New destinations in Mu Cang Chai for paragliding lovers

Visitors find it fascinating to take an exhilarating ride on paragliders to enjoy the stunning views of Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province. (Photo: VNA)

Provincial authorities have ordered Mu Cang Chai district to create favourable conditions for surveys at the top of Khau Pha Pass in Cao Pha commune, and Mam Xoi (Tray of sticky rice) Hill in La Pan Tan commune.

Once operational, the destinations will help reduce overloading at the current paragliding spot in the middle of Khau Pha Pass, and traffic jams.

Since 2012, Mu Cang Chai district in collaboration with Vietwings Hanoi Paragliding Club, the Northern Aviation Club and the Air Defence-Air Force Service has organised the annual paragliding festival “flying in the yellow season” between September and October. Also, the “Flying over rising water on terraced paddies” paragliding festival has been held between May and June from 2017.

The festivals have attracted many participants, particularly foreigners who want to discover stunning Mu Cang Chai.

Mu Cang Chai has 500ha of rice terraces cultivated for centuries by the Mong ethnic minority people in La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha, and De Xu Phinh communes. Local terraces are among the 2,500ha recognised as a national heritage site in 2007 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The locality is about 1,000m above sea level, making it impossible to adopt rice farming methods from delta regions. Local residents grow rice in terraced fields to prevent water flowing downhill.

Terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai are beautiful year-round. Visitors in March can see glittering ponds before locals plant rice seedlings from April to May. After May, the hills are covered in green until the fields start to turn yellow with ripe rice in early September. During the harvest in October, the golden rice fields stand out amidst green forests.