The US-based Travel and Leisure has recently announced seven most magnificent terraced fields in the Asia and the world. The magazine described the terraced fields of Sa Pa as ‘ladders to the sky’. Today, Sa Pa attracts many tourists from both Vietnam and abroad thanks to the cool and fresh climate, the sublime nature beauty and the colourful hill tribe cultures.
Vietnam Business Forum Magazine had a talk with Mr Tran Huu Son, Director of Lao Cai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on preparatory works to apply for the recognition of World Heritage of Sa Pa.
What do you think about the recent announcement of the Travel and Leisure Magazine that Sa Pa is one of seven most beautiful terraced fields in Asia and the world?
The Sa Pa terraced fields has recently been ranked one of seven most magnificent terraced fields in Asia and the world. Other fields voted by the magazine’s readers include Banaue (the Philippines), Yuangyang (Yunnan province, China), Ubud (Bali, Indonesia), Annapurna (Nepal), Mae Rim (Chiang Mai, Thailand), and Longji (Guilin, China). This is good news but not a surprise because of the marvellous natural beauty of this land.
Terraced fields in Muong Hoa valley (Ta Van, Lao Cai) are the knowledge product of the Mong and Dao people. The fields in Sa Pa are different from those in Yunnan province, China or in the Philippines because each people has its own cultivation methods. Owners of Sa Pa terraced fields are the people with rich knowledge and characteristic cultivation practices. Thus, the Sa Pa terraced fields won the title thanks to its origin of popular knowledge, not just the “luck”.
Is this the reason for the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province applies for the recognition of the Sa Pa terraced fields as the World Heritage?
Before the Sa Pa terraced fields won the title for its beauty from the Travel and Leisure, Lao Cai province had a plan to apply for the recognition of the Sa Pa complex as the World Heritage to the UNESCO. However, we will apply for not only terraced fields but also a complex of terraced fields, sublime stones and Hoang Lien national park.
Could you tell research activities and data to apply for the recognition of Sa Pa terraced fields for the World Heritage?
At present, we are closely working on surveys and researches on “folk” knowledge Dao and Mong peoples applied to Sa Pa terraced fields. In the coming time, we will send a working group to survey terraced fields in Yuanyang, China to acquire their experience in applying for the World Heritage title.
Could you compare the Sa Pa terraced fields with other fields in the Group of Seven?
Each terraced field has its own beauty and the knowledge product of the people living there. For instance, the Sa Pa terraced fields are the knowledge product of Mong and Dao people and the Yuanyang fields are the knowledge product of Hani Ethnic Minority (China). Thus, they have their own characteristics.
Therefore, it is very difficult to tell which is at an advantage. However, the Sa Pa terraced fields hold the advantage of attracting a large number of visitors as it locates in the world-renowned Sa Pa tourism zone.
If the Sa Pa terraced fields are recognised as the World Heritage, how will your locality preserve and develop them?
The recognition of the Sa Pa terraced fields as the World Heritage will make the location more popular and attract more visitors. This will play greater roles in raising awareness of protecting and developing the values of this ‘folk’ knowledge of the humankind. Nonetheless, if it is recognised, Sa Pa will have strategies to preserve terraced fields and protect the environment in the context of booming urbanisation and hydropower development.
Reported by Thu Huyen
Vietnamese
