A Guide To Visit Top Rice Terraces Vietnam

If you have ever heard of the rice terraces, you might know the image of floor and floor of flat rice fields lying on each other. Rice terraces Vietnam are focused in the North, which has long been the traditional rice spirit in Vietnam. And here is the list of the top rice terraces Vietnam and the best time to come around.

The history of rice terraces Vietnam

First of all, let’s come across the history of rice terraces Vietnam. It’s not only the masterpiece of nature but also the talent, creativity, and patience of humans. About 4 centuries ago, the ethnic groups of Mong, Dao, and La Chi... migrated to the Northwest to settle down. But at that time, the four great valleys of the Northwest region were inhabited by indigenous peoples such as Thai and La Ha. Therefore, they had to choose mountain ranges such as Khau Pha (Mu Cang Chai - Yen Bai), Hoang Lien Son (Sa Pa - Lao Cai), and Tay Con Linh (Hoang Su Phi - Ha Giang), places with sizes from 1000 - 1600m above sea level to build villages and set up muong.

With a height of more than 1000m, to create food, they have to find a solution to grow food crops in the mountains. Initially, terraced fields were only formed at the foot of the mountain so that they could actively source water from springs for irrigation. Later, when the population increased, they began to cultivate terraced fields. They gradually rose to the top of the mountain, forming the magnificent terraced fields embracing the mountains today.

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Best time to visit rice terraces Vietnam

It’s not the best time to visit, because each time the rice terraces Vietnam have a unique beauty. However, it’s recommended to travel to these places in the pre-harvest period and during the harvest period.

Before harvest time, local people usually call it the pouring water season. Around 1 month the farmers here water the fields, therefore they’re like large mirrors. In the morning and afternoon, the fields reflect the sun's rays and make the scenery become picturesque. 

 

If the pre-harvest time gives unreal, splendid, and magical pictures, the harvest time is pretty and perfectly suitable for those who love the lively green or golden fields. The time is usually in late September to early October, which is also the peak time of tourism in Sapa, Mu Cang Chai,...

 

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Rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai 

Coming to Mu Cang Chai, the rice terraces of Vietnam will captivate you right at first sight. Any photographer would love to come here to take jaw-dropping photos! Mu Cang Chai, in Yen Bai province, is famous for its stunning Vietnamese rice terraces. During the harvest season, it offers a breathtaking view of golden rice fields with the biggest rice terraces Vietnam and the second largest in the world. Mu Cang Chai rice terraces in Vietnam will enchant visitors with its beautiful tiers of terraced fields. Visitors should not miss seeing the famed Mam Xoi Hill. The terraces form a spherical plate of cooked sticky rice, making for a wonderfully stunning sight. 
 

Rice terraces in Y Ty 

Y Ty is like a dreamland in Northern Vietnam. This is a highland hamlet in Bat Xat District in Lao Cai Province. Y Ty is more than 2000 meters above sea level. This is a great place to combine with Sapa or Bac Ha for a tour of the Northern areas of Vietnam. This little city withinside the northeastern Himalayas boasts an enclave of brilliant rice terraces and highland woods. The Ha Nhi people still wear captivating conventional garb and constructed their dwellings with clay partitions and thatched straw roofs.

More than a land of rice terraces, this place is also suitable for hunting clouds! You can visit Y Ty in late September to take photos of a sea of clouds. 
 

Rice terraces in Sapa 

This location, named one of the seven most beautiful rice terraces in the world by Travel & Leisure magazine (USA), attracts millions of people each year. The Hmong and Dao people's beautifully designed terraced fields, whether huge or little, are visually appealing and perfect for farming. Visitors will be awed by the stunning environment and the exquisite perfume of ripe rice floating in the air while strolling across the huge rice fields and experiencing the enchanting sunrise or sunset. Don't miss Muong Hoa Valley, Ta Phin Village, Lao Chai Village in Ta Van, and Cat Cat Village when visiting Sapa rice terraces in Vietnam during harvest season. 

 

>>> You can combine Sapa with Hanoi and Halong: 5 Days 4 Nights Hanoi - Sapa- Halong

Rice terraces in Hoang Su Phi

Located at the foot of the spectacular Tay Con Linh mountain range, is recognized for its stunning beauty, particularly its superb Vietnamese rice terraces. Despite the difficult travel to Hoang Su Phi, the tranquil and scenic beauty that awaits is well worth the effort. With their brilliant golden colors in fall, the Vietnamese rice terraces of Hoang Su Phi turn into a beautiful spectacle. The water-filled terraced fields are covered with vivid yellow blooms that resemble dispersed spots of sunlight on the slope.

Visitors may immerse themselves in unique activities, such as experiencing the colorful highland marketplaces, in addition to enjoying the majestic rice terraces. Among the exciting attractions is the local liquor store, which sells a lot of maize and beer.
 

Rice terraces in Pu Luong

Pu Luong, named after Thailand's tallest mountain, contains approximately 17,600 hectares and features abundant biodiversity inside its unspoiled tropical rainforests. It is also known as one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam to see the enchanting rice terraces Vietnam.

The terraced fields across the hill slopes convert into a fascinating golden panorama during the rice harvest season, which normally happens from September to October, adding to the attractiveness of Pu Luong with its shimmering yellow coating.
 

Rice terraces in Hong Thai

Hong Thai is a compelling place with its cold climate, clean scenery, and breathtaking mountains. Located 1200m above sea level, this place is home to some of Vietnam's most stunning rice terraces. It is perfect for vacationers because of its mild temperature, beautiful landscapes, spectacular mountains, and rice terraces winding gently along the gorgeous slopes. 

Each season in Hong Thai reveals its beauty. In the spring, vivid flowers blossom, transforming the environment into a rainbow of hues. Summer in Vietnam delivers magnificent green rice terraces that compete for attention under the hot heat. As autumn comes, the terraced fields turn into a golden expanse that is like a flowing silk carpet on the hillsides. In the winter, the mist blankets the region, providing an amazing and magical atmosphere.
 

Rice terraces in Ta Leng

The terraced rice fields of Ta Leng commune, Lai Chau province, are a stunning mix of natural beauty and the skilled hands of the highland region's dedicated "farmer-artists." During the flooding season, the Vietnamese rice terraces here turn into breathtaking watercolor paintings that captivate all tourists' hearts.

These rice terraces Vietnam awaken in the spring from December to February, providing a magnificent landscape of lush green rice shoots. The scenery emanates the grand, plentiful, calm, and romantic atmosphere associated with Vietnamese rice terraces.

The Ta Leng rice terraces take on beautiful golden colors as the harvest season approaches in September and October.
 

Final Thoughts

In Vietnam, there are legends and stories about rice, which show the strong bond between rice fields to the life of Vietnamese people. You can see that in the north, fields are in the style of terraces, instead of the flat fields in the center and in the south. Therefore, rice terraces in Vietnam reveal the endless charm and beauty of the mountainous areas of Vietnam. Each field is like a silk coat, gently embracing the mountains. Furthermore, as a great work of farmers and nature, rice terraces Vietnam is surely an unmissable attraction in Vietnam.

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