Recently updated on August 11th, 2022 at 11:34 pm
Mu Cang Chai is a district in Yen Bai Province, located in the west, about 300 km from the center of Hanoi. The district lies under the famous Hoang Lien Son range, about 1000m above sea level.
Come to this place, visitors not only have a chance to enjoy the beauty of the National Spectacular terraces with a total area of 2,500 hectares distributed mainly in 3 communes of Che Cu Nha, La Pan Tan, and Zi Su Phinh.
Which has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism since 2007. This is a creative architectural art from the skillful hands of the Mong people living in this upland land that visitors also have a chance to see the white clouds atop Cao Pha Pass which is also the 4th most beautiful place in the world for pilots flying paragliding.
In addition, visitors can visit the Mong ethnic villages, and discover the culture as well as special customs in the northwestern region with many cultural and folklore values.
Best time to travel to Mu Cang Chai
Mu Cang Chai has two beautiful seasons so you can travel here and discover it:
May – June: This is the time when farmers prepare for a new crop.
September – October is the rice harvest season which is also known as “the golden season” of the region, at this time Mu Cang Chai will be bright yellow rice filed, beautiful weather, convenient to visit.
How to get to Mu Cang Chai? Transportation to visit Mu Cang Chai
Come to Mu Cang Chai
The most convenient way is to book a tour package with a travel agent, however, this is, of course, the most expensive way.
By local bus
Nowadays, as Mu Cang Chai become a more popular tourist spot so there’s more service available for tourist to travel there.
You can book a local bus departing from My Dinh station or if you book via some travel agency, they can also arrange the pick up from your hotel to My Dinh station, then take the bus to Mu Cang Chai.
The buses are either normal sitting buses or sleeper buses. The bus duration is around 8 hours. There’re day buses and night buses.
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By motorbike
If you are a lover of discovery and adventure you can rent a motorbike from Hanoi and move to here, travel time about 8 – 10 hours.
Some notes:
- Make a detailed plan of the route you are going to take
- Bring a travel map or phone with an internet connection to use Google Maps.
- Absolutely comply with the road traffic safety law.
- Agreed on the cost of renting a motorbike.
Moving around
To explore this place you can rent a motorbike right at your hotel to explore the place.
Where to stay? Nice and good Homestay & Hotels in Mu Cang Chai
In Mu Cang Chai from the homestay to the high-end hotel, there are many options for you. If you go on holiday, you are recommended to book accommodation 2-3 weeks before to avoid room unavailability or high prices.
Right in the center of Mu Cang Chai, there are many homestay and hotels with very reasonable prices and you can book directly or through the travel company so you get better prices a lot more than you book directly with that hotel. This is an experience you should pay attention to.
In addition, Booking.com is a very reasonable choice we would like to advise you with information and photos, very detailed service, as well as reviews of the people who have booked here.
Places to visit in Mu Cang Chai
Tu Le Terrace Rice Fields
This is definitely a place you can not ignore. Tu Le is actually a valley, located in Van Chan district of Yen Bai province with terraced fields stretching.
La Pan Tan Commune
The highlight here is the terraces with cyclones, rolls together. This is considered as the innovative architecture of the Mong people, has been awarded the National Relic and Landscape at the end of 2007.
Pu Nhu Waterfall
Pu Nhu waterfall is in La Pan Tan commune, Mu Cang Chai district. Originating from the streams in the watershed forests from Than Uyen (Lao Cai), the waterfall is about 20 meters high, divided into many steps.
Khau Pha Pass
It is one of four rugged and imposing passes in the north of Vietnam with a length of about 40 km. If you are an adventurer, surely you should not be able to ignore the experience of conquering the Khau Pha Pass.
At present, there are also paragliding services, which are part of the annual Mu Cang Chai festival.
Lim Mong Village
This is the place where the rice terraces are most beautiful in Mu Cang Chai, but the road to this place is very difficult to go.
Lao Chai
Located about 10km from the town center, this road is not easy to go through, many small and slippery roads (do not go when it rains) but if you can reach it, you’ll find it’s truly worth for the terraced rice fields extremely majestic.
Thai Village
Located about 1km from the center you will come to Thai village. It is a small village located in the valley.
Here you can enjoy the specialties of the Thai, bathe the traditional Thai medicine, rest at the stilt house and organize the exchange, and fire camp.
Local market
The fair market is the cultural activity indispensable in the life of the people of highland. Apart from the purpose of trading, exchange of goods, the market is also the place where cultural exchanges of ethnic people here.
