Discovering Ngải Thầu Thượng, the highest village in Lào Cai

Ngải Thầu Thượng is considered the highest village in Lào Cai Province and features charming natural scenery with year-round white clouds and a romantic sunset.

Located at an altitude of more than 2,000m above sea level, the village in Ngải Thầu Commune, Bát Xát District, about 80km from Lào Cai City, possesses a cool climate all year round. Almost every season of the year, the village is covered by fluffy white clouds, painting a beautiful picture of nature.

Ngải Thầu Commune includes Ngải Thầu Thượng and Ngải Thầu Hạ. Ngải Thầu Hạ (the lower area) and is located on the provincial Road 158 and features ravishing valleys of terraced fields. Meanwhile, Ngải Thầu Thượng (the upper region) is located on the top of Ma Cha Va Mountain which is the highest position in Lào Cai Province.

We had the opportunity to visit Ngải Thầu Thượng and felt more deeply the intense, resilient vitality, changes of the borderland and met the ethnic Mông people in this village.

Ngải Thầu Thượng is like a land separate from the plains and other famous villages of Sa Pa Town. People often choose to explore Cát Cát Village, Tả Phìn Village more than visiting to Ngải Thầu because these villages are closer.

For many people, the highest village in Lào Cai is still relatively unknown.

Although not being as famous as Sa Pa, Ngải Thầu Thượng is still considered a "muse" of those who like to immerse themselves in pristine and pure nature. 

The road to Ngải Thầu has also been improved, so it is no longer difficult to travel. However, to reach this place, we went by motorbikes through the steep roads. If you just want to go to Ngải Thầu Hạ, it will be easier choice of travel and this was also the route where we could see the beautiful terraced fields of the northwest.

The fields of all shapes and sizes look like sparkling umbrellas, embracing the hillsides.

 

Ngải Thầu features valleys of terraced fields. — Photo vietsensetravel.com

We were captivated and ecstatic at the beauty of the lower region. But how could we miss a beautiful village in the upper region that was still waiting? 

The road to Ngải Thầu Thượng hasn’t developed in tourism and modern services, everything is still very primitive. The way of life and the culture and customs of the residents still retains traditional beauty.

The winding roads with an abyss on one side, mountains and forests in the distance, floating white clouds made us fall in love with the natural beauty. Then, when entering the village, gradually appearing in front of our eyes are the traditional houses and brilliant costumes of the Mông.

Ngải Thầu in the local language is "rock cape", protruding from the top of the majestic Ma Cha Va Mountain with four seasons of white fog and strong winds. Just early autumn but the weather here was already cold like winter.

 

The road to Ngải Thầu Thượng Village. — Photo phunungaynay.vn

Standing at Ngải Thầu Thượng, we saw Thiên Sinh valley and terraced fields spreading endlessly on the mountain slopes, glowing with a warm golden colours at the border [with China].

We went to Ngải Thầu Thượng in October when we could still search for the beautiful clouds. But perhaps winter and spring from November to April are best suited for cloud hunting. During this time, the sea of clouds here is almost always floating, white and dense like soap bubbles.

Thanks to the high terrain, cold and humid climate all year round, white clouds at Ngải Thầu Thượng always fill the valleys and crept into the high mountains. Sometimes, the white clouds fly to the villages which look like ocean waves, creating a wild beauty.

Compared to many other villages in the province, in Ngải Thầu Thượng tourism has not really developed. However, recently, many tourists have come to visit, so locals have also started  homestay service for visitors.

Ngải Thầu Thượng is the highest village but also the "youngest" village in Ngải Thầu Commune because most of the families here are young couples, leaving the lower villages with cramped land to come here to make their future.

In the early morning, the dawn breaks through the dense sea of clouds to illuminate the Mông villages along the mountainside in Ngải Thầu Thượng.

Life here is very peaceful. Every morning, the elderly stay at home to look after the children or do errands in front of their earth houses. Adults go to terraced fields to work. Some children carry baskets and take herds of goats into the forest to graze.

