In the pouring water season, the terraced fields in Lao Cai reflect many colors of nature such as the yellow-brown of the mud, the purple-green of algae, the green of young seedlings, the yellow of the sun.
From mid-May, the terraced fields in Lao Cai are in the pouring water season, also known as the pouring season. People in the northern highlands only grow one rice crop a year, so the flood season is a unique feature of this region. The field surface is flooded layer by layer planted on top of each other, reflecting the colors of nature.
Pictured is the dawn scene of the field in Sang Ma Sao commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai.
The fields in Ngai Thau Ha village, Bat Xat district, are covered with the green of young seedling, when farmers transplant rice early from mid-May.
Photographer Cao Ky Nhan, in Ho Chi Minh City, spent nearly a week in Bat Xat district, northwest of Lao Cai, hunting for pictures of terraced rice fields during this rainy season.
Bat Xat district is about 52 km from Lao Cai city, traveling more than an hour by car. The terrain here is 70% mountainous, with more than 3.000 hectares of terraced fields.
Mr. Nhan visited the communes of Muong Hum, Sang Ma Sao, Den Sang, Y Ty and Ngai Thau. The communes are located about 9-18 km apart, the travel time to each point is about 30-45 minutes.
In the near rainy season, farmers sow the seeds first. When the rains fall, they plow the land, build banks, and direct water from the mountain streams into each field.
In the picture is the shadow of the sun on the terraced fields that have not yet been planted with young seedlings in Den Sang commune.
The terraced fields in Y Ty valley are surrounded by mountains and forests, fog spreads the entrance early in the morning.
The terraced fields were built to take advantage of a narrow mountainous area and steep hills, creating an optimal irrigation system and increasing agricultural productivity. Most of the landscape of the rice fields in Bat Xat has the same topography, the fields are stacked, surrounded by rolling hills and mountains.
The water surface of the fields in Sang Ma Sao is reflected in colorful shadows, creating a typical scene in the northern mountainous region at the time of summer. The terraced fields in Bat Xat have the characteristics of stretching from the valley to the mountain, forming a dense layer. The edge of the field is also lower than in other areas and the water field reflects more colors.
In the rainy season, the water surface of the terraced fields reflects many natural colors: the yellow-brown of the mud, the purple-green of the algae, the green of the young seedlings, the color reflecting the light of the sky. The colors of nature create a picture on the rice field, layers and layers.
The terraced fields in Sang Ma Sao are half covered with green shoots. In May-June, the weather in Lao Cai is prone to rain, making it difficult for those who want to see the flooded terraces.
Ky Nhan shared that this is the third time he has returned to Bat Xat to take pictures of the pouring water season. The previous two times he failed to take satisfactory pictures due to the influence of the weather. This trip, the weather was not in his favor at first. He arrived in Bat Xat just in time for the cold air to come, and it rained a lot. Roads are difficult to go, many roads are under construction, some sections are muddy due to mountain landslides. On the last day of the trip, the weather cleared and the sun was shining, and Nhan could fully admire the beautiful scenery of the fields in Bat Xat.
A farmer transplants seedlings on a terraced field in Sang Ma Sao when the sun has not yet risen. During the transplanting season, farmers in the highland Bat Xat communes go to the fields at 6-7am and return home in the afternoon from 16pm to 17pm. Every year, the pouring water season attracts tourists and photographers as much as the ripe rice season. “I feel this year is less than usual. Partly due to unfavorable weather, the water poured into the terraced fields was less and irregular as in previous seasons. Wherever the water pours, farmers also take advantage of planting rice there, no longer waiting like every year," Nhan shared.
The scene of fields in Ngai Thau Thuong village is shrouded in clouds. This village is located on Ma Cha Va mountain at an altitude of about 2.300 m. To reach this high point, visitors have to overcome steep dirt roads.
Mr. Nhan shared that the road from Y Ty to Ngai Thau was the most difficult in Bat Xat district, with many landslides, potholes and gravel roads. The two points are only 13 km apart, but travel takes an hour. In addition to contemplating nature, visitors can go to the highland district of Lao Cai in the rainy season to discover the indigenous culture of the Red Dao, Dao Tuyen, H'Mong, and Ha Nhi people.
