Nghia Lo, rice granary of North Vietnam

The Nghia Lo region is one of the largest rice granaries in North Vietnam along with Dien Bien Phu. Thousands of hectares are devoted to rice cultivation and everywhere you look you can admire vast expanses of rice fields. In these vast rice plains there are two harvests a year, one at the end of May and the other at the end of September. It is very pleasant to walk there to discover the activities that take place there all year round. We plough with the buffaloes, we plant the young shoots, we take care of the young rice, we watch over its good maturity and then we harvest it.

Before arriving in Nghia Lo, you can enjoy the beautiful tea hills that make wonderful landscapes. A powerful green tea, much appreciated by tea lovers who find subtle aromas and a beautiful depth of taste.

Sleeping at the inhabitants’ house

For travelers who wish to do so, it is possible to sleep in a private home in Nghia Lo. Move away from the city centre to reach the beautiful countryside where the vast majority of the Thai ethnic group lives. Hospitality is available as some Thai families welcome you for the night. It is the opportunity to enjoy moments of great conviviality and sharing, and to know more about their cultural specificities. You will appreciate the generosity of the Thai people, their beautiful traditional wooden houses on stilts and their ethnic cuisine inspired by the vegetable garden.

The Battle of Nghia Lo

During the Indochina War, in October 1951, the forces of the Viet Minh and General De Lattre clashed at Nghia Lo. Nghia Lo was a key sector for General Giap in the conquest of northwest Tonkin and because the sector possessed rice reserves that were indispensable for the supply of the Viet Minh army. After more than ten days of fighting, the Viet Minh was defeated. But it was only a postponement, with the terrible siege of Dien Bien Phu a few years later.

Best season to go: It is best to go to Nghia Lo and then on the "Photographers' Road" during the rice season, which runs from March to early October.