Mu Cang Chai Travel Guide

Mu Cang Chai, more than 300 km north of Hanoi, is one of the must-see destinations during the rice harvest season in Yen Bai. Located in the northwestern highland district, this is not only an attractive place with the charming rice harvest season, but also has delicious hot mineral springs, bustling markets, fun festivals and a variety of attractive specialties.

When is the best time to visit Mu Cang Chai?

Mu Cang Chai is charming all year round. In spring, young rice seedlings bloom on the water, and in the warm summer months, vast terraced fields glow green on the hills. However, the most impressive moments are during the watering season (when the rice seedlings are sown) and the rice harvest season (when the winter-spring crop is harvested). The watering season lasts from late May to early June, when the rice fields become mirrors reflecting the sky and earth.

The period from September to October is the golden season of Mu Cang Chai, attracting many photographers and tourists to admire the vivid picture of the highlands. In winter, terraced fields turn into ink paintings in the middle of the mountains and forests. At the end of December, wild peach blossoms begin to bloom, creating a beautiful scene.

Means of transport

To get to Mu Cang Chai from Hanoi, the distance of about 300 km is not too far, but the terrain is more difficult than Sa Pa and Moc Chau because of the continuous steep passes on the roads.

Mu Cang Chai, Van Chan, Tram Tau and Nghia Lo town are four districts in western Yen Bai, located on the western slope of the Hoang Lien Son - Pung Luong range. To get here, there is only one national highway 32, other roads are only for backpackers and locals.

Coach

Option 1: If you are traveling from Hanoi, you can take a bus at My Dinh bus station. Buses to Mu Cang Chai usually go through Nghia Lo town. A few buses can go through Noi Bai - Lao Cai highway to pick up passengers from neighboring provinces, but most still go along Highway 32.

Second way: You can travel by resort car. However, currently there is only one resort, Mu Cang Chai Resort, which is not yet completed. Therefore, if you want to stay at the resort, you should choose Le Champ Tu Le and then rent a car to go to Mu Cang Chai.

Private car

Tourists should choose the traditional route of following Highway 32. The suggested route is: My Dinh - Nhon - Son Tay - Trung Ha Bridge Ba Vi (or Dong Quang Bridge from Son Tay turn left towards K9) - Thanh Thuy - Thanh Son Phu Tho - Tan Son Thu Cuc - Ba Khe - Van Chan - Nghia Lo town - Tu Le - Khau Pha Pass - Kim Intersection - Mu Cang Chai town. You should leave at 5am to arrive on time for lunch.

The route from Hanoi follows the Noi Bai - Lao Cai - National Highway 279 - National Highway 32, which is convenient on the highway but is 50 km longer and the road is worse than the traditional route.

Choose a place to stay in Mu Cang Chai

In Mu Cang Chai, the main forms of accommodation are budget hotels, homestays, and stilt houses, and there are not many high-end options. Of which, stilt houses and homestays of local people are the most popular forms. The stilt houses have dormitories for 10 to 30 people. Visitors can easily find a stilt house near famous tourist attractions such as Ban Thai, La Pan Tan terraced fields, Tu Le, etc. Here, accommodation services and grocery stores are often available right at the foot of the house.

The rest of the hotels are mainly concentrated in Mu Cang Chai town. Budget hotels range from one star to three stars, with rooms equipped with basic amenities such as beds, bathrooms, televisions, refrigerators, etc.

In addition, there are also some new "Ecolodge" style locations such as Hello MCC, MCC Eco lodge in La Pan Tan. If you want to find a slightly more upscale hotel, you can go to Tu Le or Nghia Lo.

In addition to the above options, visitors can also stay at Hello Mu Cang Chai, Vu Linh Family, Thac Ba, Ngoc Thuy Homestay Mu Cang Chai, etc. Room rates range from 100,000 to 700,000 VND per night.

What to do in Mu Cang Chai

Mu Cang Chai is famous for its annual paragliding event held at Khau Pha Pass, called the "Flying over the Golden Season" festival. Here, pilots and tourists can experience the thrill of paragliding and enjoy the panoramic view of Lim Mong valley during the ripe rice season. To participate in this activity, visitors should book a tour in advance to ensure a paragliding spot.

Lim Mong and Lim Thai valleys are home to Thai villages, located right at the foot of Khau Pha Pass - one of the four great mountain passes of Vietnam.

Passing through the picturesque suspension bridge will lead visitors to small, steep paths up the mountain. In September and October, when visitors come to Lim Mong, they will be able to see golden rice fields on both sides of the road.

Visitors can drive through the golden rice fields, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the villages during harvest season, meet local residents from children to adults or relax by the cool streams. The terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai cover an area of over 2,200 hectares. Of these, 500 hectares have been recognized as national heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, belonging to the three villages of La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha and De Xu Phinh.

Tu Le Commune, Van Chan District, Yen Bai Province, 3 km from Khau Pha Pass, is known for its distinctive sticky rice variety. When the rice ripens on the terraced fields, the Thai people in Tu Le begin preparing new green rice flakes to sell everywhere. The price of green rice flakes is 120,000 VND/kg.

Tourists can also stay overnight in Tu Le or go straight from Tu Le to Mu Cang Chai town. There are community guesthouses and homestays in Mu Cang Chai for rent with prices ranging from 100,000 VND to 400,000 VND per person per night. If tourists stay in Mu Cang Chai in the evening, they can go to the market to enjoy Thai ethnic food and there are many restaurants to choose from. Mam Xoi Hill has been a symbol of Mu Cang Chai's golden season for many years. This hill is located in La Pan Tan, more than 8 km from the town center. The road to the hill is quite difficult, so tourists have to stop, park their vehicles and hire motorbike taxis from locals to get there. Near the hill, there is also a buckwheat flower garden for tourists to admire and take photos to check in.

Mu Cang Chai is a great destination to explore the beauty of terraced grasslands and the unique culture of the Thai ethnic people. The golden rice harvest season is the best time to visit, when the scenery becomes magical and magnificent. Visitors can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the villages, walk through the golden rice fields, and chat with local residents to learn more about their culture and life.

In addition to visiting the terraced fields, visitors can also participate in other activities such as walking on Mam Xoi Hill, participating in the paragliding festival at Khau Pha Pass, or enjoying local cuisine at Mu Cang Chai Market. When enjoying these experiences, visitors will feel the difference and uniqueness of the mountainous land of northern Vietnam.

With its stunning natural beauty and unique cultural experiences, Mu Cang Chai has become an attractive destination for tourists who want to explore the natural beauty and learn about the diverse culture of Vietnam. Plan your trip and experience the wonderful beauty of Mu Cang Chai!