Waterfalls abound in Vietnam, probably a better
word here is cascades Continuing the tour northwards from Hà Nội, this page reaches the heart of the country that lies between the urban plains of the Red River to the south, and the mountainous lands of Hà Giang to the north. The province of Bắc Kạn has the full agricultural range of activities as befits its varied landscape, but ginger and rice are particularly conspicuous in this province. Rice needs high rainfall and that Vietnam certainly has. Rain and hills produce waterfalls, two modest ones are shown here, there are also pages on the Bản Giốc Cascades and waterfalls
in Đà Lạt.
The steep hills offer visitors grand vistas as
they emerge from the passes to see
the patchwork of fields on
the flat valley floors
Right, enjoying
that first cascade
A wider plain with the October harvest being collected
Three more detailed photos of...
...parts of the valley shown above
The paddy having been gathered in, leads to the...
Sheaves being laid out to dry near a winnowing tray
...next step - the winnowing of the sheaves
The angled boards help the grain fall onto the tray...
Washing clothes, in the country, is a highly social affair
...as the sheaves are beaten against it
Maybe this woman is a bit cut off from her neighbours
Back to cascades - here in a deep and dark defile
I have sore memories of the sharp stones on the bottom of this pool, the local (impromptu) guides knew better...
...than try, and took to the sides, not keeping up proved an advantage; the steep slippery climb would have defeated me
Triumphant
Many hillsides have meticulously terracing...
...others allow nature her hand
This steep hillside is a ginger field...
Ginger trading yard
...closer - the sprawling ginger plants
Ginger
Heaps of it
Sacks of it
Small cafe/restaurants like this abound, often remote, and all the more needing the ubiquitous satellite dish. Here, according to the sign, rice and noodles with eggs and pork are their fortes. Getting motorbikes out of the sun is more important than possible inappropriateness near the lunch table
A remoter house with little but bananas - but centre stage,
a satellite dish
A buffalo tries to gauge if this particular hand of friendship contains any food
The eyes have it
Trailers...
The next Picture Posting page is to take you to the northern part of Bắc Kạn Province.
The next page
of the Mosaic Section is to be headed 'Broken Contact'.
Or go to the contents Go to the contents of the Mosaic Section. of the Mosaic Section. Monitors can keep the layout, which phones may need to discombobulate.
The previous page had photos from Truyên Quang Province
More pictures of fields in northern Vietnam
Go to a page on the huge Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland
...guide to this site