In just a few months, the North will welcome the year’s most beautiful season with fields dyed yellow. If you are a traveller, you will not want to miss the magnetic scenery of the harvest season in the North. Our tour guides also lead tourists through these breathtaking destinations.
In this article, Tigit Duck will take you to a few places to see the most beautiful “yellow field” in the North of Vietnam.
1. When is the harvest season in the North?
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The harvest season on the calendar is not always accurate by day (same as the weather prediction up north Vietnam); it is also affected by the annual weather and rice transplanting time. Normally, it happens from August to October. According to our experiences, it is better to check out traveler’s forum or follow local friend’s information for the most accurate information.
When the harvest season comes, the stretching fields become more brilliant than ever with golden rice flowers swaying in the gentle breeze of fall season.
The interesting thing here is each region have different harvest time (I know, all of the following recommended destination are in the north of Vietnam but this is how things go):
- Sapa (Lao Cai): Sapa’s ripe rice season usually starts from the last week of August to mid-September.
- Y Ty(Lao Cai): Every year, the season for rice maturity will come sooner or later, but the golden period is the last week of August – the third week of September. Tourists have noticed that there have been years of floods, landslide and road collapses during this period, and it is necessary to closely check the weather before going.
- Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai): Mu Cang Chai’s ripe rice season usually comes later, starting from mid-September to early October, lasting about 1 month.
- Bac Son (Lang Son): The rice fields in Bac Son often have different planting times, so each time is like a picture with many colors. The time to come here to see rice is also flexible, you can visit anytime from July to November.
- Ban Gioc Waterfall (Cao Bang): The rice fields in the Ban Gioc waterfall are usually ripe from about mid-October. We suggest that you can go to Cao Bang to see Ban Gioc Waterfall in the ripe rice season 5-7 days before or after the mid-month mark.
2. Some of the most beautiful places to watch the harvest season in the North
2.1 Harvest season in Hoang Su Phi
Location: Luoc Village, Phung village, Thong Nguyen, Ho Thau, San Sa Ho and Nam Ty commune.
Hoang Su Phi terraced fields are usually concentrated in 6 communes: Ban Luoc, Ban Phung, San Sa Ho, Ho Thau, Nam Ty and Thong Nguyen. Ban Phung and Ban Luoc have the highest terraced fields in Vietnam, called as “stairway to heaven”.
The terraced fields here were also recognized as a National Monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2012. Normally I will recommend most riders choosing to rest and watch the harvest season at Hoang Su Phi Lodge, Ecolodge Panhou Village, Chi Tai homestay, Kinh homestay (these are just some good places, you should try to get the best deal on Booking.com Agoda or negotiate with the owner upon arrival) … At the same time, combine it with a journey to explore areas such as Ma Pi Leng pass, Take a boat on Nho Que River of Ha Giang, explore Dong Van…
Hoang Su Phi is a part of Ha Giang, so if you wanted to have a quick idea on how to finish this loop, we also have a blog about it: https://www.tigitmotorbikes.com/ha-giang-loop-7-days-by-tigit-guides/
2.2 Impressive golden color of rice fields in Sapa, Lao Cai
Location: Ta Giang Phin, Muong Hoa, Sang Ma Sao, Cat Cat, Ta Van, Ta Phin,Y ty commune.
The terraced fields of Sapa and Lao Cai usually turn bright yellow at the mid of August till the end of September. Tourist no need to worries about accommodation since the communes we mentioned have a lot of high quality homestays. Plus Topas Ecolodge, Sa Pa Jade Hill, Rùa’s House… are also good places with nice views.
Bat Xat district has more than 3,000 hectares of terraced fields distributed in Y Ty, Sang Ma Sao, Den Sang, Ngai Thau, and A Lu. Among them, The Pa valley has been recognized as a National Monument. Tourists visiting Y Ty from mid-August to early September can visit the center of Ngai Thau, A Lu commune or Then Pa valley to see the golden rice fields. Then Pa valley to see golden rice fields.
A quick reminder is that even when the Y Ty is really beautiful, this is still a remote area, you will need a special permit to stay here overnight, facilities and accommodation are still quite limited, so you should consider carefully when planning your riding trip to Y Ty.
If you are interested in going to Y Ty, this is the recommended route from Tigit Tour guide that links to Y Ty: https://www.tigitmotorbikes.com/the-north-west-7-days-no-plan-is-a-good-plan/
2.3 Explore Mu Cang Chai, Tu Le and many other unique Yen Bai cultural features.
Location: Tu Le, La Pan Tan, Lim Mong, Mong Ngua communes, Mam Xoi rice field,…
The best time to check out the harvest season in Mu Cang Chai and Tu Le is the second half of September, when the golden fields sparkle everywhere. Travelers often have to cross Khau Pha pass, enjoy green rice in Tu Le or bathe in Tram Tau hot mineral springs before spending the night at Mu Cang Chai center. Khau Pha Pass is also famous for its special skydiving activities during the harvest season.
The most beautiful terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai, most known to many tourists are: Lim Mong valley, Mam Xoi hill, Horseshoe hill, Che Cu Nha, Lao Chai… Some suggested homestays nearby to stay with excellent views are: Do Gu, A Chong, Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge, Hello Mu Cang Chai…
If you want to find out more about the beauty of Mu Cang Chai in general, you can have a reference by reading this blog: https://www.tigitmotorbikes.com/north-west-loop-3-to-6-day-loop/
Some of the random picture in Tram Tau (Yen Bai) taken by Tigit Giang
2.4 Cloud hunting during harvest season in Bac Son, Lang Son.
Location: Top of Na Lay Mountain
Source: Google
Bac Son Valley has two rice seasons, May – June and August – October. The rice season from August to October has the most ideal weather, attracting a large number of tourists. The most beautiful place to hunt clouds and watch sunrise and sunset here is Na Lay peak.
Although there are no terraced fields, Bac Son rice is spread everywhere in the valley, located at the foot of endless limestone ranges. Originally, Lang Son (the name of the province) means “the valley between the mountains”.
During this season, you will see each field has a different color, interspersed between the harvested fields are patches that have just turned yellow. In Bac Son you can find motels or homestays near the foot of Na Lay mountain, in Quynh Son community tourism village, camp overnight on the top of the mountain…
We also have this place covered in our Maps/Routes, which was completed by Tigit Motorbike’s Tour guide, this route is 100% doable even for new riders.
Details about the loop: https://www.tigitmotorbikes.com/ha-giang-loop-7-days-by-tigit-guides/
3. Final thought
This could be the best time to ride and to explore the vast beauty of the Northern Vietnam. If you miss it, then perhaps you will have to wait for the next period when farmer start to grow rice again (I guess).
P/s: It’s the peak “riding season”, it’s time to gather the gears and start to plan now. Tigit runs out of bike really fast during this season 😉
