Mu Cang Chai terraced fields dry up

Ky Vong and his group of friends visited the terraced fields on Mam Xoi Hill in La Pan Tan Commune on May 7 and were disappointed to find the fields were arid.

Vong said they had assumed it was the cultivating season and had not researched ahead before their trip.

The Mam Xoi Hill in La Pan Tan appears lifeless on May 7, 2023. Photo by Ky Vong

Ly A Do, who specializes in leading visitors to Mam Xoi Hill, said the usual time for locals to prepare for sowing was from April to mid-May, but the fields were still without water at the moment.

“Normally, at this time of year, the fields would be beautiful and crowded with visitors,” Do said.

This year, due to the drought, he has refused many guests.

Giang A Sau, chairman of the People’s Committee of La Pan Tan commune, explained that in years when there was abundant water, people dug ditches to bring water to the fields for plowing. However, this year, due to the lack of rain, they are only able to harrow four to five fields.

Sau noted that while droughts are common, this year’s drought has lasted longer than usual, with no rain yet in mid-May, the time locals normally fill up the fields with water, thus called the water pouring season.

La Pan Tan rice fields were stunning during this time in 2022. Photo by Pham Hoang Cuong

He said that last year, during the season, La Pan Tan welcomed approximately 6,000 visitors, while this year, the number of visitors was fewer than 1,000.

The terraced fields, spanning 330 hectares in three communes of La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, and De Xu Phinh, were recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as one of the most unique landscapes in Vietnam in 2007.

The fields in Mu Cang Chai were classified as a special national relic in 2019. Apart from the watering season, Mam Xoi Hill also offers an opportunity to witness the beauty of the ripe rice season in the north during September to October.

The drought is affecting many places in the northern mountainous region, including Ban Gioc waterfall in Cao Bang Province, which is also running low on water.