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The mountains of Northern Vietnam are famous for their beautiful terraced fields, especially in these three destinations: Mu Cang Chai, Mai Chau, and Hoang Su Phi. But how did these spectacular terraced fields come to be?
The history of terraced fields is tied to the indigenous peoples of the mountains of Northern Vietnam. The history of terraced fields, and the farming experience and production customs behind it, are instilled in their cultural values, as well as shaping them.
In the village of the Lachi people, an ethnic group who have inhabited the mountains of Hoang Su Phi for eons, a legend about the traditional terrace fields passes down through their customs, festivals, and folk tales. [1] Vuong Van Minh, an elder of the Lachi tells the story of the terraced fields: “Before, the Lachi lived in the mountains far away from here; eventually, 3 tribes of the Lachi migrated and settled here in the highlands. At first, life was hard; we had to wander around, searching for food. Not too shortly after, the elders decided that we had to farm corn and wheat to live. If we only farmed in the flatlands, there couldn’t possibly be enough space for us to farm, so together, our people created the terraces.” [1]. Many other indigenous groups in Vietnam have also been known for utilizing terracings, such as the Dao people, the Hmong people, and the Tai peoples.
Not only are these terraced fields incredibly beautiful, but they are also an example of indigenous sustainability practices. With thousands of years in experience, the farmers of Northern Vietnam have not only created picturesque scenery but also prevented erosion by 45% [2] and runoff on sloping lands. Through communal practices, such as sourcing water from different families in times of drought and community water management, villages in the region are able to live in harmony and have enough food for each year. [3]
For thousands of years, through community-based construction and maintenance of terraced fields, Indigenous peoples of Northern Vietnam have built a sustainable community and live in harmony with the environment and the land. These spectacular terraced fields remain a cultural heritage, as well as an exemplar for the sustainability of the indigenous peoples in Northern Vietnam.
References:
[1] Tô Tuấn. Ruộng bậc thang Hoàng Su Phì, kiệt tác của các dân tộc ít người, VOV Vietnam
[2] Miklos Gaspar. Viet Nam Tackles Soil Erosion With Nuclear Techniques. IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication
[3] Thanh Nam, Ngọc Thanh. Đưa tri thức dân gian vào làm ruộng bậc thang, Báo Lào Cai. (http://www.baolaocai.vn/bai-viet-cu/20190520083425085-dua-tri-thuc-dan-gian-vao-lam-ruong-bac-thang)
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