A different experience from the "stairways to heaven" in the Northwest region

The majestic and poetic terraced fields, stretching as far as the eye can see across the Northwest region, are masterpieces created by the highland people with their skillful hands and unique traditional culture.

Considered as “stairways to heaven,” terraced fields have been developed into impressive discovery and experience tours by many localities.

The Great Stairs

Taking advantage of the trend of preferring sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism in recent years, terraced field tours have become popular in La Pan Tan, Nam Khat, Cao Pha (Mu Cang Chai), Nam Hong (Hoang Su Phi), Lao Chai, Ta Van, Ta Phin (Sa Pa)...

In particular, experts believe that with the characteristic steep mountainous terrain, the Northwest terraced fields have a lot of potential and strength to build adventure sports tourism products such as: paragliding, hot air ballooning, helicopters; trekking, marathon, motorbike, car, mountain bike... along the winding roads around the terraced fields.

Most localities are focusing on exploiting terraced field tourism in two main seasons of the year: "pouring water season" (white season) around April-May, and "ripe rice season" (golden season) around September-October. Terraced field festivals are held in many provinces, in which the paragliding experience flying over the golden season of Mu Cang Chai attracts the attention of many tourists...

In mid-September, localities announced two tourism products linking the Northwest region in 2023: "Journey connecting the Northwest national terraced field heritage area" connecting Hanoi-Phu Tho-Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai)-Than Uyen, Tam Duong, Phong Tho (Lai Chau)-Sa Pa, Bac Ha (Lao Cai)-Xin Man, Hoang Su Phi (Ha Giang); and "Majestic Northwest" connecting Hanoi-Hoa Binh-Son La-Dien Bien-Lai Chau-Sa Pa, Bac Ha (Lao Cai)-Xin Man, Hoang Su Phi (Ha Giang).

These two specialized products are considered feasible and have high potential for exploitation, contributing to the formation of the Northwest region's destination brand. This is also a premise for localities in the region and businesses to continue researching, building and developing more unique and attractive tourism products associated with indigenous cultural elements.

Distinctive products of the Northwest region

Despite the potential, Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Van Sau (Faculty of Tourism, Hanoi University of Culture) commented that currently, the journeys to explore the beauty of terraced fields only stop at "selling" images through the camera angle of tourists, and there are not many activities to both increase the experience associated with terraced fields and contribute to increasing local revenue.

According to this expert, terraced field tours can enhance the experience for visitors at the raspberry hill by planting special glutinous rice varieties to create a difference in image and at the same time increase the supply of specialties for visitors; planning fish farming on terraced fields to bring the experience of catching fish to visitors, then enjoying local cuisine; building a stop with a suitable landscape space to help visitors both sightsee and take photos, and shop for local products provided by the locals...

One of the inherent limitations of tourism in the North is seasonality, and terraced field tourism is also difficult to avoid this "rut". Therefore, to increase the exploitation time and overcome the seasonality, representatives of many travel agencies believe that localities need to cooperate with tourism businesses to exploit the "Green season" (rice in its young stage) around July-August, and the "Multi-color flower season" from December to March of the following year, in order to exploit the beauty of flowers in the fields such as mustard flowers and buckwheat flowers.

It is not only the responsibility of businesses or localities. To develop tourism associated with terraced field culture, a comprehensive approach is needed from planning to provincial management.

As someone with extensive experience in supporting community tourism development in ethnic minority areas, Director of the Swiss Tourism Project for Sustainable Development in Vietnam, Mr. Kenneth Wood, emphasized that provinces should start by reviewing the overall tourism development plan, building a model of close cooperation between state management agencies, tourism businesses and local communities.

This "handshake" includes destination management activities such as: Developing tourism products, building natural and cultural environments associated with terraced fields, building brands and marketing destinations...

Terraced field tourism products are typical regional products, so it is necessary to connect localities to connect products, connect tours, and connect tourism businesses in the region to create unique and different products.

These connections not only help tourists enhance their experiences and give local people more space to “show off their skills,” but also contribute to enhancing the value of terraced field tourism resources, creating a distinct mark for tourism products in the Northwest region.