The pen book consists of 17 articles that let readers discover and experience the cultural life and natural landscape of Hoang Su Phi – a district located in the west of Ha Giang province. The eyes of a travel blogger do not disappoint readers when writing about their “field”. Throughout the work, Hoai Sa is like an anonymous artist painting the scene of Hoang Su Phi – the “paradise of terraced fields” of the northern mountains. The terraced fields in the ripe rice season bloom with golden colors on the mountains and hills interspersed with ancient tea hills. The beautiful scenery here was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible heritage in 2012. Photo: Hoang Tuan. Many times when he set foot in Hoang Su Phi, Hoai Sa contacted, lived and worked with indigenous people of many ethnic groups Dao, Nung, Tay… This contributed to creating a chronicle for the work, but still There is no shortage of the youthful experience of a young man who studied in the West, returned to his country and devoted his love to his homeland. At the beginning of the book, the reader is immediately impressed with the image of Hoang Su Phi terraced fields, from the origin, the way to improve and harvest to the method of releasing carp into the field. Under the author’s pen, that expression of labor appears vividly and quickly conquers the reader. Hoai Sa fulfills the duty of a travel blogger in bringing readers to traditional customs such as the New Rice Festival of the Dao and Nung people; or the story of making Tet cakes from the rice grains on the terraced fields. The book is like a series of color documentaries with seemingly idyllic but eye-pleasing footage, revealing in the words a majestic picture of nature, worthy of the title “terraced paradise” “. Ha Giang land is known as the cradle of Shan Tuyet tea. Not to disappoint readers, Hoai Sa is surprised when he spends many pages of his diary writing about hundreds of years old tea trees “dwelling” on Nam Pien hill. For those who love to explore history, you can read the details of the author’s record of the fake ancient tombs of King Hoang Van Thung in the border areas, along with an unbelievable story when he died. Pen signed The love story of the mountain – Horizontal and vertical Hoang Su Phi. Photo: Wings Books. In the journal, the writing style of a travel blogger is most impressive. How to do tourism is mentioned many times. With her professional experience, Hoai Sa considers community tourism as a bright spot of Hoang Su Phi in the context of mass tourism that has not yet arrived here. The word “love” also appears in the title for no reason The love story of the mountain – Horizontal and vertical Hoang Su Phi . Reading the work, readers feel the heavy love that the writer has for this land. Wok Yen – the author of the inspirational story From Dao village to Erasmus scholarship – giving praise to Hoai Sa’s autobiography: “Every word makes me feel that the author has given this land a special love, he is not just a visitor to Hoang Su Phi, Nor is he merely a journalist who writes about Hoang Su Phi (although his concise and logical writing style comes from his experience in journalism), he is the one who diligently preserves each beauty of Hoang Su Phi in his words. , and with all my heart.” Above all, whether the writing is journalistic or travelling, The love story of the mountain – Horizontal and vertical Hoang Su Phi is a must-read work not only for the “photographer” and photographers, but also for the general audience to see and better understand the “terraced paradise”.

Cultivating terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi. Photo: Duc Long Hoang Su Phi is a district located in the west of Ha Giang province. From Ha Giang city, it takes about 3 hours to reach Vinh Quang town – the capital of Hoang Su Phi district. Setting foot in Hoang Su Phi land, visitors will be immediately attracted by the terraced fields of harvest, golden sunshine like honey, beautiful scenery like in fairy tales. Then there are cultural festivals imbued with national identity, very strange, wild and strangely attractive. Hoang Su Phi land is located on the ground with an average altitude of 800m above sea level. Here, the terrain is strongly dissected, high mountains, deep valleys, many streams, primeval forests … very suitable for the development of various types of adventure tourism, discovery tourism. Hoang Su Phi also hides in her a unique cultural treasure of ethnic minorities such as Dao, Mong, Nung, Clao, La Chi. In addition, referring to Hoang Su Phi, people immediately think of terraced fields stretching like stairs to the sky. A rare masterpiece in Vietnam’s wet rice civilization was created by human hands to adapt to the soil, climate and irrigation conditions bestowed by nature. The terraced fields were formed in the process of natural improvement, expanding the wet rice cultivation area of ​​ethnic minorities living throughout the Hoang Su Phi strip of land. Through the survey, most of the ethnic groups living in Hoang Su Phi district have mastered the technique of terraced farming such as La Chi, Tay, Nung, Dao… However, each ethnic group has its own experiences. different techniques and experiences. Hoang Su Phi terraced fields in flood season (flood season) Hoang Su Phi has a strongly dissected terrain and steep slope, so the people cannot grow rice by shifting cultivation, but instead, they have to take advantage of low hills, wide areas, and moderate slopes. Right, taking advantage of both rain water and spring water leading from high altitudes to low fields to form terraced fields. The exploitation of terraced fields requires appropriate techniques and terrain. Depending on the terrain and topography of each region, the fields are wide, narrow, long, short, high, and low. In the past, through each production season, households who found that there was a shortage of arable land would choose in the family’s forest and shifting fields the most suitable location, closest to the water source, to develop into fields. Currently, because the land is less and less, the most fertile land