Paragliding over golden terraced fields – a unique tourism highlight in the highlands

Paragliding to admire the majestic and poetic beauty of terraced rice fields has become a distinctive tourism product, attracting large numbers of visitors to Hoang Su Phi, Thong Nguyen, Hong Thai, and other upland communes. The winding terraces, floating amidst clouds like an endless song of the mountains and forests, have captivated countless travelers.

Tourists explore the terraced fields in Thong Nguyen commune by paragliding.

The idea of viewing terraced fields from above was first realized in 2019, when the People’s Committee of Hoang Su Phi district (former) collaborated with the Hanoi Paragliding Association to launch the event “Flying over Golden Terraces.” Despite being held for the first time, the event brought together 35 professional pilots and hundreds of visitors, leaving a strong impression. Since then, this tourism product has quickly become a highlight of the annual “Culture and Tourism Week through Heritage Terraced Fields.”

Not only in Thong Nguyen, but Hong Thai commune has also left its mark with paragliding performances during its Culture, Sports, and Tourism Festival, attracting even foreign pilots. Many visitors described the experience as “thrilling, exhilarating, and overwhelmingly joyful” when soaring through the skies and gazing down at the golden harvest below.

According to pilot Nguyen Xuan Hung, who has flown over many terraced fields across northern Vietnam, Nam Dich–Thong Nguyen remains the most impressive and challenging destination, with high take-off points and breathtaking mountain scenery interspersed with terraced fields and traditional villages.

This year, the Culture and Tourism Week in Thong Nguyen will take place from September 13 under the theme “Brilliant Golden Season – Rendezvous with the Highlands.” Paragliding activities, co-organized by the commune People’s Committee and B&G Group JSC, will run from September 10 to 30. Organizers have completed preparations for take-off and landing zones as well as logistics. Each participant will be accompanied by a professional pilot, fully equipped with insurance, safety gear, and recording devices.

Beyond being an extreme sport, paragliding has become a bridge connecting visitors with the cultural life of upland communities, where every drop of water and inch of soil has been cherished to create natural wonders. Each flight is not only a journey of experience but also a message of love for nature, respect for human labor, and responsibility toward environmental preservation.

Bien Luan