The rice terraces in Y Ty
Called the “land of fog”, Y Ty is famous not only for its breathtaking landscapes but also for its splendid rice terraces that decorate the sides of the mountains.
Y Ty is a remote area in the west of Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, 70 km from Sa Pa and a few kilometers from the border with China. Its authentic landscapes will make you forget the bustle of the big city. The road to Y Ty is rough, winding and difficult but it is an interesting challenge for those who like to experience and discover the beauty of nature. This true paradise is worth the detour !
This area is an ideal destination to admire the majestic beauty of the rice terraces and clouds rising from the rocky peaks at more than 2,000 meters above sea level in the Nhiu Co San Mountains. The terraced rice fields are stacked in alternating layers of yellow and green, stretching to the horizon as far as the eye can see. These rice fields are even more impressive against the backdrop of white clouds and towering mountains. You can take pictures of clouds moving over the fields that you can’t find anywhere else in Vietnam.
Y Ty is inhabited by the Ha Nhi ethnic group. Despite the altitude and the vast area to cover, the Ha Nhi can create fertile terraces. During your visit, discover the secret technique of Ha Nhi to build and water these terraces. These techniques contribute to make the place not only unique, but also truly amazing. A real work of art! The colors of the Ha Nhi’s clothes blending with the green of the mountains, the blue of the sky and the rice fields are a photographer’s paradise.
When to see the rice terraces in Y Ty ?
In Y Ty, each season has its charm and interest. However, the best periods to contemplate the rice terraces are end of April and September-October.
The season of watering the rice fields lasts from the end of April to May. Local farmers then start to grow rice.
From September to October, it is the harvest season when rice fields are covered with golden yellow color. You will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains and the majestic rice terraces that wind like waves.
Where to see the rice terraces in Y Ty ?
The rice terraces of Y Ty and those of the neighboring communes such as A Lu, Ngai Thau… embrace the mountain ranges and extend to the valleys, creating endless seas of rice.
The Pa Valley
Located on the territory of two communes, Y Ty and Ngai Thau, the Pa valley extends over 5 km from Choan Then village to Thien Sinh bridge. In the local language, The Pa means the field at the foot of the mountain. It is the clearest evidence of the long history of settlement and agricultural production practices: the “great invention” of the Hmong and Ha Nhi peoples. Covering an area of over 233 hectares, the rice terraces of The Pa Valley have been recognized as a national relic.
The rice field of A Lu
A Lu is located on the border between Vietnam and China, 16 km from the center of Y Ty. The rice fields are divided into several small curved plots. During the harvest season, seen from above, A Lu looks like a living painting of yellow and blue colors. In the middle of the fields are the old Ha Nhi mushroom houses, adobe houses covered with thatched roofs.
The road to Ngai Thau
The Ngai Thau road to Y Ty is difficult to travel because of the rocky ground and steep passes, but it is still chosen by many tourists. Along the way you can admire the spectacular scenery of the rice terraces. You will also see houses with cob walls of the Hmong.
Majestic mountains drowned in the golden tones of rice fields mingling with the sea of white clouds, this is what a trip to Y Ty has in store for you and will undoubtedly leave you with an unforgettable memory.
