September marks the beginning of the rice harvest in northwest Vietnam. The terraced fields in Sa Pa, Ta Van, and Y Ty gradually transform into a sea of gold, cascading down the mountainsides into the valleys. Since the beginning of the month, many tourists have flocked to the region to witness this spectacle. Pham Trong Nghia, hailing from Quang Ngai, visited northwest Vietnam on 2/9, dedicating his entire holiday to capturing the breathtaking transformation of the rice paddies in Sa Pa, Ta Van (pictured), and Y Ty.

Ta Van was Nghia's first stop on his rice-viewing journey. From Hanoi, he took a sleeper bus to Sa Pa and then rented a motorbike to travel the 14 km to Ta Van village. Nghia noted that the weather in the Sa Pa and Ta Van area in early September was cool, with occasional light rain. The rice in Ta Van had already begun to turn golden in the first week of September.

"Ta Van is the place that impressed me the most in Sa Pa," Nghia remarked, adding that the entire village is nestled among vast rice terraces, alongside a meandering stream, creating an idyllic scene. He often stopped his motorbike along the road simply to capture the beauty.

In Ta Van, Nghia primarily explored the village and stopped at several cafes. The area is known for its homestays and small cafes situated amidst the golden rice fields, filled with the fragrance of freshly harvested rice. A few recommendations for visitors include L.A Cafe and De Mong Sapa.

Compared to Mu Cang Chai, which Nghia visited during the rice harvest season last September, where the landscape is dominated by vast rice terraces, Ta Van left a more profound impression due to the harmonious blend of rice fields and houses, creating a sense of intimacy.

On the second day of his trip, amidst a light drizzle, Nghia sat at the Viettrekking cafe, overlooking the Muong Hoa railway line and the hillsides covered in ripening rice. He mentioned that the second and third weeks of September are the most beautiful time to visit Sa Pa, when the rice fields are uniformly golden.

A photograph taken from above shows the Muong Hoa valley in Sa Pa, covered in a mosaic of gold and green rice terraces. The Muong Hoa stream winds through the valley, dividing the layered rice paddies. Scattered along the mountain slopes are villages with small houses, and a winding dirt road follows the contours of the hills. In the distance, mountain ranges form a majestic backdrop, highlighting the vibrant and serene golden landscape of the northwest highlands.

The image shows rice terraces along the road from Sa Pa to Y Ty.

From Sa Pa, it took Nghia about 5 hours to ride his motorbike in bad weather, with muddy and slippery roads. Despite the challenging conditions, he found the journey worthwhile as it revealed breathtaking mountain scenery, punctuated by golden rice terraces, making the trip even more memorable. "The scenery was hard to miss. I occasionally stopped by the road to take some pictures, preserving the moment of the ripening rice," Nghia shared.

Nghia arrived in Y Ty at 6 PM and stayed until 2 PM the following day. During the brief morning hours, he managed to visit scenic spots like Choan Then park and A Lu rice fields (pictured). He noted that the rice in Y Ty was also ripening, similar to Sa Pa and Ta Van, with the fields displaying a mix of gold and green.

When descending to A Lu, Nghia relied on Google Maps, but the system directed him through difficult paths. Due to the area's proximity to the border, the phone signal was intermittent, and the app sometimes led him straight into the forest. Asking locals for directions proved challenging, as most did not speak Vietnamese. Fortunately, he encountered a local police officer who guided him to a more accessible route.

According to Nghia, to fully appreciate the beauty of the golden rice season, visitors should choose vantage points from above, where they can take in the panoramic view of the layered rice terraces. Numerous hilltop cafes are also ideal spots to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Before returning to Lao Cai, concluding his rice-chasing journey, Nghia stopped at Choan Then Park (pictured). Located about one kilometer from the center of Y Ty commune, within the Choan Then community tourism village, this place is always bustling with tourists who come to visit, take photos, admire the rice fields, and cloud hunt. During the holiday, the rice in Choan Then was still green, and it only started turning golden from the second week of September.

"The picturesque rice terraces surrounded by the majestic mountains of northwest Vietnam will forever remain in my memory," Nghia said.

Mai Phuong

Photo: Pham Trong Nghia