Travel guide to Mu Cang Chai rice terrace in harvest season
Mu Cang Chai rice terraces are named as one of the 25 most incredible places in the world that look unreal but exist by Wonderlust Storytellers, Plus, in 2015, the golden terraced rice fields here were also recognized as one of the most worldwide beautiful landscapes by National Geographic with seasonal beauty alluring all travelers.
Mu Cang Chai Rice Terrace
The upcoming time span (August – October) is the best time to enjoy the beauty of Mu Cang Chai, which will have charming changes from greenery to golden hue, bringing fertile beauty to vast fields. Along with that, authentic and amusing travel experiences are also awaiting you, let’s see below!
With DCT Responsible Travel, Mu Cang Chai is our homeland because we have supported it for years through a community-based tourism project in It Thai Village on the foot of Khau Pha Pass. Hence, we’re proud that we had many chances to experience the seasonal beauty of this land, not just the harvest season.
Mu Cang Chai boasts vast rice terraces, mainly cultivated by H’Mong and Thai ethnic groups. They make two crops in a year with the main one drops in September and October. Based on this, let’s see the different features of this land in a year:
- March – May: A few areas in Khau Phạ have planted the first rice crop of the year, but overall, there isn’t much rice yet in Mu Cang Chai. Instead, you’ll see vast cornfields, and if you like, you can enjoy corn hand-on picked from those fields.
- May – June: This is the water pouring season in Mu Cang Chai, featuring terraced fields filled with water, like giant mirrors reflecting colorful nature. Some areas retain golden rice from the previous harvest, while in others, young seedlings start to be transplanted for the main crop of the year.
- July – August: This is the green rice season when the rice has matured, covering the land in a lush greenery hue. Young sticky rice, a specialty of Mu Cang Chai, is also harvested this time.
- September – October: Here is the worldwide famous ripening rice season, when the entire region is blanketed in a lush golden carpet of rice.
- November – February: After harvesting, this is a time span of the fellow season for both land and people to rest, relax and spend time with family and neighbors, and also prepare for Tết Festival (Lunar New Year).
How to get Mu Cang Chai? Where is Mu Cang Chai?
Mu Cang Chai is located in the Northwest mountains of Vietnam. The distance between Hanoi and Mu Cang Chai is about 250 kilometers, taking around 6 to 6.5 hours by car. From Hanoi, you’ll travel along National Highway 32 with breathtaking natural scenery, from the vast valleys, lush green tea hills, the majestic mountains adorned by dreamy clouds, to the fertile terraced rice fields.
Mu Cang Chai District map – Places to visit in Mu Cang Chai
We suggest a duration of at least 3-5 days (or longer if you wish), enough time to fully explore and appreciate the poetic and authentic beauty of both nature and people here. Now, let’s join DCT Responsible Travel to discover the unique experiences of this land!
Where to go and what to do in Mu Cang Chai?
Don’t stop your journey sightseeing to highlight the attractions of Mu Cang Chai with incredible rice terraces in diverse shapes, our team will take you to the truly authentic and untouched beauty of the land, off-the-beaten-track.
Mu Cang Chai trekking, curated suitable to your physical condition
Step into Mu Cang Chai, don’t miss the trekking routes and we believe breathtaking natural landscapes await you in every corner! Accompanying you will be a local guide from the Thai or H’Mong minority, who was born here and truly understands the land of Mu Cang Chai.
Rice terraces trekking in Mu Cang Chai
Moreover, after years of exploring, we and our local friends have designed trekking routes of various lengths and difficulty levels, allowing you to freely choose the route that suits you best. This is a chance for you to go along paths known only to locals, let’s see some below:
– Huổi Tiềng Quai trek route (6km – 2 hours): the highlight of this route is a green bamboo forest and the tidiness makes you think about Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto
– Núi Hổ Trek (6km – 2 hours): on this trek, your eyes will be feasted by a panoramic view of the stunning Lim Mong and Tu Le rice terrace valleys
– Nậm Kim River Trek (15km – 6 hours): this route winds through terraced fields, offering you the chance to closely explore the untouched H’mong villages and experience their harvest season
Moreover, with our tour planners and local experts, we’ll bring unique “mix and match” options so you won’t miss unspoiled beauty—from nature and culture to the daily life of the villagers.
