AFP describes that, located 300 km (about 190 miles) northwest of Hanoi, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mu Cang Chai District in northern Yen Bai Province had become a hit with foreign and local tourists alike. Mu Cang Chai’s terraced fields have become a national special relic.
Image of buffalo herd in the field in the morning light. (Photo cut from clip)
The spectacular terraces -- which lie up to 1,000 metres above sea level -- mostly belong to the Hmong, a minority group who make up most of the area's population. The paddy fields are particularly beautiful in September and October when the crops turn a shiny yellow. Around this time, Mu Cang Chai often welcomes large numbers of tourists, bringing great benefits to the local community. However, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, this year's rice season still lacks the presence of tourists.
The article further information, Vietnam has recently started to reopen its doors to the outside world, and some international visitors arrived earlier this month on the island resort of Phu Quoc and other tourist areas further south.
Mu Cang Chai terraced fields in the sunrise in the AFP footage. (Photo taken from the clip)
The breathtaking beauty of Mu Cang Chai terraced fields has won the hearts of both domestic and foreign tourists alike. In 2018, the famous British newspaper Telegraph announced the 12 most beautiful terraced fields in the world. The Mu Cang Chai terraced fields in particular were one of the two representatives of Vietnam to be included in this list.
A corner of Mu Cang Chai terraced fields from AFP footage. (Photo taken from the clip)
The Mu Cang Chai terraced fields are associated with the life and customs of the Mong people. Due to the lack of flat fields for cultivation, the Mong people took advantage of each small piece of field broken up in each mountain with an altitude of 800-1,700m, along with conquering nature to survive however unintentionally, the local people have become "artists" creating a majestic "work of art" in the middle of the great mountains.
Since 2015, Yen Bai Province has organised many tourist and cultural activities in order to honour the scenic beauty of the Mu Cang Chai terraced fields and promote the cultural values of the Mong ethnic group, while at the same time raising awareness on heritage conservation and attracting tourists.