has also been cleared into terraced fields, the choice of land does not require as many requirements as before. The government’s policy of land allocation and forest allocation also somewhat limits the choice of places to exploit for farming. Usually, if the previous year’s hill area is cleared and the land is still there, they will continue to do it, when the land runs out, they will find another hill to explore. When families have a need to explore new fields, they will gather together to do the work in exchange. The farming season of the Dao people in Ban Luoc and San Sa Ho communes usually starts right after the Tet holiday, while the La Chi people in Ban Phung commune open their fields in the rainy season, from April to September of the lunar calendar. Before proceeding to renovate the field, they also need to carefully calculate the length and width of the field, the low altitude between the fields, the location of the water channels, the way to conduct the water … effort, time consuming. Usually they will ask elderly people who have experience in clearing fields to take care of the design of the fields. The selection of farming sites is carefully conducted by the local people. The area that meets the requirements must be a place where the soil is loose, fertile, without big rocks, formerly a primeval forest. The slope of the land is not large, it is possible to create a wide and long field. The most important thing when choosing land to exploit is that in the area or nearby there must be a source of water, a place where water can be brought to the field easily and without much effort. Once the calculations are done, get to work. The first is to create a field surface, the tools to exploit the field are very simple, only a hoe, a pickaxe, a wooden harrow and a knife. The process of clearing the field is started from the highest place to the lowest. Depending on the topography and slope of the hill, the height and width of the terraces are also different. Once the ground is available, they proceed to embankment and then bring water to soak the field feet. Usually, it is not until the next year’s crop that they start plowing. For the Red Dao people in Ho Thau commune, they subtract a small area of ​​forest around the field for each area of ​​the field to keep the land from landslides; while the La Chi in Ban Phung commune keep the top layer of soil. After clearing the field, they spread that layer of soil and cultivate it right away. In order for the fields to be shaped, shaped, can be cultivated and ensured productivity, the farmers in Hoang Su Phi have spent many days in the rain. The work of cultivating the fields is continued by the ethnic people here from year to year, from generation to generation, creating the slopes of the fields like monumental art paintings hanging on the hillsides. The industrious and creative labor of the people of Hoang Su Phi has helped to make life full and create a beautiful picture of nature. The golden rice mats in the shape of raspberries, streams, and winding rivers continue to stretch to the horizon. From his labor, the farmer drew a beautiful picture of nature from the song of breaking the ground. Developing tourism associated with the heritage of terraced fields Hoang Su Phi terraced fields in the ripe rice season. Photo: Duc Long Mr. Then Ngoc Minh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoang Su Phi district said: The terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi not only ensure food for the people but also create an attractive tourist product, because of its high aesthetic value and high aesthetic value. rich in art. In recent years, not only encouraging, mobilizing and supporting farmers to get rich on terraced fields by measures, such as: Bringing new high-yield rice varieties into production, planting winter crops; At the Party Committee level, the government of Hoang Su Phi district also promotes tourism development based on the available potential as the National Monument of Terraced Fields. “In order to promote the full value and create different tourism products, in the coming time, Hoang Su Phi district will create many conditions to attract and promote investment in community tourism in the terraced fields or areas. specific products associated with people’s agricultural cultivation, such as: Water season; encouraging the planting of specialized crops or the same type of rice to have the same ripening time, harvest time… At the same time, the district also focuses on investing in transport infrastructure, projects related to terraced fields, Key projects with the emphasis on terraced fields such as paragliding grounds, check-in points, stopovers, terraces sightseeing spots …”, Chairman of the District People’s Committee Hoang Su Phi, Then Ngoc Minh affirmed. Up to now, Hoang Su Phi has over 3,720 hectares of terraced fields spread throughout 24/24 communes and towns. In 2012, terraced fields in 6 communes (Ban Luoc, San Sa Ho, Ban Phung, Ho Thau, Nam Ty and Thong Nguyen) of Hoang Su Phi were certified as a National Monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. family. By 2017, 5 more communes (Ta Su Choong, Ban Nhuong, Po Lo, Thang Tin, Nam Khoa) were added to the list of terraced fields in the heritage area. The whole district has over 2,196 hectares of terraced fields in the protected heritage area. From value and promotion, the image of Hoang Su Phi terraced fields is now not only limited to domestic but also international. For many years now, foreign tourists have known Hoang Su Phi through the path of travel and discovery, especially discovering and experiencing the heritage of terraced fields. However, for terraced field tourism in Hoang Su Phi to develop sustainably and create long-term livelihoods for local people, the locality wants the province to continue to have orientations to guide tourism development; pay more attention to the investment in facilities so that the locality can focus on developing tourism in the direction of agricultural tourism, community tourism combined with preserving the national cultural identity to attract tourists. .

