Y Ty has a natural land area of about 8,654 hectares and 11.94 km of border with China. The whole commune has a total of nearly 800 households living in 16 villages with 4 ethnic groups (Mong, Ha Nhi, Dao, Kinh) of which the poverty rate is still high at 77.5%. Located at an altitude of more than 2000m above sea level, Y Ty has a cool climate all year round and is much harsher than other communes in Bat Xat district in winter. The winter temperature here sometimes drops below 0ºC and is one of the snow hunting locations that young people are interested in.
When should you travel to Y Ty?
Each season of Y Ty has its own beauty. You can travel to Y Ty anytime to see the beautiful scenery of this place.
Rattan hunting season: Y Ty is from September of the previous year to April of the following year. You pay attention to the weather, if it is cold (especially at night) but dry like autumn, you can go cloud hunting.
Late March, early April: Azalea flowers will bloom brilliantly, making the Y Ty jungle very colorful. Creating a poetic and attractive scene that makes many visitors surprised by the surrounding scenery. The valleys and hills will have a fresh green color, creating an atmosphere filled with warmth.
Next, around May-June: It is the flood season, at this time the fields in Y Ty are like paintings.
If you want to participate in the biggest festival of the Ha Nhi people of the year, you should come to the Dry Old Old Festival on the first Dragon day of the 6th lunar month, depending on the year, it may fall around July-August.
Y Ty's ripe rice season is from the end of August to the end of September, depending on the year. In recent years, Y Ty has focused on ripening rice during the fall festivals (around the next week of September 2).
How to get to Y Ty, Lao Cai
Travel from Hanoi to Lao Cai
By train: From Hanoi, go to Hanoi station to buy tickets to Lao Cai. Taking the train only takes you to the center of Lao Cai city, here you can rent a motorbike to travel to Y Ty. Ticket prices from Hanoi to Lao Cai range from 6 USD to 30 USD/person depending on the bus company and service.
By bus: Ticket price from Hanoi to Lao Cai is about 10 USD to 12 USD/person/one way. There is free wifi and drinking water on the bus. Some reputable car companies you should go with are Hung Thanh, Hai Van, and Sen Viet.
Travel from Lao Cai to Y Ty
Although Y Ty is only about 80km from Lao Cai, the travel time is quite long (5-6 hours, not including breaks along the way). In Lao Cai, the most popular form of transportation is renting a motorbike.
From Lao Cai to Y Ty, you can choose the following two routes:.
Lao Cai – Bat Xat – Trinh Tuong – Lung Po – A Mu Sung – A Lu – Ngai Thau – Y Ty. The road is now basically much more beautiful than before. However, during the rainy season, landslides and flash floods often occur, easily damaging the road, so going to Y Ty at this time will be more difficult.
Lao Cai – Sapa – Muang Hang – Dengsang – Y Ty. From Sa Pa, follow O Quy Ho pass to Lai Chau intersection with a sign indicating Ban Xeo, then turn right and follow Ban Xeo for about 20 km. At the intersection into Muong Hum market, remember to turn left to enter the market. Going through Muong Hum market, there will be a sign going to Y Ty. You just need to take phone number 158 and go straight for about 30 km to get to Y Ty. However, this road is a bit difficult to walk because there are many rocks.
Explore tourist attractions in Y Ty
Lung Po Junction
Lung Po junction at Y Ty is the intersection of China's Nguyen Giang river and Vietnam's Lung Po stream. These two streams merge into one and flow into the mouth of Vietnam, the Red River. This place has landmark 92 including 92 (1), 92 (2), 92 (3) along the Vietnam - China border. Milestone 92 (1) in Vietnam, number (2) is for the other side.
The Pa Valley
The Pa Valley in Y Ty has been recognized as a national monument. There are thousands of terraced fields stretching 5km from Choan Then village to Thien Sinh bridge. This is an extremely beautiful place in Y Ty during the ripe seasons. Visitors will experience many activities with the people of the community tourism model as well as admire ecological nature. The terraced fields here are cultivated by the Mong and Ha Nhi people.
A Lu
Local people here often have the saying "A Lu slope - Y Ty fog" to express the hardships when passing through A Lu. The road to A Lu will gradually go from asphalt to dirt road, sometimes a road that suddenly disappears, taking you through many levels of emotions.
Aru's terrain is quite special, separated by undulating mountains. Traffic here is also extremely inconvenient. That's why it brings majestic natural beauty to Aru. During the season, looking down from above, Alu is like a beautiful painting.
Sim San village
Going through Lao Chai village, you will come to Sim San 1 and Sim San 2 villages, where there are mainly Red Dao ethnic people with about 100 households living. Due to the high altitude, the climate here is quite cool.
When you come to Sim San village, you will experience the medicinal bath service and enjoy typical Sim San wine. This is a wine brewed by a Taoist so it is very delicious and has a unique flavor.
Lao Than
Lao Than peak is 2,860m above sea level. With its majestic mountain position and pyramid-like shape, rising from the ground, it is likened to the roof of Y Ty. This place will definitely help you capture the ideal "cloud hunting" moment. The road to Lao Than is not too difficult, but you also need to be physically prepared.
Lao Chai village - Ta Van
Lao Chai - Ta Van is inhabited by ethnic minorities, about 7 km from Sapa town center. If you go from Sapa town center, you can walk along Cau May street and then turn onto Muong Hoa street.
