The rice terraces in Hoang Su Phi
Covered by hundreds of hectares of rice terraces, the region of Hoang Su Phi is a real paradise off the beaten track.
The mountainous district of Hoang Su Phi is located in the western part of Ha Giang province, near the border with China. It is certainly one of the most beautiful areas in this province. Located in the middle of two famous destinations: Bac Ha and Ha Giang city, Hoang Su Phi offers majestic landscapes that fascinate nature lovers. This hidden area is not easily accessible. It takes about 7 hours by car from Hanoi. Therefore, Hoang Su Phi remains an area of wild beauty still untouched by mass tourism.
Hoang Su Phi is considered by many Vietnamese and foreign tourists as the region with the most beautiful rice terraces in the country. It offers you a breathtaking view of the different valleys and the jagged reliefs adorned with rice terraces of all shapes that will amaze you. These dizzying rice fields extend endlessly, looking like eternal staircases to the sky. In addition to the view of the rice fields, you can enjoy a panorama of the karst mountains.
The rice terraces of Hoang Su Phi cover nearly 3,000 hectares and are scattered in most of the communes. The most beautiful of them have 760 hectares of fields spread over six communes of Ban Luoc, San Sa Ho, Ban Phung, Ho Thau, Nam Ty and Thong Nguyen. These rice fields were classified as national heritage in September 2012.
Existing for more than three centuries, the rice terraces of Hoang Su Phi were created by the skilled hands of the ethnic minorities: Dao, Nung, Hmong and La Chi who live in these mountainous regions. To adapt to the mountainous conditions, each ethnic group had to find their own way of working in the fields. The La Chi often practice near their homes, while the Nung and Dao alternate with the forests.
To appreciate the splendor of the rice terraces in Hoang Su Phi, what better than a hike. With a local guide, walk along the winding paths that are often only frequented by locals and a few passionate hikers. You’ll spend nights with local people, and have the opportunity to learn about their way of life, their daily work and their unique culture. At the end of this adventure, there will always be unforgettable memories.
Where to admire the rice terraces of Hoang Su Phi ?
To admire the most majestic fields, head to Ban Luoc and San Sa Ho of the tunica Dao (related to the Kim Mun Lanten Sha of China) and the Nung, Ban Phung of the La Chi, Ho Thau, Nam Ty and Thong Nguyen of the Red Dao. These villages offer famous fields and natural landscapes with mountains, forests, rivers and streams.
Ban Phung
Ban Phung is a small village located near the border with China. This village, home to the minority La Chi ethnic group, is known for its rice terraces often drowned in clouds. The terraced fields of Ban Phung are crouched on steep slopes, alternating with lush green forests. From the center of the village, you can have a panoramic view of the rice terraces composed of colorful stairs leading to the top.
Nam Ty and Thong Nguyen
Located in the southeast of the district, these two villages are home to the Red Dao. They have picturesque rice terraces. Some people say that this is the most beautiful fields of the system of stepped fields at the national level in Hoang Su Phi District.
Ho Thau
It is a Red Dao village. The terraced fields of Ho Thau are immense, as far as the eye can see with undulating hills, not too steep.
Ban Luoc – San Sa Ho
The villages of Ban Luoc and San Sa Ho are mountainous areas with moderate slopes. You will find everywhere terraced fields in the shape of waves and arches. The terraced fields here belong to a group of the Dao tunic ethnic group (kim Mun Lanten Sha) and the Nung.
When to see the rice terraces in Hoang Su Phi ?
It is recommended to visit Hoang Su Phi when the rice terraces are in water and in harvest.
When it rains in Hoang Su Phi in June, the rice terraces are flooded with water, looking like different mirrors reflecting the blue sky. The locals start transplanting young rice into the rice terraces. It takes about a week to complete this task and the rice terraces will have a green hue.
During the harvest season (September-October), all the hills and mountains are covered with big yellow carpets. This is the perfect time to admire the picturesque landscape and take great pictures of the rice terraces of Hoang Su Phi. It is also the time when the fields are bustling with villagers dressed in colorful clothes, who pack the grains in bags and carry them home through the valleys and mountains.