Hoai Sa (Hanoi) is an English travel blogger. He has 7 years working at Vietnam News Agency, currently working in the diplomatic service. With an interest in experiential travel, especially to places few people go to, especially mountainous areas, and cultural tourism. As a former British student, he wrote the book Four seasons, a thousand miles of England (2018) was well received by the study abroad community. Although she has been to many regions in Vietnam, she was impressed with Hoang Su Phi so Hoai Sa stopped here and delved deeper to write the book. Love story of the mountain – Horizontal and vertical Hoang Su Phi Ph . The author shares more about the journey and the process of writing the book. Written from admiration to Hoang Su Phi – Since when did Hoai Sa come to Hoang Su Phi? What brought you to that land? – Originally a travel blogger in English (address captainessy ), writing for foreigners who come to Vietnam for the first time in the style of experiential tourism, nature, I often go to mountainous areas in all three regions of the country. For a long time, I have known the beautiful Hoang Su Phi terraced fields and is a heritage recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The terraced fields in Sa Pa, Lao Cai, and Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai, I have all gone through, but the most beautiful terraced fields in Vietnam, as many photographers call it, I have not been. It was not until 2018, when I visited two terraced fields in Ban Phung and Ban Luoc in Hoang Su Phi, that I decided to write about this place out of admiration for their beauty. Book Love Story of the Mountain – Horizontal and Vertical Hoang Su Phi. Photo: HS – What things about Hoang Su Phi left a special impression on you? – Like most people from afar, my first impression must be the majestic beauty of Hoang Su Phi terraced fields. Tourism potential in Hoang Su Phi is huge. But the longer I stay, the more I realize this is a land rich in cultural identities of ethnic minorities. More than 10 ethnic groups here, most are Nung, Dao, Tay, H’Mong, then less are Kinh, La Chi, Cao Lan, Hoa… all retain their identity. One of the reasons for that is that the roads are difficult, making the storm of urbanization and the storm of development slow to pass. Taking advantage of this, some localities here have done community-based tourism, in a sustainable direction, and resonated in Ha Giang. The commercialization, the erosion of national cultural traditions is not as great as in Sa Pa or Dong Van. – In your opinion, what is the difference that makes this land special? – Ha Giang is best known for two things: It is the headland of the country and has the Dong Van rock plateau (a part of which is still remembered as Ha Giang as a major battlefield during the Border War). The strangeness of a name like Hoang Su Phi itself makes people feel different. In Ha Giang, only Hoang Su Phi is a district with a 3-letter name, originally in Chinese, Hoang Thu Bi, meaning “golden bark”. This place belongs to the Bac Ha Plateau, separate from the rocky plateau to the east of Ha Giang. When talking about the road in Ha Giang, in the past, people have a saying: “Nhat Su Phi, second Bac Me”, to talk about the difficult road to Hoang Su Phi, contributing to the “little-known” character of the district. As mentioned, terraced fields are what outsiders hear about Hoang Su Phi. But it is also a product of labor, agricultural culture here, besides a lot of labor and other cultural beauty associated with forests and mountains. Rice, for example, plays an important role for the people of Hoang Su Phi, participating in all kinds of festivals, because it is “spiritual” in the spiritual life of the people. This is reflected in the article about the New Rice festival of the Nung people and the story of making banh day on Tet of the Dao people. Author Hoai Sa in Thong Nguyen terraced fields. Photo: NVCC. The poetic stories of the mountains – The title of the book “Love Story of the Mountain” evokes beauty and poetry. Is that land just a dream? That land has many poetic stories. The love of the couple built on the fields, in the hills of Shan Tuyet tea… are well known in Hoang Su Phi. Although it is not a rich district, it is in that “not rich” that many interesting cultural and labor rays are reflected. For example, there is a story about a mountain artist who can play 5 musical instruments in the poor commune of Tan Tien, often representing the commune to take exams in the district. Or like the Ceremony of Gratitude for the youth of the Dao Ao Dai is a joyful occasion for the whole village. But of course not only that. In Hoang Su Phi, I realized many concerns about my hometown and development. This is recorded in the writing about Nom script of the Dao people, when the younger generation is no longer interested in learning this script, and it is increasingly disappearing. Or it is also a story about thinking between developing hot tourism and preserving traditional values. Saying that is not to disparage or “show the way for deer to run”, but to emphasize that this beautiful land always has many ways to build and develop life, based on its advantages. . Dao women in