Yen Bai Province’s Mu Cang Chai Mountainous District has 500 hectares of rice terraces in La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha and De Xu Phinh communes, cultivated by the H'mong people for centuries.  The local terraces are among the 2,500 hectares recognised as national heritage sites in 2007 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The locality is about 1,000 metres above sea level, making it impossible to grow rice the same way as in deltas.  Local residents grow rice in terraced fields to prevent water flowing downhill.

Terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai Mountainous District are beautiful all year round.  Visitors in March can see glittering ponds before locals transplant rice seedlings from April to May.  After May, the hills are covered in green until the fields start to turn yellow with ripe rice in early September. 

Here are some photos which showcase the impressive beauty of terraced fields in the mountainous district.

The beauty of rice fields in the northwestern region

Terraced rice fields span from mountain peaks to springs

A view of Cao Pha valley

Rice is grown once a year and totally subject to weather.

Most of the harvesting and preserving stages are manual

A peaceful life

Com is a special dish in the harvest time

Farmers are harvesting rice

Harvesting time is between September and October

Rice is mainly grown in La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, Thao Chua Chai

H’mong children

Terraced fields in La Pan Tan attract many tourists

Cao Pha Valley below the Khau Pha Pass is also among attractive destinations

(Source: VNA)