Motorbike trip with local guide to Mu Cang Chai highlight spots
This truly is an incredible experience for adventure enthusiasts who love the chilling sensation in a motorbike, and more, believe us, it won’t be too challenging for other travelers—let’s give it a try! Accompanying you on these routes will be experienced local drivers, who are in excellent health and have a steady hand on the wheel, and know the terrain inside-out, so don’t worry too much on this journey.
Motorbike tour in Mu Cang Chai
Along the way, let’s seize the chance to admire the vast terraced rice valleys from above, the towering mountain ranges, and the refreshing streams crossing small villages. Especially, don’t forget to prepare your camera to capture it all as the land will fill your storage! During the time span of August – October, Mu Cang Chai welcomes the wonderful weather of autumn, with crisp air, clear blue skies, and the fragrant scent of ripe rice surrounding you.
Plus, this motorbike journey will take you to iconic spots that put Mu Cang Chai on the world map – which are “Mam Xoi” (Tray Hill) and “Mong Ngua” (Horseshoe Hill), named after their shapes, located in La Pan Tan & Che Cu Nha. Besides, Mu Cang Chai embraces a lot of splendid viewpoints that few travelers know about, perfect for watching the sunset or sunrise.
*Option for you: If you prefer to admire these iconic scenes without a motorbike, you can choose a private car (with a surcharge).
Paragliding at Khau Pha Pass
This experience is sure to captivate all travelers! Imagine yourself gliding through the boundless blue sky, embraced by cool breezes of autumn with the stunning landscape of majestic mountains and colorful tapestry of terraced rice fields below. Every traveler who has taken to the skies told us that it was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
Paragliding over Mu Cang Chai rice terraces
To get there, you don’t need to travel far because the paragliding launch site is located near our small village (10-15 minutes on foot). So, after your thrilling flight, you can return to the tranquil village to soak your feet and relax by the stream with a book, enjoy a warm meal with your hosts, or simply unwind and prepare for the exciting experiences awaiting you the next day. Truly an unmissable experience!
Cultural experience with locals in Mu Cang Chai
Mu Cang Chai is home to Thai people and various H’Mong ethnic groups including Flower H’Mong, Black H’Mong, White H’Mong, and Red H’Mong, making this land as a treasure of cultural value of minorities that many travelers have yet to discover. Fortunately, after years of closely working and building friendships with locals in a pristine corner of Mu Cang Chai, we have chances to reach out to their rich traditions, and then contribute to preserving and nurturing the unique cultural heritage here.
And you know? A simple way to experience local life here is to become a farmer for a day! During the upcoming golden rice season, don’t hesitate to join your local friends in their fields to harvest, thresh, carry, and dry the rice, then return with them to enjoy refreshing water right from the stream and a delicious home-cooked meal.
Join local friends in their fields to be a Vietnamese farmer!
But that’s not all! Thai and H’Mong communities are renowned for their colorful traditional costumes, which brilliantly stand out among the mountain landscape. These intricate garments are carefully woven, dyed, and adorned with natural materials like indigo plants and batik. So, if you are there, take time to enjoy this unique cultural experience, where you can try on these traditional outfits, take memorable photos, or hand-on explore the crafts of spinning cotton, weaving, batik painting, and indigo dyeing. Moreover, you can even immerse yourself in a lively cultural atmosphere by enjoying local performances, and participating in traditional dances like “nhảy sạp” and “múa xòe”.
Enjoy authentic local life in Mu Cang Chai
Before and after a fertile harvest season, there are many significant traditional festivals celebrated by our local friends. If you’re interested in authentic festivals, let us know, and we’ll help you plan your visit around these vibrant celebrations, such as Xíp Xí or the new rice festival.
Mineral hot springs in Mu Cang Chai
Hot spring is also a highlight activity in Mu Cang Chai, especially during the crisp autumn months with lots of health benefits: relaxing your mind and body after a long journey, improving blood circulation, and helping muscles, and bones,… Plus, we believe the breathtaking view of a panoramic sight of poetic and majestic terraced rice fields will capture every heart!
So, where to go for mineral hot spring in Mu Cang Chai? You can easily visit the hot springs at Le Champ Tu Le Resort Hot Spring & Spa, located just 6km from Khau Pha Pass (around a 15-minute drive). The water temperature typically ranges between 43-45°C.
Tu Le Hot Spring – Mu Cang Chai
Another option is the Tram Tau hot mineral spring in Yen Bai with abundant and crystal-clear natural hot water from underground sources. It’s about 80km from Khau Pha Pass, almost located between Hanoi and Mu Cang Chai.
