Y Ty in fog

By: Nguy Ha

Y Ty is amazingly serene in the evening. Smoke columns continuously spread out from cozy earthen-walled houses. These traditional houses are built by the Ha Nhi ethnic minorities in Lao Cai province and are far different from those found in Pho Bang or the Dong Van Plateau of the northern highland provinceof Ha Giang. Layers of unprocessed soil are pressed to make the walls, which can help to protect residents from the piercing cold of winter in the highland commune. In this quiet location, laughter echoes from children and the inhalation of pipe tobacco smoke from farmers permeates everywhere.

Y Ty is cloudy all year round. Dense fog cloaks the landscape both day and night. Farmers amidst the green rice and sparkling water-filled fields unknowingly create a picturesque image from a distance.

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One day in May, I packed my bags and prepared to head to Y Ty, my dream land. Saturday morning is the time of the kermis, the reason why so many Ha Nhi women and girls flock here. They laugh and talk while on the paths, carrying bamboo baskets on their heads. The dominant colour of the kermis is indigo. The Ha Nhi dress is distinct becaof its skillfully weaved cloth. The women decorate their dresses in raw colours. They come to the kermis to trade farming products, but more importantly to give colour to a corner of the highlands.

Even after returning to the bustle and hustle of the city, the images of the hospitable ethnic people and this misty region remain etched in my mind.