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Fansipan is a popular destination in Vietnam’s northwest, with visitors able to travel from the mountain’s foothills to the summit by cable car. At the base of the cable car station, Ban May Village provides cultural activities and experiences to the region’s ethnic communities.

From Aug. 22 to Sept. 6, Ban May Village at Sun World Fansipan Legend will host its first Brocade Festival under the theme “Harvest Woven in Brocade.” The event coincides with the rice harvest season in Muong Hoa Valley and features traditional textiles, khen flute performances, folk dances and harvest- activities.

Brocade festival celebrates harvest season

The festival includes the outdoor mini-show “Season of Sun and Rain,” which draws on Hmong traditions and depicts aspects of community life through dance, music and props such as woven baskets, ladders, maize, rice and a 25-meter brocade cloth.

The performance covers activities and milestones including farming, harvesting, courtship, marriage and responses to the challenges of nature.

The “Harvest Woven in Brocade” festival offers visitors a glimpse into highland culture at Ban May Village. Photo courtesy of Sun Group

The Golden Harvest Celebration is another festival activity, featuring traditional rituals, Xoe and bamboo dances, and folk games including stilt racing, rice-cooking contests, banh giay pounding and harvest competitions.

Visitors can also sample highland dishes and interact with members of local communities. Two other productions, “Sacred Summit Odyssey” and “Northwest—The Season of Blossoms,” incorporate traditional music and cultural elements into contemporary performances.

Cloud season views on Fansipan

From Ban May Village, visitors can take the Fansipan cable car across Muong Hoa Valley toward the summit at 3,143 meters above sea level. The route offers views of the Hoang Lien Son Range and the valley’s terraced fields.

In September, rice terraces in the valley typically turn golden during the harvest season. The terraces extend around mountain villages, while clouds often gather along the slopes of the Hoang Lien Son Range.

Autumn can also bring conditions suitable for cloud watching at Fansipan. Clouds may form below the summit, while montbretia flowers bloom at elevations above 3,000 meters.

Montbretia flowers bloom amid the sea of clouds on Fansipan. Photo courtesy of Sun Group

Other flowers, including red canna lilies, yellow cassia flowers, hydrangeas and cosmos, can be seen around the mountain’s spiritual architectural complex.

Visitors can stop at Starbucks Fansipan, described by the operator as Asia’s highest Starbucks, or Phe La for drinks while taking in views of the surrounding mountains and clouds. The summit area also provides views across the Hoang Lien Son Range.

Autumn brings together several seasonal features at Fansipan, from golden rice terraces and cloud formations to cultural performances and harvest activities at Ban May Village. Together, they provide visitors with opportunities to experience both the natural landscapes and cultural traditions of Vietnam’s northwest.