Vietnam rice terraces turn golden during harvest season

The northern mountainous regions of Vietnam are experiencing their annual harvest season, transforming landscapes into golden hues as rice crops ripen. In Mu Cang Chai, the famous stepped terraces are attracting significant tourist interest, with official figures reporting over 110,000 visitors in the first eight months of 2026, including nearly 17,000 international tourists.

Similarly, the Chieng Sinh valley in Dien Bien province is seeing its fields turn gold among rugged mountain ranges and villages inhabited by the Thai ethnic community. The ripening rice, set against rocky mountains and winding rivers, defines the characteristic highland landscape of the Northwest region.