Terraced rice fields in Y Ty, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam 25 Feb 2017
About this photo
Terraced rice fields lay at the foot of Fansipan Mountain in Y Ty in the Lao Cai Province of Vietnam. Created by generations of workers and farmed for hundreds of years, the rice terraces are best visited just before they are harvested in September when the uniform fields are swamped with a bright yellow crop. Alternatively, visit at the beginning of the rainy season, when the rain has just started to fall and water runoff from the mountains has been channelled into the terraces, mixing with soil to create a brown liquid which reflects the light and sparkles alongside the glistening green grass that grows.
Terraces were devised in agriculture to ensure more effective farming on sloped plains. By cutting a series of receding flats into the mountain, the risk of devastation by surface runoff and erosion is reduced. Explore these beautiful landscapes for yourself by adding a visit to any of Insight Guides' trips to Vietnam.
