Mu Cang Chai – Indigenous encounters
Mu Cang Chai is a secluded land known for its stunning rice terraces. It’s rated as one of the world’s most beautiful rice terrace destinations.
Mu Cang Chai’s beauty is not only in its scenic allure but also in the distinct culture of its inhabitants. The Hmong, Thai, and Dao people call this place home, and they have preserved their cultural traditions and lifestyle in harmony with nature, unaffected by modern life.
During this trip, we will have the opportunity to learn about the authentic cultural values of the region while immersing ourselves in the local way of life. Along the way, we will be awed by the stunning natural scenery, including the terraced rice fields that change color with the seasons. These fields stretch from the valley floor up to the high mountains often hidden in the clouds.
Welcome by a local Thai family
Highlight
- Experiencing the fresh and original lifestyle and nature in one of the most majestic valleys in the Northwest, Lim Mong Valley
- Wallowing yourself in Thai culture with stilt houses by the stream, delicious food, and incredible music
- Enjoying authentic local meals harvested directly from farm to your plate
- Walking to visit the natural Nodding Bamboo forest and meet Thai and H’mong families who have lived here for generations.
- Participating in a craft workshop: Indigo dyeing by Thai people / Beeswax painting or Bamboo weaving with H’mong people.
- With your trip, you are supporting the local community through community tourism and sustainable development tourism.
| Destination |
Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai, Vietnam |
| Included |
- Accommodation as mentioned in the program
- Meals as specified in the program
- Travel in an appropriate air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
- The services of an experienced English-speaking guide
- The services of one local guide
- Use of motorbike taxis for transfer & pick-up in the trekking day
- Herbal bath with local medicine plants and herbs
- Folklore musical performance (applied for groups of 2 people and above)
|
| Excluded |
- The services of an experienced tour guide
- Hotel in Hanoi
- Beverages, gratuities, and personal expenses
- Personal expenses (drinks, souvenirs, etc…)
- Trekking gear (backpack, shoes, etc …)
- Individual Insurance
- VAT and other taxes
|
 Travel by car |
Panorama of Lim Mong Valley in Mu Cang Chai
What to bring
- Sun & rain gear (including sunscreen and brimmed hat)
- Warm clothes in winter (mid-November to early March)
- Insect repellent
- Walking shoes/sandals
- Daypack for hiking
- Toiletries, towel and flashlight
- Original passport
Price per person and based on private group
| Group of |
1 pax |
2 pax |
3 pax |
4 pax |
5 pax |
6 pax |
7 pax |
8 pax |
| Price per person |
VND 13,500,000 |
VND 8,170,000 |
VND 6,500,000 |
VND 5,230,000 |
VND 4,450,000 |
VND 4,130,000 |
VND 3,760,000 |
VND 3,480,000 |
Discount for larger group is available; please contact our travel consultants at
lam@dcttravel.vn or send us inquiry through the contact form
Details
Meal: lunch, dinner | Accommodation: Village stay at a traditional house-on-stilts
Homestay renovated from a traditional Thai stilt house in Mu Cang Chai
At 7:00 am, the tour guide and car will pick you up from the company office in Hanoi to leave for Mu Cang Chai via Lang Hoa Lac Highway and Highway 32.
After driving for over 2 hours, take a break at Thanh Son tea plantation in Phu Tho. The vast tea fields stretch out on both sides of the road. You can tour the plantation and take some pictures.
Continue to follow Road 32, which has stunning scenery on both sides, especially along the distance from Nghia Lo to Tu Le. At the gate of Mu Cang Chai, the car will follow a small path leading you to It Thai village, which is a beautiful small village located on the bank of a stream in Lim Mong Valley. The homestay owner in the village will welcome you into the house and guide you where to sleep. Have lunch and take time to rest.
In the afternoon, we will visit the village and experience the simple and close-to-nature life here. Walk gently along the stream bank and along the fields to see Lim Mong, Lim Thai villages, then return to It Thai village.
Or you can do paragliding from the Khau Pha pass; the surcharge for paragliding is US$ 94 per person.
Enjoy the dinner prepared by the Thai’s ingenuity with signature dishes such as colored sticky rice, grilled chicken/duck, dried meat, and Seng Cu rice. Overnight in a stilt house.
A local family provides your accommodation in their traditional house on stilts. There’s no private room, and you’ll sleep on the floor in a large communal area. The sleeping corner has a single mattress (thin but adequate), blankets (ditto), a pillow, and a mosquito net. The restroom is at international standards and is a few steps from the main house.
A private stilt house is available for more privacy. Contact our travel consultant for availability and surcharge.
Meal: breakfast, lunch, BBQ dinner | Accommodation: Village stay at a traditional house-on-stilts
Trekking in the pristine bamboo forest in Mu Cang Chai
Beeswax painting workshop guided by local artist
Experience the traditional local life in Mu Cang Chai with a craft workshop such as indigo dyeing, beeswax painting, or bamboo weaving. These activities have disappeared in many parts of the world but are still practiced by the locals.
In the afternoon, we'll explore the Huoi Tieng Qoai nodding bamboo forest. On our trek, we'll meet Thai and H'mong families who rely on agriculture and forest products. We'll visit the natural bamboo forest and have a BBQ dinner at a scenic hill to watch the sunset. After dinner, we'll return to our homestay for an herbal foot soak and an overnight stay.
Meal: breakfast, lunch
Enjoy breakfast with local foods in Mu Cang Chai
Enjoy a peaceful morning in the fresh air of the village or take advantage of the last morning of your excursion to wake up early and head uphill to admire the sunrise over the valley. You can capture some beautiful pictures while you're there.
Afterwards, say goodbye to your family host and begin your journey back to the Red River Delta. We will make a quick stop at Nghia Lo town on the way back where you can meet with a lovely family. If you're interested, you can join them on a cycling tour around the quaint villages of Muong Lo Valley, the second largest of the four major valleys in the Northwestern region. Alternatively, you can help the family pick vegetables from their organic garden and prepare lunch.
After lunch, we'll hop back in the car and head back to Hanoi. You should arrive in Hanoi around 6PM, which will mark the end of the trip.
