Painting of the highlands in the flood season in Lao Cai

At dawn, the terraced fields in Y Ty, Lao Cai are shimmering with the colors of the sun and sky, dotted with the yellow of alluvium and the green of young leaves.

The Northern mountainous region is not only famous for its golden season on the highlands, but also has another "specialty": the flooding season, or the flooding season. When the first summer rains fall, the highlanders begin the new rice crop around May to June.

Nguyen Khanh Vu Khoa, a freelance photographer in Ho Chi Minh City, has just experienced his first time hunting for photos of the flood season in Y Ty, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai . In previous visits to Lao Cai , Vu Khoa had only admired the golden season of the Northwest, but the landscape of the flood season has its own unique beauty.

Bat Xat district of Lao Cai province has more than 3,000 hectares of terraced fields, notably The Pa valley in Y Ty and Ngai Thau communes. The most reasonable route to see terraced fields from Lao Cai city is through Ban Vuoc, then Muong Hum, Den Thang, Sang Ma Sao and Den Sang, and finally Y Ty .

Vu Khoa's 5-day journey through Lao Cai during the flood season passed through the most beautiful terraced fields of The Pa valley such as Sang Ma Sao, Muong Hum, Thien Sinh, Ngai Thau...

"On the way, wherever there are hills, there are terraced fields. During the flood season, water flows down the terraced fields like a giant mirror," said Mr. Vu Khoa.

The terraced fields run across steep hills and winding terrain, so people mainly take advantage of rainwater. The people have to be skillful and diligent in bringing water to each terrace.

A photographer from Ho Chi Minh City had the opportunity to learn about the lives of the highland residents. Every harvest season, people go to the fields together, each person doing a job, always busy.

Not every household takes care of itself, but the people of the whole village or hamlet will help each other to lead water, build banks, plow, plant... in turn until each household's field is finished.

People now have machines to support production, and almost only lead buffaloes up fields on steep hills that are difficult to travel.

Mr. Vu Khoa said that during the days in Y Ty, he and the whole group woke up at 4am to drive to places to take beautiful sunrise photos, returned to the homestay at noon to eat and rest before continuing to return at sunset.

“Taken at dawn, the photo has a harmonious blend of light and dark colors. At dawn, the rice fields are still dark but the water surface glows pink and yellow in the sunlight,” said Mr. Vu Khoa.

At 7-8am, the colors change again, the clear blue sky shines down on the fields.

In addition to the mountainous district of Bat Xat, visitors can also admire the flooding season in Mu Cang Chai of Yen Bai , or Hoang Su Phi of Ha Giang.

The calm, water-filled fields reflect vibrant colors, leaving an unforgettable impression on travelers, who return a few months later to admire the mountains and hills wearing new clothes in the golden season.

Laodong.vn