Mu Cang Chai Terraced fields glitters in irrigation season: not-to-miss tourism destinations

In addition to their harvest time, the terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai) are mesmerizing when the irrigation season comes.

July 05, 2020 | 06:48

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The irrigation season on Mu Cang Chai usually takes place in May and June every year, when summer rains come and provide water for the new crops.

However, due to the relatively low rainfall this year, the irrigation season in Mu Cang Chai has to last until the end of June. Therefore, the time of new crop planting comes differently in each field, up to 1 month in some areas.

At this season, if visiting Mu Cang Chai - the paradise of terraced fields in Vietnam, visitors will have opportunities to admire a shimmering, fanciful, picturesque beauty due to the reflection of the light on fields' water surface.

In total, rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai cover more than 2,200 hectares of land, of which 500 were designated as national heritage sites by Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2007.

CNBC once described "the fields are agricultural feats of precision — rugged mountains blanketed with emerald stairways that, seemingly, ascend to the heavens above."

Home to some 42,000 people, Mu Cang Chai is largely rural. The countryside is dotted with rustically authentic guesthouses and homestays.

One example is Indigenous Homestay, Mu Cang Chai’s top-ranked accommodation on TripAdvisor which boasts 25 “excellent” and two “good” reviews — no others — for the bargain price of $9 a night.

mu cang chai terraced fields in irrigation season not to miss tourism destinations

Agricultural production of Vietnamese mountainous minorities heavily depends on nature.

The beauty of local people working in the majestic nature

The raspberry-shaped terraced fields, a famous tourist spot of Mu Cang Chai has just been irrigated.

Many plots have different crop planting times.

The irrigation season attracts a great number of tourists.

The green color of young seedlings together with the golden brown color of the soil creates vivid pictures.

The shimmering beauty of the terraced fields at sunset.

Mu Cang Chai tourism strength lies in its pristine beauty of nature.

The Mu Cang Chai terraces will be covered in yellow during the harvest season in 3 months to come.

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Valerie Mai

Nestled in the heart of Hanoi, the Temple of Literature stands as a bastion of Vietnamese culture and history, drawing visitors from across the globe who come not just to explore its stunning architecture, but to delve deep into the rich academic heritage it symbolizes. Originally built in 1070 under the reign of Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the temple is Vietnam’s first national university and remains a key attraction for those seeking to understand the country’s intellectual traditions and Confucian heritage.

November 07, 2024 | 09:24