Ta Van - A golden picture in the middle of Muong Hoa valley
Nghia's first stop was Ta Van village, located in Muong Hoa valley, about 12 km from the center of Sa Pa town. On a small motorbike, he followed the winding roads, suddenly overwhelmed by the image of golden terraced fields winding along the hillsides, below were the rustic wooden roofs of ethnic minorities, in the distance was a babbling stream flowing through the village.
“Before my eyes was a picture of golden autumn. I asked the children in the village to take a few pictures to capture that moment,” Nghia said.
The ripe rice season in Sa Pa usually lasts from late August to late October, with the most beautiful period being mid to late September. This is also the time when Ta Van is at its most brilliant, when the whole valley is covered in a golden yellow coat, the morning mist blends with the sunshine, creating a harmonious and evocative natural picture. It is no coincidence that many tourists call Ta Van "the place with the most beautiful terraced fields in Sa Pa", where the beauty of the rice fields blends with the village to create a postcard of autumn in the highlands.
The "golden autumn" scene in the Northwest is like autumn posters in the highlands.
Sa Pa - Coffee by the rice fields and the red train through the mountains
During his stay in Sa Pa, Nghia did not rush to visit many places, but chose to admire the ripe rice fields from different angles. In the morning, he visited famous coffee shops such as La, De Mong or Sailing Coffee. Sitting next to a cup of hot coffee, in front of him were layers of terraced fields in their golden season, each ray of sunlight seemed to sprinkle honey on the vast fields.
In the midst of that scene, Nghia sat quietly watching the striking red train - the mountain train connecting the town with the tourist attractions, crossing the mountain slopes and the sea of clouds of Sa Pa. "The feeling of admiring that scene is both modern and romantic like a moving picture", he shared.
The red train through the mountains and forests in Sa Pa
Sa Pa in the ripe rice season is familiar to many tourists, but by stopping to admire for a long time, choosing the early morning and late afternoon moments, Nghia finds peace for himself, separate from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Y Ty - Land of clouds, terraced fields and challenges
From Sa Pa, he continued his journey to Y Ty - a highland commune of Bat Xat district, located at an altitude of over 2,000 m, about 80 km from Sa Pa. Known as the "land of clouds and sky", Y Ty has long been famous for its most majestic terraced fields in Vietnam.
In the last days of August, the road to A Lu village was rainy, slippery and had no phone signal. Nghia was lucky to meet a local police officer who enthusiastically showed him the way, taking him to the "national" roads that backpackers often mention, then stopping next to two "happy" trees standing tall between the mountains and hills. The afternoon smoke from the kitchen stove lingered among the endless yellow color of the rice, creating a peaceful scene that made the traveler's heart feel light.
September to October is the rice harvest season, the whole of Y Ty turns into an endless golden sea. The terraced fields wind along the high mountain slopes, interspersed with white clouds drifting. For Nghia, Y Ty is not only beautiful because of its wild nature, but also because of its rare sense of serenity, where all fatigue seems to disappear in the vastness of the sky and earth.
“The trip helps me relieve stress after working days. Y Ty is beautiful and peaceful, my soul is also relaxed and nostalgic after returning,” he said, as if to confirm that simplicity is sometimes the most valuable medicine.
Some notes for a more complete golden season journey
Admiring the ripe rice fields in the Northwest is not only a sightseeing trip, but also a journey that requires careful preparation to be more complete. The golden time to see the ripe rice fields is from the end of August to the end of October, in which the most beautiful is in the middle and the end of September. Early morning and sunset are considered the most ideal time, when the light dyes the valley and the mountain shadows golden, creating a poetic scene.
As a means of transport, motorbikes are still the preferred choice for many people because of their initiative and the opportunity to stop anywhere to sightsee or take photos. During the journey, visitors can choose homestays with rice field views or visit cafes with ripe rice field views to enjoy a warm drink while overlooking the golden rice fields.
Motorbikes are the most ideal means of transport for tourists to enjoy the golden season scenery even while on the move.
Another important point is the connection with the local people. In Ta Van or Y Ty, tourists will easily receive sincere help, from giving directions, inviting to take photos to sharing small stories in life. That is what makes the journey to see ripe rice not only beautiful in the scenery, but also beautiful in the love of the Northwest people.
Pham Trong Nghia's journey through Ta Van, Sa Pa and Y Ty is like an autumn love song, where the yellow color of rice blends with the mist and clouds, creating unforgettable memories. It is a journey of challenges and peace, of surprise and silence, so that when returning, people's hearts are still filled with the golden color stretching endlessly between the mountains and forests of the Northwest.
