Golden season on the summit of Sam Sip

Son La - In early winter, the glutinous rice on the Sam Sip terraced fields ripens to a golden hue, painting a vibrant golden landscape amidst the clouds and mountains.

The golden harvest season on the summit of Sam Sip, Muong La commune, Son La province, creates a breathtakingly beautiful scene. Photo: Nhat Minh

Sam Sip peak is located at an altitude of over 1,600m above sea level. The Sam Sip slope is nearly 10km long, flanked by traditional stilt houses of the villages of It, Pieng, Huoi Lieng, Hua Nam, and Hoc, home to more than 500 Thai ethnic households.

With a total area of ​​approximately 300 hectares of terraced rice fields cultivated for generations, this place is famous for having the latest ripening glutinous rice in Son La province.

The glutinous rice in the terraced fields on the summit of Sam Sip has ripened to a golden yellow. Photo: Truong Son

Mr. Ca Van Ngam, Party Secretary and Head of It village, said: "This cropping season, 100% of the area is planted with glutinous rice variety Tan, while the spring crop is glutinous rice variety 87, with an average yield of about 5.5 tons/ha."

Due to the high altitude and the early arrival of cold air, the rice ripens about half a month later than in other communes. The harvesting period lasts from the beginning of November to around November 20th."

According to Mr. Ngam, thanks to the unique highland climate and the clean water of the Sam Sip spring, the sticky rice here is much more chewy, fragrant, and sweet than in many other regions.

The people of Bản Ít village are delighted because this year's glutinous rice crop is bountiful. Photo: Trường Sơn

These days, Sam Sip is bustling with the sounds of mini threshing machines and people calling out to each other for work amidst the white clouds and golden sunshine.

Mr. Tong Van Anh, a resident of It village, happily said: "Thanks to the handheld combine harvester, harvesting is much less strenuous. My family has nearly 1 hectare of terraced rice fields, and this season we harvested about 100 bags of rice, almost 5 tons, which is a higher yield than last year."

People in Bản Ít village harvest glutinous rice. Photo: Trường Sơn

Quàng Thị Mai from Hua Nặm village said: "My family has over 1,200 square meters of rice fields, and this season we got about 5 quintals of rice. The whole village helped with the harvest, exchanging labor, so it was very enjoyable. We keep the rice to eat all year round, and the rest we give as gifts to acquaintances because Sam Síp sticky rice is famously sticky and delicious."

Besides bringing a bountiful harvest of golden rice, the Sam Sip harvest season also opens up opportunities for experiential tourism development.

Mr. Tran Hai Son, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong La commune, said: "The locality is orienting its agricultural development towards experiential tourism. The Sam Sip terraced rice fields have great potential, and each rice harvest season attracts many groups of tourists to visit and take photos."

The commune encourages residents to create homestays and showcase local specialties such as sticky rice, rice wine, brocade fabrics, and carp from rice paddies to increase their income."

In the golden hues of the harvest season, the peak of Sam Sip seems to be adorned in a vibrant cloak against the backdrop of the clouds. Tourists come to breathe in the fresh air and admire the terraced rice fields.

Ms. Le Mai, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: "This is the first time I've seen late-ripening rice fields from such a high altitude. The scenery is beautiful, the people are friendly, the air is fresh, and it feels so peaceful and memorable."

Tourists visit and take photos with the terraced rice fields during the harvest season on top of Sam Sip mountain. Photo: Truong Son.

The golden rice fields of Sam Sip are also a popular destination for photographers seeking to capture stunning moments in Northwest Vietnam. Do Vinh, a photographer from Son La, said: "The Sam Sip terraced rice fields have a unique charm; the rice ripens late, the light is beautiful, and the landscape is expansive with clouds swirling around the mountains. With proper marketing and promotion, this place could absolutely become a prominent golden rice season tourist destination in Son La."

The late-ripening glutinous rice season on the peak of Sam Sip not only brings a bountiful harvest but also opens up opportunities for community tourism development. Amidst the brilliant golden light of the ripening rice, this "golden season touching the clouds" is gradually becoming a symbol of prosperity and pride for the people of the Muong La highlands.

Laodong.vn

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/kham-pha/mua-vang-tren-dinh-sam-sip-1602184.html