Tu Le Valley

Tu Le Valley is a scenic intermontane valley in Tu Le Commune, Van Chan District, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam, situated between the Hoang Lien Son range and Khau Pha Pass. Known for its expansive terraced rice fields, Thai ethnic stilt-house villages, and natural hot springs, the valley is a notable agricultural and cultural landscape. It is recognized for its seasonal rice scenery and traditional production of Com Tu Le green sticky rice.

Visitors can expect a wide, flat valley floor surrounded by high mountains and terraced rice fields that change with the seasons from flooded water mirrors to golden ripe rice. The area contains traditional Thai stilt houses, small hamlets such as Lim Mong and Lim Thai, streams, and a natural hot spring. Visitors can walk or cycle through villages and fields, observe daily farming life, taste local specialties like Tu Le sticky rice, and view the valley from Khau Pha Pass.

Tu Le Valley is home to Thai ethnic communities, predominantly Black Thai, known for stilt-house architecture, brocade weaving, Xoe dance, and culinary traditions including Tu Le sticky rice and Com. The valley reflects long-standing wet-rice agricultural practices on terraced fields and preserves traditional village life and festivals.