Ao Dai in Ban Luoc festival. Photo: HS – Through the book, what did the author do to help readers understand more about this land? Why did you choose the form of expression as “the fairy tale” and not the travel diary? – The book consists of 17 separate but not discrete articles because it is always throughout the beauty and wonder of Hoang Su Phi’s people, culture, profession, customs, festivals, and experiences in the visits. destroy the two peaks of the northeast at Hoang Su Phi. They are arranged alternately so that the reader experiences one sensation after another continuously. Moreover, the book is written from the point of view of people from far away coming to Hoang Su Phi, so it is aimed at people from far away who have little understanding of this western Ha Giang. – To have the material to write this book, how many trips did the author have to visit and explore the land and people? – The author encapsulates the content of the book in 10 trips to Hoang Su Phi over 2 years. Most of that time, the author stayed at homestays of indigenous people scattered in the communes. These homestays have a family atmosphere, close friends with strangers. Thanks to that, the stories about Hoang Su Phi seemed to flow naturally. The character who teaches Nom Dao in the book is also such a landlord. Almost everywhere I went to learn about topics, I was also enthusiastically welcomed and instructed by the natives, especially the Red Dao brothers and sisters. In Ban Luoc commune of the Dao Ao Dai, I stayed with the leader of the commune, so that I could immerse myself more deeply in the commune tourism festival during the golden season. The times to go to the terrace to collect rice, go up to the tea hill with the gardener to pick shan Tuyet leaves, give a true sense of the typical local profession.

The cultural and culinary life of the highland people was recognized by author Nguyen Huu Thong through the work “Breakfast at the fair” taken in Dong Van, Ha Giang which won the first prize in the Food at the Table photo category. real on the table) Nguyen Huu Thong has another work selected for exhibition in the final list, which is “Winter Meal” of a family in the highlands of Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang. The photo “Enjoy” by author Tran Viet Van won the first prize in the Street Food category, taken in the ancient town of Hoi An, Quang Nam. The work “Fish net” by Nguyen Phuoc Hoai was selected for the exhibition in the Bring home on the Harvest category. The image of throwing a fishing net from above makes viewers think they are enjoying a fancy flower The work “Lieutenant harvest season” by photographer Nguyen Huu Thong took in Bac Giang The work “Feeding ducks” by author Nguyen Phuoc Hoai taken on Tra O lagoon, Phu My, Binh Dinh won the second prize in the Food in the Field category. The scene of salt harvesting taken in Vietnam by Chin Leong Teo (Singapore) was selected for the exhibition in the Food in the Field category. British author Lawrence Worcester photographed passengers buying fruit through a train car window that won third place in the Street Food category.

Looking at this outfit, one can think of terraced fields in places such as Fansipan peak, Mu Cang Chai high hill, Hoang Su Phi … or in Sapa is one of the 11 ranked terraced fields. in the most beautiful rice terraces in the world. Miss Khanh Van and the special outfit “Terraces”. (Photo: FBNV) Khanh Van said that the accompanying accessories are also individually crafted in the image of terraced fields by young designer Tran Quoc Dung. Before that, in the first days of meeting at the common house of Miss Universe 2020, Khanh Van also chose a pink outfit inspired by the water lily of Dong Thap Muoi, or a blue outfit representing the young women. Vietnamese tea hills. Currently, the Vietnamese representative is actively practicing with beauties from other countries for the official competition rounds in the coming days. Her confidence, positive energy and initiative can be seen when coming to this year’s competition. Recently, Khanh Van also shared a video about the journey of doing charity during the past time. She confided, “Through volunteering trips, social work for the community during her tenure and journey, Van has grown a lot, loves more, shares more and listens more. than with difficult circumstances, those who still have many disadvantages in life… Because love and giving is forever”. Let’s admire Khanh Van’s special outfits at Miss Universe : (Photo: FBNV) Khanh Van is charming in design inspired by terraced fields. She also impresses in an outfit called “Water lily”. Khanh Van with a suit inspired by the green of the tea hills combined with a bag made from traditional sedge fibers. An outfit with a charming design called “Black Rose”. Khanh Van has also revealed some evening dresses that she chose in the upcoming official competition days. Charming costumes show Khanh Van’s perfect body. An outfit full of personality was chosen by the Vietnamese representative on the day of catwalk practice. The Vietnamese representative is being highly appreciated by a number of beauty websites and has the prospect of entering the next rounds of Miss Universe 2020.