Sa Pa's Vù Lùng Sung terraced fields recognized as a natural 121-story tower

The Vù Lùng Sung terraced rice fields in Sa Pa, Lào Cai, are being recognized as a unique ‘121-story green tower’ made of earth and water rather than concrete or steel. Located along National Highway 4D, these terraces stretch from mountain streams up steep slopes into the clouds.

Formed over hundreds of years through traditional farming methods, the terraces were created by leveling small plots on steep terrain and diverting water from above for wet rice cultivation. The landscape shifts visually throughout the farming cycle, reflecting light during the water-filling stage, turning green during growth, and becoming golden at harvest time.

The site has gained international recognition, having been voted by Travel and Leisure magazine readers as one of the seven most beautiful and magnificent terraced fields in Asia and the world. It remains a central part of Sa Pa’s tourism ecosystem, attracting millions of visitors annually.