Y Ty is a border highland commune of Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, bordering with Viet Trung border. Located at an altitude of more than 2000m above sea level, Y Ty has a cool year-round climate. Winter temperatures here sometimes drop below 0 degrees.
There are two most suitable stages:
Around May 5-6 is the flooding season, at this time the fields in Y Ty are like pictures. The ripe rice season lasts from late August until the end of September, depending on the year. This is the time when this area is the most beautiful and has the most visitors.
From Hanoi to Lao Cai
From Hanoi to Lao Cai you have 2 options to choose from: by train or by sleeping bus. It takes about 8 hours by train and 5 hours by bus.
Sleeping bus ticket from Hanoi to Lao Cai is 250,000VND, a train ticket is 400,000VND for a soft bed cabin of 4.
From Lao Cai to Y Ty
Although its only about 80km from Lao Cai (along with Bat Xat – A Lu), it takes quite a long time, about 5-6 hours excluding the time of stopping along the road to admire and take pictures. The most popular means of transportation to Y Ty is motorbike rented in Lao Cai or in Sa Pa. If you do not want to rent a bike, you can completely take a motorbike with you from Hanoi by train and then pick up at Lao Cai.
Take the Sa Pa – Y Ty road
From Sapa, you follow O Quy Ho Pass to the junction with Lai Chau and Ban Xeo signs, then turn right to Ban Xeo (DT155 Road on Google Maps) about 20km. Come here, there is a fork to Muong Hum market, remember to turn left to go to the market. Through the Muong Hum market, there will be a sign to Y Ty, just go straight on DT158 about 30km and you will reach the area.
Rice fields in A Lu
Like many Bat Xat upland communes, this is where the Mong, Dao, Ha Nhi and Phu La ethnic groups cultivate terraced fields. In the ripe rice season, looking down from A Lu looks like a painting. Because it is located on an altitude of 700-1,000m above sea level, A Lu rice is only grown in one crop. The ripe rice season is in August and September.
The Pa Valley
The Pa valley belongs to Y Ty commune with thousands of beautiful terraced fields, stretching over 5km from Choon Then to Thien Sinh Bridge. This is a national monument has been recognized. In the dialect, The Pa is the foot of the mountain or bottom field. Terraced fields here are mainly cultivated by Ha Nhi and Mong people in Y Ty commune.
Y Ty fair market
The Fair usually takes place every Saturday, at this fair, there are many kinds of vegetables, tubers, fruits made by the ethnic minorities here. This place is not only a place to exchange goods. but also an opportunity for the colonies boys, girls, people here dressed in their most beautiful costumes. Local people often bring agricultural products for sale to the market.
Lao Chai village
Lao Chai is the village with the largest number of black Ha Nhi people living in Y Ty with 76 households and it is also the most attractive destination in this cloudy year-round place. The name “Lao Chai” itself means “original village” and “old village” because this is the first village with 100% of the black Ha Nhi people. All houses in the village are traditionally made of dry clay. The house is usually covered by walls with a thickness of 40 – 45cm, with cores arranged in stone, about 4.5 – 5m high. The average area per house ranges from 65-80m2, with short slopes (4 roofs) covered with grass, without a porch. The house has only one door in the middle and one or two additional vents on the left, or on the right of the entrance.
Phan Can Su village
It is one of the two highest villages in the border area, about 6 km from the center of the commune with a lot of slopes to access. From Phan Can Su you can see the beautiful scenery of Y Ty.
Den Sang terraced fields
About 10km away from Y Ty commune, the terraced fields here are the most golden in Lao Cai province. According to the locals here, the field is transplanted with local rice varieties so the color is very yellow. Den Sang terraces are easy to see and take pictures because they are located right on the road, where people are very hospitable and ready to model for tourists to take pictures.
Muong Hum Market
Muong Hum Market is located in the center of Muong Hum commune, Bat Xat district opens every Sunday. Coming to Muong Hum market, visitors will enjoy the specialties of the people of the Mong, Dao, Giay ethnic groups …, especially the silver jewelry made by local Dao people bringing to the market for sale.
Y Ty Homestay
This is one of the accommodations in Y Ty, located in Ngai Cho, Bat Xat, Lao Cai. It is located 43km from the Duc Huy Plaza shopping center. From the Homestay, visitors can move to some nearby locations such as Sapa, Ban Pho, Ta Van Valley, Heaven Gate, Sapa Market.
A Ho Homestay
A Ho Homestay is located in Ngai Tro village and from here, you can move to some places such as Ngai Thau – A Mu Sung, Lung Po flagpole, Den Sang … or explore the terrace fields. local houses in Lao Chai, Choan Thien villages.
Because Y Ty is a border commune, there will be a number of posts and border stations along the way, so you should stop to report. You should also go to the Y Ty border post to declare you staying for 2-3 days.
When renting a bike you will have to leave a passport, so prepare a certified copy of the passport and the original should be kept with the person to report to the border.
The commune is located at an altitude of 2000m, so the weather will be a bit cold, you should bring towels, hats and warm clothes.