The locals are very sincere, friendly, enthusiastic and hospitable. We feel the warmth and joy from the elderly to the children in every house we visit.

A beautiful little corner in Ngải Thầu. — Photo phunungaynay.vn

Compared to many destinations in Lào Cai, Ngải Thầu Thượng is still not as famous. However with the imposing beauty of the mountains, terraced fields, white clouds and the hospitality and friendliness of the villagers, we always want to come back. VNS

Source: https://vietnamnews.vn/travel/1067732/discovering-ngai-thau-thuong-the-highest-village-in-lao-cai.html

Sa Pa will hold the Snow Festival 2021

 Snow Festival is a unique event in Vietnam that only Sa Pa has. This is an annual festival, which has been organized by Lao Cai Provincial Tourism Information and Promotion Center since 2015 at Sa Pa Town, Lao Cai Province (North-west Vietnam).

Sa Pa Snow Festival had held the 6th season. In December 2021 Sa Pa Snow Festival continues to be organized by the Lao Cai Provincial Tourism Information and Promotion Center in coordination with Sa Pa authorities and local businesses. The festival has really become an attractive and unique tourism product of Sa Pa and an indispensable destination in winter for tourists who love the misty land.

Snowfall is a common natural phenomenon in temperate countries, but in Vietnam, a subtropical country, this is the most anticipated special event in winter. For many years Sa Pa has snowfall and the Snow Festival as an opening event for the annual snowfall season. Sa Pa located at an altitude of over 1500m above sea level with the roof of Indochina - Fansipan peak 3,143m, where ice and snow often appear in winter, becomes more and more attractive to tourists every Christmas season.

Sa Pa in the cold winter, the snow covering the mountains and forests, the roads and roofs around the town creates a splendid and glorious scene and it is also the time when the whole family and friends gather together, enjoy traditional warm dishes of Sa Pa such as thang co, salmon hot pot, dried buffalo meat, night barbecue or participating in crowded and bustling outdoor activities.

With the desire to bring unique tourism products to visitors to Sa Pa, the entire campus with nearly one ha wide at 02 Fansipan street, Sa Pa Town (opposite the horse yard and Sa Pa Church) is shimmeringly decorated with lights, sounds, flowers, scenes, etc., creating beautiful modern check-in frames such as the winter snow road, Sa Pa snow flower garden, snowy samu pine forest, snow villa, snow-covered terraced path, peach blossom garden - plum blossoms in the snow in the cherry blossom forest. During the Sa Pa Snow Festival in 2021, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy highland cuisine, watch the snow, immerse themselves in the Christmas space and celebrate the New Year with folk music and lively street music.

Sa Pa Snow Festival 2021 is completely free for the public to visit and experience at the end of December 2021.

Tourism Information Technology Center

French newspaper ranks Vietnam as top destination for winter

Vietnam has been topped the list of leading destinations in the world for winter, which has been announced by the oldest daily newspaper in France, Le Figaro.

According to Le Figaro, Vietnam possesses a treasure of world heritages such as Ha Long Bay with its astonishing landscapes, and Trang An Tourism Complex which is known as Ha Long Bay on land.

Ninh Binh also has wonderful mountains that are covered by a vegetation overlooks rice fields and ancient temples, said Le Figaro. The newspaper also suggested that in order to experience the rich land, the cradle of many long-standing cultural values, visitors should leave their luggage at Maison Que, a resort among rice fields, and then go boating and exploring caves.

Le Figaro noted that travellers should not miss the central region in Vietnam with many unexplored destinations, including Phu Yen Province with its long beaches or the ancient Champa ruins and rituals at sacred temples in Binh Dinh Province.

Tourists will enjoy a wonderful and quiet time relaxing at the world's leading resorts in Phu Yen, along with experiences of coral diving and taking cruises around the peaceful waters.

Following snow leopards in Ladakh (India), windy Seychelles Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, watching the northern lights in Lofoten (Norway), the "tropical paradise" in Thailand, and crossing the equator in Ecuador, were also among the suggestions by Le Figaro for visitors during winter.

Source : https://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php/items/16399