Afternoon trek to Ban Ho village

Starting the walk through rice terraces

After this mornings excursion we were looking forward to an afternoon stroll away from the crowds.

Rice fields in action

Our guide met us at the hotel and we were then driven some distance away from Sa Pa to our start point.

It's all about the rice

At the start point were a number of women in local dress and as we left the road, one joined us.

Rice, as far as the eye can see

Initially we were on a wide track, descending past corn fields and a small quarry but as we got lower  we entered the rice fields.

Our guide (nearest) and our shadow

So many terraces, all different shades of green depending on when the rice had been planted.

More rice fields, well, this is what we came to see

Because the hills are so steep the terraces are all narrow, this means no machinery can be used here so all the planting, ploughing and harvesting is done by hand (or buffalo).

Feeding the buffalo

The walk continued downhill past a few small houses, with the path becoming smaller and smaller.

Looking up the valley, Fansipan in the clouds

Finally we were walking on the edges of the rice fields themselves before emerging onto a road in Ban Ho village. We stopped for a beer here while waiting for our transport back to Sa Pa, it also gave our shadow a chance to sell her wares to Ruth, we guessed that's why she was tagging along.

After the walk