Xim Vang commune (Son La) is at an altitude of nearly 1,500m above sea level. In mid-September, all over the mountainsides, the terraced fields put on the "golden coat" of the ripe rice season, creating a poetic scene.
This is also the time when local people enter the harvest season and organize the Golden Season Festival, to honor the beauty of labor and traditional culture of the highland people.
Lam Xoi hill in Xim Vang village is one of the most beautiful places to see ripe rice. From early morning, hundreds of tourists and photographers were present to record the moment the ripe rice curved along the hillsides, spreading down the valley.
I have been to many places but the terraced fields in Xim Vang really impress with their wild and poetic appearance. The people are very friendly and rustic. I will return next year" - Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Trang - a tourist from Hanoi, shared.
The Golden Season Festival opens with a ceremony including rituals such as: thank you to heaven and earth, ancestors, pray for favorable weather, and good crops.
After the ceremony, a series of exciting activities were organized such as: rice harvesting competition, quick rice beating right on terraced fields. Folk games such as shooting nests, pushing sticks, throwing bows, crushing sticky rice cakes, embroidering fabric... brought an exciting atmosphere, attracting the participation of people and tourists.
Mr. Pham Anh Tuan - a tourist from Hung Yen - shared: "I am very excited to experience harvesting rice with the people. The agricultural products and brocade here are also very unique, imbued with the identity of the highlands.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Bac - Chairman of the People's Committee of Xim Vang commune said that the Golden Season Festival is not only an opportunity for the Mong people to thank their ancestors and the land and sky, but also an opportunity to promote the image of nature, culture and local people.
The event has become an annual destination, attracting thousands of visitors from inside and outside the province to experience.
The golden space of ripe rice, the warm smiles of children in the highlands, along with the sound of khen, the bustling laughter on the rice fields have left an unforgettable mark in the hearts of tourists.
The Golden Season Festival is truly a vivid picture of the connection between people and nature, culture and labor, making the mountainous area of Son La an attractive destination on the tourism map.
