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:

Apr. 26, 2025Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario
Sep. 10, 2023Grandparents Day
Jul. 17, 2025Lavender fields in Plateau de Valensole, France
A day for the worlds Indigenous populations
Feb. 5, 2024Monarch butterflies, Goleta, California
Ive got a lot of problems with you penguins!
A rainbow that’s worth the rainfall
A butterfly’s best friend
Dec. 7, 2023Verdon Gorge, France
What are these colourful insects?
A flashy, frigid waterfowl
God’s Own Country
The sea pool of Penzance
Mar. 31, 2026Paradise Cave, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
Jul. 20, 2025Moon Day
A grizzly bear sanctuary
Apr. 20, 2026Buckets on maple trees collecting sap for maple syrup
Oct. 5, 2023World Teachers Day
Dare to delve into this dense swamp
Dec. 19, 2025Bormio, Lombardy, Italy
Connecting the dots
Dec. 14, 2025Christmas Bird Count
May the 4th be with you
May 14, 2024Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, USA
Dec. 1, 2025Antarctica Day
Man-made, meandering Lake Powell
Like paint on a canvas
Nov. 26, 2023Fallow deer, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England
Whats so funny?
Perfect, pastoral Palouse