Y Ty is located at an altitude of over 2,000m, is a highland commune in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, Vietnam. Arriving in Y Ty from September to April is a good time to watch the amazing sea clous
- Unique features of the Lao Cai highland market
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What used to be one of the most destitute communes in Lao Cai Province, Bat Xat District is now a popular tourist destination. Y Ty, with its breathtaking natural beauty, now attracts visitors not only locally but all over the world.
Tourists who have visited Y Ty describe the place as like being lost in another world, in a good way. That is, entering Y Ty alone will leave you mesmerized with the thick white clouds that greet you at the approach. Y Ty is situated more than 2,000 meters above sea level on Nhi Cu San Mountain, and therefore doesn't get to experience sunlight as most areas do. Terraced fields beautifully make up the place in which tourists themselves can witness the transplanting of seedlings called “pouring water season” every May and seeing the whole area turn to green after. The sight is so astonishing that it has become a favorite shooting destination for both amateur and professional photographers. In fact, some of them not only come to the place once but several times to capture the moment each time.
Many other places such as Sa Pa & Mu Cang Chai, Bac Ha and Muong Khuong are picture-worthy destinations as well. But Bat Xat District seems to stand out from them all in its unusually high altitude and magical sunset. Y Ty has become famous for its unique terraced fields made by the ethnic minority group Ha Nhi. The fields have varying terrain, but the Ha Nhi people manage to make wide and beautiful fields that amazingly fit the valley curves and high mountain slopes.
Another special feature of Y Ty is its earthen houses whose architectural design is simple yet one-of-a-kind. It is mushroom-shaped especially when viewed from atop. The walls are made of clay between 40-50 cms. thick. The roofs are made of straw grass. Each earthen house has an average area of 60-80 sq. m. There is only one door and a small arched window but enough to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Though the design is basic, it takes one month to build an earthen house. It is built after the crop season in which local residents choose an ideal place to build their homes. The foundation is made of stones followed by the walls. Soil is then put into a mold and jammed and layered together with wooden pestles. The final stage is the roof which is made by putting up the wooden beams and purlins together.
The Saturday market at Y Ty is also a famous tourist attraction in which different items like agricultural products and traditional clothes made by the ethnic groups Ha Nhi, H'mong, Dao and Giay are displayed. Visitors make sure to visit this part of Bat Xat District to have something to bring home and remind them of the simple yet magical and truly unforgettable beauty of Y Ty.
