird or slicing magically folded Thai nuggets.

The beginning of Mù Cang Chải is at Khau Phạ cloud pass, also known as the Horn of Heaven in Thai. The Khau San Pass is a 30-kilometer-long mountain pass with a high point of 1,500 meters above sea level. It resembles a horn sticking through a sea of clouds to reach the sky.

Here, it's cloudy virtually all the time. If you are fortunate enough to see a clear day while standing at the summit of Khau San Pass, look down at the Cao San field below were yellow, green, and brown specks form a beautiful carpet.

The Hoàng Liên Sơn Range encircled a plateau in the middle of which Mù Cang Chải abruptly appeared after reaching the top of the pass. The aroma of ripe rice wafting from the smooth terraces fills the area.

Because the Golden Season of Mu Cang Chai is a huge artwork with numerous various components and viewpoints, the beauty of it is so varied that the eyes cannot be filled. Simply go and have a look to appreciate the various terraces' charms.

These are delicate, twisting landscapes that in La Pán Tẩn resemble the imprints of heaven and earth. The Lìm Mông village is shrouded in thick white clouds, blocking the blue sky, leaving these golden fields illuminated by the autumn sun. It was the erratically moving golden streaks in Chế Cu Nha and Dế Xu Phình's sky.

The guests' emotions are charmed when a bee loses its sense of direction while walking among these rice cutting boards during this wonderful autumn period with the sun and breeze. In the midst of the aroma of golden wave rice, the city lights abruptly went out and turned into a dream.

Who visits the golden season in September?

Source: Parsley

Photographer Phu Tran, who resides and works in Saigon, recently visited Yen Bai on the advice of a friend. When he first arrived, he decided to make Van Yen district, which is located northwest of Yen Bai province, his final stop. Even though this area of Vietnam is not very well-known among tourists, there are nonetheless stunning and pastoral sights that will leave newcomers "speechless." He declared that travelers and photographers should visit this land at least once, particularly in the summer.

Fresh air

In the final month of summer, when many locations are still experiencing oppressive heat waves, Yen Bai (in the northern midlands and mountains) experiences cool, pleasant weather. Weatherspark records show that May 8 is the most comfortable day of the year in Yen Bai, making it the best day to avoid the heat. The usual temperature is around 27 C. Backpackers may simply "seek clouds" in the mornings and afternoons because they are frequently cloudy.

Affordable price

Hotels in Yen Bai are quite inexpensive when compared to other "popular" tourist spots in Vietnam. The average nightly rate for spacious, spotless double rooms with breathtaking views is 300,000 VND. It is more affordable to travel in large groups. The location is convenient for sightseeing.

In addition, a lot of people can afford the cost of food. Diners may enjoy a bowl of pho with a ton of tasty garnishes for about 25,000 VND. Alternatively, a roast duck with wild veggies that serves four costs 200,000 VND.Opulent regional food

Yen Bai is the best place to go if you love learning about the local culture and cuisine. Many diners are interested in trying dishes with wild veggies in addition to more well-known options like roast duck and pho. Fish roll leaves are one of the specialties you shouldn't miss in particular.

The dish is prepared using small fish species that are naturally found in streams. The fish is then returned to simple preparation before being rolled in leaves collected from the forest and dipped in a spicy dipping sauce. This dish has a strong mountain flavor that will help you remember it for good. "Even rice is not healthy to eat. Local rice is adaptable, fragrant, and goes incredibly well with fish stock "said Phu.Stunning sceneries

Due to the fact that it is currently the green rice season, Yen Bai is one of the attractions for "tourist junkies" at this time. The long terraced fields are an eye-catching attraction for tourists. The paparazzi should use this opportunity to set up and snap "virtual" pictures.

In particular, in the region inside the mountain Nà Hẩu Nature Reserve, the waterfall has lovely flowing water as you drive along the routes up the mountain into the stream. Early in the morning, travelers rise up to go "cloud hunting," ride motorcycles across the passes and wade through streams deep inside the forest. Unspoiled landscapes, and caves—ideal for adventurers who enjoy trekking and climbing.Easy to move

The route in Yen Bai is not difficult to walk, even for ladies, aside from the passes where the driver needs to steady the steering wheel or the dirt roads where the vehicle should move slowly. Visitors can take a bus to Yen Bai for roughly 180,000 VND one way from Noi Bai Airport. For convenience, make your appointments in advance. Visitors can either rent a private car or a motorcycle when they arrive to travel alone. A seven-seater automobile costs roughly 1.2 million VND per day to hire. Therefore, it will be more economical to travel in large groups.

You should make plans right away to visit Yen Bai and other Northwest provinces. September is when the rice in Yen Bai starts to gradually turn yellow, encircling the pass, the mountains, and the highland valleys, enhancing the beauty of the surroundings. Here are some ideas for you to go "rice hunting": Cao Phạ Valley, La Pán Tẩn, Sáng Nhù, Mù Cang Chải,..

Source: Vi Yen - Phu Tran