Plus, you can immerse yourself in the Ngoc Chien hot springs in Muong La near Khau Phạ Pass (about 40 km away, approximately a 1-hour drive). Here, we believe you will surely be impressed by the majestic mountain scenery and the rustic Thai stilt houses made of Pơ Mu wood. The average temperature of the Muong Chien hot springs ranges from 35-50°C.
Let’s see the detailed route to these spots in Google map there!
Wellness Retreat - a special experience in Mu Cang Chai mountain
Mu Cang Chai Yoga Retreat, an exclusive experience from DCT Responsible Travel, is a perfect blend of yoga and immersive travel activities, bringing participants a rejuvenating journey. Accompanied by the classic Sivananda Yoga Hanoi center, we’ve crafted styled retreats in off-the-beaten-path spots, offering a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature, calm your mind, and re-connect yourself. This retreat is suitable for everyone, whether you’re new to yoga or a yogi seeking a serene space to absorb the power of Mother Nature.
Yoga retreat in Mu Cang Chai
More than that, taking place in our village at the foot of Khau Pha Pass – a hidden gem away from the crowds, Mu Cang Chai Yoga Retreat is a chance for you to take a deep insight into local values, especially the slow pace of life and valuable indigenous health therapies of the Thai and H’Mong people, that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine back home.
The upcoming Mu Cang Chai retreat is scheduled for September 14-16, 2024, so mark your calendar! Then, let’s explore more of our wellness retreats and plan your travel itinerary to not miss out on the attractive early bird offers.
Mu Cang Chai tours
So now, let’s explore more about our tour packages, curated and designed to cater to a wide range of travelers with various desires. If you haven’t found the perfect tour yet, don’t hesitate to reach out to us through the inquiry form at the bottom of this page!
Oct. 04-06, 2025
3 days 2 nights
From Sapa to Mu Cang Chai – Follow the photographers route
Northwest Vietnam
4,175,000 VNĐ
3 days 4 nights
3 days 2 nights
Where to stay in Mu Cang Chai?
Khau Pha community-based tourism (CBT) by KPF in It Thai village, Cao Pha, Mu Cang Chai
Khau Phạ CBT in It Thai village, at the foot of Khau Pha pass, is a project that DCT Responsible Travel has supported for many years, from the beginning steps. The homestays in this project have been renovated from traditional Thai stilt houses, maintaining their authentic architecture while offering comfort and convenience to travelers.
Moreover, we’re proud that these homestays truly provide a homely feeling, where you will have a chance to engage in the daily life of local Thai families, and closely interact with them over intimate meals. Surrounding you will be the stunning scenery of rice terraces, flower-lined village paths, rustic stilt houses, and a refreshing stream through the village.
Let’s see some lovely images of our homestays below, and don’t hesitate to learn more about our project!
Le Champ Tú Lệ Resort Hot Spring & Spa
Le Champ is a modern and comfortable resort located in Tu Le, at the foot of Khau Phạ Pass, offering a variety of room categories for travelers. The resort also features a natural hot spring with both outdoor pools and private baths to promote health, relieve fatigue, and provide moments of relaxation.
Common questions & Tips for Mu Cang Chai trip
- How many days should you spend in Mu Cang Chai? –> We recommend spending at least 3 days to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty, cultural richness, and daily life of the local people.
- Is there a risk of landslides or floods? –> From August to October, there are still remnants of the rainy season in the North, so you may encounter some unexpected rain showers. Heavy rains and storms are more common in October. So, it’s necessary to check the weather forecast in advance or ask us if you need it because we always gather the latest updates from our local friends.
- Who is it suitable for Mu Cang Chai? –> Believe us, it’s for everyone! Whether you’re seeking an adventure trip, scenic views and photography, cultural exploration, rural life experiences, or simply a quiet spot to soothe yourself, we can bring those aspects of Mu Cang Chai to you.
- What should you bring? –> You should bring insect repellent, warm clothing, and reusable items. For more specific recommendations, please refer to each of our tours, where we’ve dedicated a single section for this.
Memorable trip to Mu Cang Chai
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Mu Cang Chai, with its distinct and breathtaking beauty through each season, is undoubtedly a key point you shouldn’t miss on your journey through Northern Vietnam. Don’t hesitate to add it to your travel list and catch its stunning scenery in its most beautiful season coming up!
