In September every year, the land of Mu Cang Chai dons on a shiny yellow shirt of ripe rice fields. The weather already becomes much more pleasant. The cool morning is either accompanied with fog or drizzles.
The terraced fields here spread all over the mountainside, foothills, embracing villages, running away to the far distance, all making color ingredients of a beautiful picture. The green rice fields begin to turn yellow in September. Panicles bend under the weight of grains and terraced fields are dyed yellow, one after another, all pouring down from above in a seemingly endless cover.
Let’s call at the terraced fields in communes of Che Cu Nha, La Pan Tan and De Xu Phinh. Anywhere, visitors can see thousands of rice terraces fields with golden rice, but perhaps the most enchanting moments are in the afternoon when the sun goes down.
Mingling in the yellow carpet of paddy panicles are colors of tribal dresses. A Hmong girl in a colorful skirt is crouching to harvest rice. A Thai girl in a purely white shirt is threshing paddy with guys.
Dubbed as the fingerprints from heaven, Mu Cang Chai terraced fields are an architectural work of art full of creativity from the skillful hands of the Hmong people residing on this land.
Besides terraced fields, Khau Pha pass makes another impressive destination. Not only it is one of Vietnam’s most winding and steepest passes, Khau Pha is also an ideal spot for cloud hunting.
That high feeling as one leisurely drives on the pass, when the majestic beauty of the mountains and forests, the lingering scent of plants and grass on the road and the murmuring whispers of the stream blend together in the gentle autumn winds.
Tourists arrive in Mu Cang Chai not only for the nature, but also for the local people. They wish to capture all the simple, yet rustic moments of highlanders walking to the fields, watching the innocent smiles of tribal children.
For those who are passionate about travel and sightseeing, Mu Cang Chai is always mentioned as a destination in one’s bucket list.
Mu Cang Chai is 300 km northwest of Hanoi or a 6-hour drive. The award Economy Class ticket from Hue/Vinh/Da Nang to Hanoi costs just 7,000 miles/one way, or 11,000 miles/one way from Da Lat/Nha Trang/Ho Chi Minh City/Phu Quoc to Hanoi.
