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Top 10 Most Beautiful Rice Fields in Vietnam
When discussing the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, one immediately thinks of the stunning rice terraces nestled in the picturesque mountains. With centuries of expertise in rice cultivation, Vietnamese farmers, particularly those residing in the northern mountains, have mastered the art of adapting to diverse terrains. This is how the rice terraces in Vietnam came into existence long ago, evolving into a unique cultural heritage and a renowned tourist attraction that no visitor to Vietnam should overlook.
The Best Season to See The Rice Fields
In the Mekong Delta, there are several harvests per year, which means that you can find blooming rice fields here all year round. However, in the mountainous areas, there is only one rice harvest per year. The most beautiful time to visit is during the harvest season when the rice fields turn yellow. Another impressive sight is at the beginning of the rice season when locals bring water to the fields, creating a mirror-like surface that reflects the sun’s rays. Since each location has its own best travel time based on the rice season, you can find information about the best time to see the most beautiful rice terraces at each destination below.
1. Mu Cang Chai
Mu Cang Chai is a must-visit place especially when its rice crop is ripening. This northwest highland town is known for its picturesque landscapes, delicious food, and hot mineral springs.
Mu Cang Chai is beautiful all year round, but it is stunning during the planting and harvesting seasons (winter-spring). The planting season is from the end of May to the beginning of June when the rice fields are filled with water and look like a mirror reflecting the world.
From September to October is the harvest season, which attracts lots of photographers and tourists who come to admire the colorful scene. At the end of December is the season for wild peaches to bloom.
The weather in Mu Cang Chai is quite unusual, hot during the day and cold at night. To avoid sickness, visitors are advised to bring a lightweight jacket.
Best season: September to mid-October
2. Pu Luong
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Something that makes Pu Luong so unique is the bamboo water wheels that you see standing in the landscape. The rice grown in these parts must be submerged to thrive (as opposed to mountain rice, which can be grown in dry rice fields), which requires a large amount of water. Built by people from the Thai and Muong ethnic groups, the councils harvest water from low-lying streams to feed the huge rice crops.
About 160 km from Hanoi, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is home to the Thai and Muong ethnic groups. In Thai, Pu Luong means the highest peak of the village. Pu Luong is located in the northwest of Thanh Hoa province, covering an area of 17,662 hectares, including dense forests, large and small waterfalls, caves, and mountains interspersed with peaceful villages and green terraced fields every summer.
Best season: May and June
3. Sapa
Sapa is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam, with the amazing rice terraces as an absolute highlight. The rice fields in Sapa have been around for hundreds of years, created by ethnic minorities such as the Hmong, the Dao, the Tay, and the Ha Nhi from generation to generation. From a distance, the beautiful terraces look like a ladder with steps to heaven. The large rice fields not only provide food for the locals but also offer breathtaking views for travelers.
Sa Pa has a cool climate, so it is suitable for year-round travel. You just need to avoid the rainy season from June to early August, because extreme weather can cause flash floods and landslides…
From February to May, Sa Pa spring is brilliant with hundreds of flowers blooming like cherry blossoms, peach blossoms, and plum blossoms. Summer from June to August is the time when tourists come to Sa Pa to escape the heat and admire the cool green terraced fields.
Autumn lasts from September to November, Sa Pa is charming in the golden color of ripe rice and the weather gradually gets cold. Winter comes from December to February of the following year, if you are lucky you can “hunt” for snow and ice on the mountaintops.
Best season: September to October
4. Hoang Su Phi
Hoang Su Phi is approximately 112 kilometers from the city of Ha Giang and is known for its terraced rice fields. It is an off-the-beaten-track destination in Vietnam, Hoang Su Phi is one of the least visited places in the already non-touristy Ha Giang. The most beautiful rice terraces are along and near the road between Hoang Su Phi and Xi Man.
Best season: September to the end of October
5. An Giang
An Giang is the only place in this list of the top 10 most beautiful rice fields in Vietnam that is located in the south, the Mekong Delta to be exact. The Mekong Delta is not called the “rice bowl of Vietnam” for nothing. Due to the fertility of the soil, the rice fields in An Giang are growing rapidly. The rice fields are now one of the reasons why tourists travel to this area.
6. Mai Chau
A rural area west of Hanoi, where bright yellow and green rice fields grow amidst a mountainous landscape. From the viewpoint from the mountain pass that you drive over when you enter Mai Chau, you have a beautiful view of the Mai Chau valley.
Passing the winding and steep passes in Thung Khe, Thung Nhuoi… you will admire the majestic beauty of mountains and trees on the way to Mai Chau, Hoa Binh. About 140 km from the center of Hanoi, Mai Chau conquers visitors with the “season of fragrant sticky rice” gradually appearing under the new sunlight and peaceful scenery.
Best season: May and June
7. Bac Son
The Bac Son Valley is located in the Lang Son province. The valley is surrounded by mountains where you can walk and enjoy a breathtaking view. This mountainous region is home to 6 ethnic groups. This is primarily an agricultural area. The flat surface, climate, and rich soil make Bac Son Valley ideal for planting rice and other crops. To see this best, take a walk to one of the surrounding mountains, where you have a panoramic view of the breathtaking scenery.
Best season: The end of July and the end of November
8. Y Ty
Although terraced rice fields can be found almost everywhere in the Ban Xat District, the most beautiful can be found in Y Ty. In recent years the terraced rice fields of Y Ty have become known in the photography communities.
Best season: From the end of August to the beginning of October
9. Ninh Binh
The limestone mountains covered with green protrude from the ground on either side of the Ngo Dong River, with green rice fields that fill the gaps between them. The land here is extremely fertile and good for growing rice because of the nutrient-rich soil and water from the river.
Best season: From the end of May to the beginning of June
10. Hoi An
The best thing about the rice fields around Hoi An is their accessibility. With the bike from your hotel you can drive straight into the rice fields within a few minutes. The villages along the rice fields are more touristy than the others in this list, but this too makes it more accessible; there are plenty of activities to do with which you learn how the land is worked and you can ride a buffalo yourself.
