LAO CAI – Sang Ma Sao is a little-known place, but has a charming beauty with golden terraced fields in the ripe rice season, stretching endlessly.
The golden rice season is an endless source of inspiration for talented photographers. Nguyen Duy Hoang, a Ha Tinh policeman who has a passion for photography, is fascinated by the beauty of Sang Ma Sao highland commune, Bat Xat district. In the Mong language, Sang Ma Sao means Mao Ga mountain range, the same name as the Hmong village located at the foot of the mountain.
The terrain is strongly dissected with many deep chasms, along with rice farming, which has turned this place into a valley of winding terraced fields, surrounded by majestic high mountains. The vast valley covered in yellow makes the rice fields seem endless.
The ripe rice season here starts from mid-August every year, and is a “meeting without appointment” place for backpackers and photography enthusiasts, but not many tourists know about it. “I’m really fascinated with the beauty of this place,” Duy Hoang said.
The golden season “flows” over the valleys, brightening up the whole sky. However, the beautiful scenery does not last long, usually lasting only 2 to 3 weeks. If you want to witness the majestic natural scenery, visitors need to take advantage. This year’s ripe rice season comes early and is expected to end in early September.
The beauty of warmth and abundance appears through each ripe rice branch. It will be more beautiful when you visit this place in the morning, when the dew is still on the rice grain. If you are lucky, you will be able to see the clouds weaving between the terraced fields, which many people compare to the scene of paradise.
On sunny days, the yellow color will be more vibrant, helping the photos become “bright”.
In addition to watching rice, you can feel the peace of the highlands when looking at the scene of farmers reaping rice. To get to Sang Ma Sao, you can start from Sa Pa, the distance is about 60 km. The journey here is also a memorable experience because you can stop to take pictures at any time when you can easily see the ripe rice terraces along the way.
The beauty of the Sieve Ma Sao through the movies. The houses of the H’mong and Dao people are interspersed with golden patches. Nguyen Duy Hoang regrets that few people know about this place. But perhaps that turns the Sieve Ma Sao into a mysterious gem in the Northwest.
Photo: Nguyen Duy Hoang