From the beginning of September, the terraced rice fields in Hoang Su Phi, 120 km from Ha Giang City, begin to ripen. This is the first place tourists visit when the tourism season in the northern mountainous provinces becomes vibrant again. Giap Van Hai, a local guide, suggests a 48-hour experience here. He says this year's golden season is expected to last from September 2nd to October 10th.
Day 1
Travel to Hoang Su Phi
Hoang Su Phi is about 300 km from Hanoi , with a travel time of nearly 6 hours. To save time on a weekend trip, tourists should depart on Friday evening, stay overnight in Tuyen Quang City or Ha Giang City, and continue their journey to Hoang Su Phi early the next morning.
For an interesting itinerary, with one route going and another returning, tourists should follow the "Thuong Son - Tung San" route to Vinh Quang town.
The road has some rough sections, but in return, visitors will get to see beautiful, unspoiled scenery. On both sides of the road, many terraced rice fields cling precariously to the mountainside. "But visitors shouldn't stop to take pictures for too long because there are many more beautiful places," Hai said.
Enjoy tea and lunch at the Sky Gate of Shangshan Mountain.
At the Thượng Sơn Sky Gate, located at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters, visitors can stop by the roadside to take photos and admire the ancient tea trees, some of which are hundreds of years old. Don't forget to stop by any local's house to enjoy a hot cup of tea.
Have lunch in Vinh Quang. There are many restaurants in the town center to choose from, depending on your needs. Some suggestions: Tuan Ngan restaurant, Hoang Su Phi stilt house restaurant, with dishes such as free-range chicken, wild boar, and stream fish. Afterwards, continue upstream along the Chay River to Phung village.
Check in at a homestay in Phung village.
In recent years, Phung village has attracted a large number of tourists, but due to its seasonal nature , accommodation options are still limited. Most accommodations are dorm-style homestays, where guests sleep together in stilt houses and have basic amenities. Rental prices range from 100,000 to 120,000 VND per person. Some places offer private rooms, priced from 500,000 to 700,000 VND per room, depending on location. Some recommended options include: La Chi Phong homestay, Trong Phu homestay, and Chi Tai homestay.
During the golden season, tourists should book their accommodations early. Staying at a homestay allows visitors to fully experience the natural scenery as well as the rich cultural life of the local people.
Eat local food and drink liquor from buffalo horns.
Enjoy dinner with the locals and don't forget to drink wine from buffalo horns. This is a unique cultural tradition of the La Chi people, passed down through generations during festivals, holidays, and religious ceremonies, especially popular during the Khu Cu Te Tet festival of the La Chi people in the 7th lunar month.
The La Chi people's religious culture considers buffalo horns as sacred objects in their homes. The place where the buffalo horns are kept is the most sacred corner in the stilt house, where they perform rituals and worship.
Day 2
Visiting Phung village
Ban Phung is the main destination on a trip to Hoang Su Phi, so make the most of your time there. "If you've been to Hoang Su Phi but haven't visited Ban Phung, your trip isn't complete," said Hai.
Wake up early, around 5 a.m., to witness the most beautiful time in Phung village. Ask the locals for the best spot to watch the sunrise, and you'll be able to admire the beauty of nature as the sun gradually rises. "Many tourists call this a paradise on earth," said Hai.
After watching the sunrise, return to the homestay to enjoy a bowl of noodles amidst peaceful natural scenery, looking straight out at the terraced rice fields beginning to change color. "While having breakfast, guests can watch the clouds drift lazily by," Hai said.
Ban Phung is a place where tourists can discover more about the culture and lifestyle of ethnic minority groups.
The terraced rice fields of Bản Phùng change throughout the year, each season bringing its own unique charm. The fields are located in six communes: Bản Luốc, Sán Sả Hồ, Bản Phùng, Hồ Thầu, Nậm Ty, and Thông Nguyên. Photographers and nature and culture enthusiasts consider this one of the "highest and most beautiful terraced rice fields in Vietnam," and it has been recognized as a National Scenic Landscape Monument.
Check out of the homestay, then travel to Bản Luốc.
Ban Luoc is one of the three most beautiful terraced rice fields in Hoang Su Phi, after Ban Phung. Here, visitors should have lunch at a restaurant with a panoramic view of the terraced rice fields. One dish not to be missed is terraced rice field carp.
At the end of the journey, tourists will travel back to Ha Giang City via the main road DT177, around 6 PM. Those traveling by motorbike can choose to return their bikes in Bac Quang and pay an additional transfer fee to save time and energy if they are not continuing their journey to other destinations such as Meo Vac or Dong Van Karst Plateau.
Notes
- Make sure you're in good health because the journey to Glory is quite arduous.
- Please book your services in advance to ensure a smooth trip.
- When you arrive in Phung village, any places with buffalo horns on the ground are the ancestral graves of the La Chi people, so you should avoid them and not be curious enough to investigate.
- All motorbike rental points in Ha Giang City provide accommodation for tourists in the early morning and offer personal hygiene facilities.
HQ (according to VnExpress)Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/48-gio-o-hoang-su-phi-389792.html
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