Lao Chai - Ta Van is located in a valley surrounded by terraced fields as high as the clouds. These fields have existed for a long time and have been transformed by farmers here into vast fields. Every harvest season, the whole field is dyed the golden color of rice. That's why many people choose this time to come to Y Ty to see this beautiful picture.
Interesting experiences when coming to Y Ty
Y Ty Session Market
Y Ty but not experiencing the market is a big mistake. The market is usually held every Saturday. Here, the focus is on trading wild fruits, Sapa - Lao Cai specialties, brocade weaving crafts... All the products people bring are grown, produced and harvested by themselves.
Besides, the specialty dishes at Y Ty market are also very popular with tourists when coming here. Visitors can experience dishes at the market such as men men, corn cakes, black chicken, wild boar... Don't forget to buy some dried specialties to bring home as gifts.
The Old and Dry Festival of the Black Ha Nhi People.
The Dry Gia Festival, also known as the harvest and rain praying festival of the black Ha Nhi people in Bat Xat district, was included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 19. December 2014, belongs to the traditional festival type.
Muong Hum Market
Muong Hum Market is a place to exchange, buy, sell, chat, and have fun of the H'Mong, Ha Nhi, Hoa, Red Dao, Dao Tuyen, and Han ethnic groups. This is also the place for couples to meet and meet.
Coming here, you will see a bustling scene, noisy voices and laughter mixed with colorful costumes of Mong and Red Dao girls... All have created a market imbued with the region's ethnic identity.
Where to stay when coming to Y Ty Lao Cai?
Y Ty Cloud Homestay
Y Ty Clouds is a lovely homestay located in Mo Phu Chai village, Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province. This place is known as a "virtual living homestay" and is the most beautiful place to view the sea of clouds in Y Ty. With a prime location, the homestay provides visitors with a beautiful view of the surrounding majestic hills and mountains.
Y Ty Clouds Homestay combines sophistication between traditional and modern features. The owner himself designs everything, from decorating with pictures, traditional costumes and items of the Ha Nhi people to planting trees, designing stone tables and wooden chairs. The homestay is also famous for its unique architecture "Mushroom house" - a unique creation of the Ha Nhi people in Y Ty.
Details:
Address: Mo Phu Chai Village, Y Ty, Bat Xat, Lao Cai
Price: 16 USD–20 USD/room
Contact: 0385 339 093
Homestay Y Ty Dai Ngan
Y Ty Dai Ngan Homestay truly lives up to its name, this accommodation is submerged in the sea of clouds of the high mountains all year round. It will take you about 2 hours to go from Lao Cai city to Homestay Y Ty Dai Ngan.
This Lao Cai homestay has a relatively modern architecture with all-glass rooms and beautifully decorated balconies, allowing visitors to admire beautiful views straight towards the Northwest mountains and forests. Besides, the bed sheets are white and decorated with pillows with brocade patterns to highlight the national cultural identity here.
Details:
Address: Lao Chai Village, Y Ty, Bat Xat, Lao Cai
Price: From 6 USD/room
Contact: 0385 339 093
Homestay Co Si Y Ty
Located in the center of the commune, this homestay provides visitors with the convenience of traveling to other famous tourist attractions. Besides, you also have the opportunity to participate in the unique festivals and weekly markets of this land.
Homestay Co Si offers a medicinal bath experience made from mountain herbs after long, tiring days of exploration. Taking a herbal bath helps your body relax and feel more comfortable than ever with an indescribable feeling. At the same time, this activity also has good health effects by enhancing blood circulation. In addition, this Y Ty accommodation also provides motorbike rental services for tourists in need.
Details:
Address: Lao Chai Village, Y Ty, Bat Xat, Lao Cai
Price: From 2 USD/person/night
Contact: 0385 339 093
Enjoy Specialties of Y Ty Bat Xa
Each region has its own unique characteristics that cannot be found anywhere else. If you have the opportunity to come to Y Ty, remember to enjoy and buy specialties as gifts.
Y Ty Shiitake Mushroom
Y Ty shiitake mushrooms have a unique flavor and are often found on the grill with wild boar meat, boiled in bone broth or stir-fried with Chinese sausage. According to the experience of the people here, every time it rains, mushrooms grow in abundance, so this is also the time when people invite each other to go into the forest to pick mushrooms. Summer Y Ty mushrooms are abundant. There are also some other types of mushrooms such as oyster mushrooms, pine mushrooms, etc.
Ha Nhi Beer
This is Ha Nhi's specialty beer, brewed from sticky rice and going through countless hardships. First of all, choose a type of sticky rice with round seeds and enough light. After that, the rice is soaked, washed and parboiled into sticky rice. After the sticky rice is cooked, people roll it out to cool.
Cu Ha Sin Co
Cu Ha Sin Co, also known as Hoang Sin Co. This tuber has a very similar appearance to a sweet potato but is light yellow inside. After peeling, it can be eaten raw. Ha Sin Co root contains a lot of water, has a crunchy, sweet and cool taste. Water chestnuts are used to quench thirst, purify the body, and have a laxative effect...
Some notes when going to Y Ty
Bring a notarized photocopy of your ID card to facilitate car rental and present it to the border guards.
When traveling to Y Ty, it is best to have a quick chat with the border guards.
The road to Y Ty is also quite bad, so you must bring protective gear to avoid the danger of falling off your bike, for example.
Remember to bring cold clothes because the weather here has two different times.
Bring provisions such as gasoline, dry alcohol and water, and a small pot to use when needed.