Lâm Giang

Every August and September, the scene of the ripe rice season in Y Tý is as beautiful as a painting. Looking down from the top of the mountain, the small inter-commune asphalt road looks like a soft thread winding through the bright yellow patches of rice.

Y Tý in autumn is ranked among the most beautiful ripe rice hunting tourist destinations in the northwest.

Located at an altitude of over 2,000m above sea level, Y Tý is a highland commune in Bát Xát District, Lào Cai Province. It is also the homeland of the Hà Nhì, Mông and Dao people, ethnic groups with a unique and rich cultural identity. This land is also famous for its primeval forest stretching across three communes, Ý Tý, Dền Sáng, Sảng Ma Sáo, located on high mountains like a work of art from nature.

From Hà Nội to Lào Cai, you can go by train or by sleeper bus. From Lào Cai City, you can rent a motorbike or self-drive car to Y Tý. The trip will take around five hours because there are many beautiful scenes along the way and you will not be able to resist stopping to take photos.

The journey to Y Tý is challenging and difficult with winding roads and dangerous passes. However, it is also an attractive destination for people who love adventure and want to explore. The climate here is cool all year round, but winter is extremely harsh and many young people choose this time to come here to hunt for snow and clouds.

Y Tý is beautiful and charming in its own way in every season, depending on the purpose of your visit.

If visitors are looking for clouds, from September through the winter to April is perfect and the scenery at this time is so majestic, like a sea in the sky. From May to June it is called the season of pouring water, so tourists can see the fields as beautiful as paintings and then from August to September, this place will put on a new golden coat as the rice fields are entering the harvest season.

The terraced fields in Y Tý and some neighbouring communes such as A Mú Sung, A Lù and Ngải Thầu are very beautiful, continuously stretching along the mountain slopes down to the valley.

The most scenic road to appreciate Y Tý in the autumn is considered to be Ngải Thầu route, this is also the place that many visitors choose to hunt clouds. This route is difficult to traverse because of the many rocks and continuous steep passes, but is still a choice for many tourists because along the way you can admire many beautiful terraced fields. Dotted among the majesty of the terraced fields in Ngải Thầu are the earthen-walled houses of the Mông people.

In addition, this time you can admire the terraced fields in Thề Pả Valley, Bát Xát District, located in the two communes of Y Tý and Ngải Thầu. In the local language, Thề Pả means fields at the foot of the mountain or bottom fields, because the place is covered by thousands of winding terraced fields with a total area of over 223ha. Thề Pả fields cultivated by the Hà Nhì and Mông people have been ranked as a national scenic spot by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Thề Pả terraced fields heritage complex is not only an attractive tourist destination, but also carries many cultural and historical values. The Mông and Hà Nhì people are the ones who created the Thề Pả terraced fields and they had to put a lot of effort and dedication to turn what were wild hills into picturesque terraced fields.

Beyond the breathtaking vistas, Y Tý offers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of its indigenous inhabitants. By immersing yourself in the vibrant Saturday market, you can savour local delicacies, admire traditional costumes and gain a deeper understanding of the Hà Nhì way of life.

One of the highlights of the Hà Nhì culture is the Khô Già Già Festival, or the Praying for a Good Harvest Festival, which was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2014. This event offers visitors a unique opportunity to witness the traditions and customs of these ethnic communities.

In addition to the stunning rice fields and cultural attractions, Y Tý is blessed with a wealth of natural wonders. You can explore the majestic waterfalls of Thiên Sinh, Lao Chải and Hồng Ngài, or challenge yourself by hiking to the summit of Lảo Thẩn Peak, one of the 15 highest peaks in Việt Nam and a true cloud-hunter paradise.

Whether you seek adventure, cultural immersion, or simply the chance to marvel at nature's handiwork, Y Tý beckons with its irresistible charm. From the golden hues of the ripe rice fields to the cultural tapestry of the Hà Nhì, Mông and Dao communities, this remote commune promises an unforgettable experience for the adventurous traveler by embracing the challenge of the winding roads, immersing yourself in the rich heritage and losing yourself in the breathtaking landscapes that make Y Tý a true gem of Việt Nam's northwest. VNS