Early in mid-August in Choan Then village, the sea of clouds still slowly covered the mountainsides. On the terraced fields, ripe rice stretches like a golden carpet, attracting groups of tourists to stop for photos.
That bustling atmosphere also started a busy working day for many households doing community tourism.
Mr. Sung A Pao's family (H'Mong people) owns a small homestay overlooking the terraced fields. On weekends, the rooms are almost full.
Since the beginning of August, customers have started booking more rooms. Some days, the family has to ask relatives to cook and clean rooms to serve. The ripe rice season is the time when we have the best income in the year," Mr. Pao shared.
According to Mr. Pao, previously his family mainly relied on rice fields and animal husbandry. In recent years, when the number of visitors to Y Ty increased, the wooden house was converted into a homestay.
In addition to accommodation, the family also has additional income from meals with specialties such as black chicken, local pork, wild vegetables and rice wine.
Not only homestays, brocade stalls in the commune center are also busier when the tourist season begins.
Next to the traditional weaving frame, Ms. Ly Mi Di (Ha Nhi people) is completing a brocade scarf while welcoming visitors.
Every ripe rice season, customers buy scarves, bags, and shirts much more. Some days they sell for a few million VND. The happiest thing is that many people not only buy products but also want to learn about how to weave fabric and the meaning of the patterns of the Ha Nhi people," Ms. Di confided.
When the sun rises high, groups of tourists begin a trekking journey through Lao Chai, Choan Then, and Ngai Thau villages to admire terraced fields and hunt cloud sea.
As a local tour guide, Mr. Vang A Chu is almost fully booked with tour guides in the fall.
In addition to introducing the beautiful scenery, I also tell guests about the farming habits and culture of the H'Mong and Ha Nhi people. Many delegations stay for 2-3 days to experience, so the work is also more stable," Mr. Chu said.
Mr. Chu recounted that in the past, many young people in the village had to work far away. Now that tourism has developed, many people return to their hometowns to work as guides, porters or open services to serve customers.
In the central area of Y Ty, motorbikes carrying passengers continuously go up and down the sightseeing spots.
Ly Seo Quang, a local youth, said that the ripe rice season is the busiest time of the year.
On normal days there are only a few trips, but on weekends we can carry dozens of passengers. Income has increased significantly, enough to cover living expenses and help the family," Quang said.
Not only picking up and dropping off passengers, many drivers also serve as guides, introducing views of the sea of clouds, delicious eateries or beautiful photo angles that only locals know.
According to the leader of Y Ty Commune People's Committee, the Y Ty Autumn Festival 2026 with a series of activities lasting nearly three months is expected to create more attraction for the destination, contributing to extending stay time and increasing tourist spending.
In addition to terraced field experience activities, cloud hunting, trekking, the locality also organizes many cultural programs, introducing cuisine, traditional crafts and OCOP products.
We hope that tourists coming to Y Ty will not only come to take photos and then leave, but will stay longer to experience the life of local people and explore the culture of ethnic groups.
When guests stay longer, many households will have more opportunities to increase income from homestays, transportation, tour guides, selling agricultural products, brocade and OCOP products," this person said.
