Paragliding over the majestic and poetic terraced fields has become one of the most fascinating experiences for visitors in recent years. Seizing this trend and developing it into an attractive tourism product, many localities in the province have organized “Flying Over the Golden Terraces,” creating a strong positive impact.
Tourists explore terraced fields in Thong Nguyen commune by paragliding
From an Impressive First Flight
The terraced fields of the province stretch along the slopes of Hoang Su Phi, Thong Nguyen, Ho Thau, Nam Dich, Ban May, Po Ly Ngai, Thang Tin, Hong Thai, and several villages at the foot of Tay Con Linh mountain range. These rippling terraces, floating in a sea of clouds, resemble an endless love song of the mountains and forests, enchanting countless travelers.
Inspired by the idea of seeing the terraces from above, to fully capture the harmony of heaven and earth alongside the creativity of local farmers, and to offer visitors a new experience, in 2019 the Hoang Su Phi District People’s Committee (former) collaborated with Hanoi Paragliding Club to organize the first “Flying Over the Golden Terraces” event. The take-off site was in Nam Pien village (Nam Dich commune) and the landing site in Lang Giang village (Thong Nguyen commune). With favorable winds, paragliders soared over villages, forests, and small streams, offering visitors panoramic views of Nam Dich and Thong Nguyen terraces - among the most stunning in the province, with mystical curves shaped by the mountains. Despite being the first event, it drew 35 professional pilots and hundreds of visitors.
Also in 2019, paragliders began flying above the terraced fields of Hong Thai commune during the local Cultural, Sports, and Tourism Festival. Pilots launched from an open site atop Khau Trang mountain (Ban Khau Trang village) and landed in Ban Tang. The event gathered hundreds of pilots, including international participants, and many visitors. Nguyen Phuong Thao, a tourist from Hanoi, shared after her flight: “Suspended in mid-air, looking down at the golden terraces, I truly felt the grandeur of nature and the creativity of human labor. The suspense, the thrill, and the burst of happiness - an unforgettable experience.”
Paragliding is an extreme sport, using a wing made of special fabric designed in the shape of an aircraft wing to generate lift, connected to a harness seat. The wing stays aloft with the help of wind and thermal currents rising from the ground. Paragliding techniques are complex; pilots undergo professional training to ensure safe flights.
The terraced fields of Hoang Su Phi resemble a magnificent giant painting during the ripe rice season when viewed from above
Pilot Nguyen Xuan Hung, who has flown over terraces in Bat Xat, Mu Cang Chai (Lao Cai), Hong Thai, and Thong Nguyen (Tuyen Quang), shared his freeling: “Each terraced field has its own unique beauty, but the most impressive, emotional, and challenging flight is over the golden season in Nam Dich and Thong Nguyen. The take-off altitude is higher, and the scenery here is spectacular, with terraces interspersed among forests and village rooftops. I have a rendezvous with the golden season in Tuyen Quang this year and am ready for the most memorable flights.”
Toward a Professional Tourism Product
From its successful debut, paragliding has become a highlight of the annual “Culture and Tourism Week through the Heritage of Terraced Fields” in Thong Nguyen and Hong Thai. Vu The Phuong, Chairman of Thong Nguyen Commune People’s Committee, said: “This year’s Culture and Tourism Week will take place from September 13 with the theme ‘Brilliant Golden Season – Rendezvous with the Highlands.’ The paragliding program, jointly organized with B&G Group Joint Stock Company, will run from September 10 to 30. Preparations for take-off and landing sites, logistics, and support have been completed, promising visitors unforgettable experiences.”
Do Thi Minh Thuong, Deputy Director of B&G Group Joint Stock Company, added: “We have organized paragliding in northern mountainous provinces for many years. This year, we continue working with Thong Nguyen and Nam Dich communes to survey the terrain and prepare infrastructure thoroughly. Each visitor will fly with a professional pilot, be fully insured, and provided with safety equipment and recording devices. Before take-off, pilots will guide basic skills and carefully check all equipment, ensuring absolute safety and the most complete emotions for visitors.”
More than just an extreme sport and tourist attraction, paragliding has become a bridge connecting travelers with the life and culture of the highlands - where locals have carefully harnessed every drop of water and every inch of land to create a wonder. Each flight is not only a journey of discovery but also an invitation from the mountains and clouds: to live responsibly, to cherish the value of human labor, and to love the pristine beauty of the homeland even more.
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
Vietnamese source: Tuyenquangonline
