As autumn sweeps over the northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam, particularly from the latter half of September to October, a remarkable transformation takes place—the harvest season.
Travelers venturing into provinces like Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, and Ha Giang during this time are greeted by a breathtaking sight—the mesmerizing golden terraced rice fields.
These landscapes appear as if nature itself had sculpted them into colossal cliffs, crafting magnificent and graceful scenes that captivate tourists and beckon them to explore the highlands.
As they draw closer, visitors find themselves immersed in the warm and welcoming atmosphere of local communities.
In the northern mountainous region, tourists can relish the vast and enchanting views of ripe terraced paddy fields. For instance, in Yen Bai Province, you can visit the fields in Khau Pha or in La Pan TanRipe terraced rice fields in Hoang Su Phi—a renowned district in Ha Giang ProvinceLocal farmers begin harvesting crops in Phung Village in Hoang Su PhiA hardworking Dao ethnic woman tends her fieldBut she is not alone. During the harvest season, local ethnic communities collaborate in teams to work on various fields, a practice known as “vần công”In the Mong Ngua terraced rice fields of Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province, farmers manually thresh the rice…… while others employ machineryJoy abounds in the fieldsA H’Mong ethnic woman takes a well-deserved break during her workFollowing the harvest, local farmers often burn rice strawMeanwhile, others gather straw that will feed their cattle in the upcoming winterAn ethnic woman makes her way home after a day of hard workTerraced rice fields resemble the map of Vietnam. For backpackers, especially photographers, this is the most inspiring season of all