Nuances of Y Ty

We came to the border area of Y Ty (Bat Xat District, Lao Cai) in May when it was too late to spot the beautiful so-called “sea of clouds” but we could see instead the great winding road passing through fully watered fields that look like a natural mirror, forming breathtakingly colourful pictures.
Y Ty is a mountainous commune with villages situated at a height of 2,000m. It has such an intriguing charm that many people want to visit once. Visitors can drive along the winding path through Lao Cai City, Bat Xat, Trinh Tuong, Lung Po, A Mu Sung, A Lu, Ngai Thau, Y Ty, Den Sang, Muong Hum, Ta Giang Phinh, enjoying the windy and cloudy passes before admiring Thien Sinh Valley with terraced fields. 


Sunlight in late afternoon make terraced fields in A Lu gorgeous. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP


Terraced fields in Y Ty during watering season. Photo: Hoang Ha/VNP


Terraced fields in A Lu are watered to prepare for a new cultivating season. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP


Ethnic people in Y Ty use pipes to direct water from streams to terraced fields. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP

Terraced fields in A Lu. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP


Terraced fields in Y Ty surround the village. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP


Picturesque colourful terraced fields in Thien Sinh Valley. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP


Due to its narrow width, terraced fields in Y Ty can hardly be plowed by machines.
The most popular plowing method used by locals is the traditional one. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP



Y Ty residents prepare for a new cultivating season after watering and plowing fields. Photo: Hoang Ha/VNP

In watering season, all the members in many families go to work in terraced fields. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP


The Ha Nhi people in Lao Chai Hamlet use rocks to separate terraced fields. Photo: Thong Thien/VNP

Busily plowing and cultivating the terraced fields in A Lu. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP


When fields are fully watered, ethnic people in Y Ty begin their cultivation. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP


People in Y Ty work for each other in turn. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP


Children help their parents in terraced fields. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP
 

On our journey to discover Y Ty, we visited hamlets like Phan Can Su, Hong Ngai, Lao Chai and Sim San. There, we could experience the specific cultural customs of the Ha Nhi, Mong, Dao and Giay people. Each ethnic group has its own etiquette, forming a diverse cultural picture of the “fairy land”, Y Ty.

Along the road, we spotted Trinh tuong houses of the Ha Nhi people scattered through the area. The house is made of earth, making it cool in summer and warm in winter. A Trinh tuong house is characteristic of Y Ty. Seeing humble Trinh tuong houses by the side of terraced fields is like seeing a well-arranged picture. That is the reason why many people wish to come to the area dubbed “the land of clouds”.



Bags of rice seedlings are delivered to terraced fields. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP


A Mong man carries rice seedlings to terraced fields. Photo: Thong Thien/VNP



Life in the fields of a Mong family in A Lu. Photo: Hoang Ha/VNP


Coming to Y Ty, tourists can see Trinh tuong houses under green canopies besides terraced fields.
Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP

 
By VNP’s Golden Moment Photography Club

From street kid to famous photographer

From street kid to famous photographer

Photographer Tran The Phong is well-known for his photos, featuring the daily lives around him and in places where he travels.

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