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Text and photos: Lam Linh
Y Tý commune is located in the western part of Bát Xát district, Lào Cai province, about 100 km from Lào Cai city. Known as the "land of mist," it boasts stunning terraced rice fields and some of the most beautiful traditional houses in Lào Cai province.
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| The scenery of Y Tý - one of the rugged and remote areas of Northwest Vietnam. |
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| When traveling to Y Tý, don't rush; take your time to admire life in the highlands of our country. |
Travel
Allocate 2.5 days, or even a week depending on how adventurous you are, to ride your motorbike from Hanoi to Y Tý. A budget of 2 million VND should give you some peace of mind.
Alternatively, from Hanoi, take an overnight train to Lao Cai, arriving at the station at 7 am. You can also choose to travel to Lao Cai by overnight bus, departing from My Dinh bus station.
The road to Y Tý branches into two routes, both covering over 100km. The route from Lao Cai goes through Trinh Tuong, then loops up to Lung Po, where the Red River flows into Vietnam, past A Mu Sung, and finally to Y Tý. The road winds through ancient forests, passing sparsely populated cardamom plantations and villages nestled on the mountainside. It's a challenging and difficult road, best suited for experienced motorbike riders.
The road from Lao Cai - Sapa to Muong Hum, Den Thang, Den Sang, A Lu to Y Ty is more beautiful and easier to travel. You can ride a motorbike or car on this road, but be careful as there are many hairpin bends and slippery sections that can be challenging.
From Sapa and Lao Cai, you can rent a motorbike to ride up to Y Ty. Choose a sturdy motorbike with good brakes and a repair kit to be prepared for any unexpected situations along the way.
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| Children on their way to school. |
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| Everyday tasks. |
Beauty scene
Y Tý is nestled deep in the mountains, surrounded on all sides by high peaks, and shrouded in mist year-round. At an altitude of 2,000 meters, it leans against the Nhiu Co San mountain range, whose peak reaches 2,660 meters, rarely seeing full sunlight throughout the day. The town is nestled beside the mountains, along winding dirt roads. In this peaceful valley, Y Tý is beautiful because of its clouds, its mountains, the colors of its ancient forests, its golden terraced rice fields, and the most beautiful traditional houses in Lao Cai, belonging to the Ha Nhi ethnic people in the two villages of Lao Chai 1 and Lao Chai 2.
In Y Tý, you'll be delighted to encounter the Saturday market, a vibrant spectacle of colorful women from the Hà Nhì ethnic group wearing traditional three-leaf hairpins and braided woolen wigs, Hmong women in their flared skirts, and Dao women with their brightly colored peacock-patterned scarves. The produce they carry to the market in baskets consists of homegrown agricultural products and handmade brocade fabrics.
More specifically, come and explore the stunning rammed-earth houses, considered the most beautiful in Lao Cai, in the two villages of Lao Chai 1 and Lao Chai 2.
Rest
In Y Tý, you don't have many options because most guesthouses are stilt houses opened by locals to serve tourists. The guesthouses are all simple rooms with limited electricity and water. It's advisable to contact them in advance to secure accommodation if you're traveling in a large group, especially with the guesthouses owned by Ms. Hầu Thu Mỷ and Ms. Si.
Cuisine
The remote highlands still face many hardships in life, so there aren't many local specialties for you to enjoy. However, on a trip like this, you'll have the opportunity to showcase your culinary skills with simple ingredients you bring along. At the Saturday market, don't forget to try the famous thang co, a dish made from horse meat.
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| Discover the most beautiful rammed-earth houses in Lao Cai province. |
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| A land of stunning mists, with valleys enveloped in swirling clouds. |
Hand-woven brocade fabrics at the local market are a must-buy souvenir. While passing through Muong Hum, don't forget to buy some Nam Pung wine to sample.
Other notes:
The road to Y Tý is quite bad with many slippery sections, so you should prepare gloves and knee pads to avoid getting cold and to ensure your hands and knees are not scratched or injured in case of danger.
The weather in mountainous areas has significant temperature differences between day and night, so bring plenty of scarves, woolen hats, gloves, warm jackets, sleeping bags, and thin blankets.
You should bring extra fuel, food and drinks, instant noodles, and if possible, a set of solid fuel and a small cooking pot for cooking along the way. A hot cup of coffee along the road is always an unforgettable experience.
Bring all necessary identification documents.
