Rice terraces of Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái province, Vietnam Jul. 7, 2024

Rice terraces of Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái province, Vietnam

Amidst the rolling hills of Vietnam"s Yên Bái province, the rice terraces of Mù Cang Chải district are a mosaic of agricultural excellence. The Hmong people, an ethnic minority known for their rich culture and vibrant attire, have meticulously carved these cascading hills for generations. The Hmong migrated to northern Vietnam in the 19th century from China. They were skilled in shifting cultivation—an agricultural system in which lands are cultivated temporarily and then returned to their natural vegetation—of crops including millets, rice, corn and barley.

© Kiatanan Sugsompian/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A chocolate lovers favourite fruit
A light in the coastal darkness
Jul. 7, 2025Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov. 8, 2023West Indian manatees, Crystal River
Sep. 24, 2023World Rivers Day
Jan. 26, 2024Northern hawk-owl
Jul. 30, 2024San Gimignano, Siena, Italy
Sep. 18, 2025Dunquin Pier, County Kerry, Ireland
Apr. 21, 2025International Dark Sky Week
Jan. 2, 2024Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
Family on parade
Dec. 25, 2025Merry Christmas!
Apr. 23, 2024World Book Day
A mountaintop cultural wonder
Hide-and-go-seek world champion
A day for giving
Jun. 16, 2024Happy Fathers Day!
Mar. 16, 2025Happy Panda Day!
Jan. 27, 2024St. Paul Winter Carnival
Apr. 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China
Dec. 26, 2024Boxing Day
Oct. 26, 2025National Pumpkin Day
Feb. 18, 2025The Great Blue Hole, Belize
Oct. 11, 2024Celtic Colours International Festival
Jan. 8, 2025The Great Wall of China
Oct. 12, 2023Old barn and canola field, Palouse region, Idaho
Desert daggers?
Were halfway there
Dec. 27, 2023Kirkjufell, Iceland
Dec. 14, 2023Boreal owl
Apr. 19, 2024Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland
Sep. 14, 2024Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile
Jan. 1, 2024Happy New Year!