Fantastic terrace rice fields in September

A panoramic view of the terrace rice fi elds in Cau Ba Nha Commune in Mu Cang Chai District of Yen Bai Province.

The best time to visit Mu Cang Chai is from mid-September to late October when weather is the best of year and when the immense terrace rice fields there all turn yellow, creating the best image of year.
One month prior to the Mu Cang Chai trip, travelers should make hotel room bookings as thousands of people often rush to the area to view the terrace rice fields in full bloom.

There are some hotels and hostels near Mu Cang Chai area, including Tu Le Commune, Khau Pha Pass and Nghia Lo Town in Yen Bai Province. The three-star Suoi Mo Hotel on Dien Bien Street is highly recommended as this is a convenient hotel in Yen Bai.

It normally takes about three days and two nights to visit all the best terrace rice fields in Tu Le valley, Khau Pha Pass, La Pan Tan, Cau Ba Nha and Che Cu Nha communes. The best time to photograph the terrace rice fields is from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. when the landscape looks gorgeous in mist and sunlight beams. Rising smoke from the kitchen of a house on stilts may make the scene more beautiful and romantic.
Khau Pha, one of the most magnificent passes of Vietnam, provides a real breathtaking view. From there travelers can almost touch the clouds hanging over the terrace rice fields in the valleys of H’mong and Thai ethnic minority groups.

Those wishing to explore daily activities of H’mong people should head for La Pan Tan that was recognized as a national tourist attraction in 2007. Some roads in La Pan Tan are under construction so tourists have to walk about 20 minutes. Along the way, tourists can pass by a local resident’s house to see how they live. A typical home in La Pan Tan is covered with ripen corns on the terrace and surrounded by wooden cages for pigs and cows. Women take care of their children or come to the fields with their husbands. During an afternoon break they gather at a small burning stove inside the house to cook and eat. Tourists can also ask locals to perform khen, a traditional pan-pipe played by men in the northern upland to attract women.
A must-see destination is Cau Ba Nha, about 10km from Mu Cang Chai’s center, as it has mam xoi, a giant round shape terrace rice field on the top of a mountain. It is difficult for tourists to get to mam xoi due to a muddy and rough road. They can take a xe om (motorbike taxi) or walk about 30 minutes to reach the top.
Some popular specialties of Yen Bai that tourists should taste and buy for souvenirs are Tu Le sticky rice from Muong Lo field in Yen Bai and green rice flakes originated from Tu Le Commune in Van Chan District. These two products have light sweet and sticky tastes with special aromas. Yen Bai is also known for some dishes such as salmon and sturgeon hotpots, fried bumble bees and steamed chicken, among others.
Tao meo, a species of small apple in mountainous regions, is a special fruit of Yen Bai as it is good for those having stomach and heart-related diseases and high-blood pressure, and going on a diet. The best tao meo can only be found from September to October.

Trekking Northwest Vietnam Tour

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights

Destination:Hanoi - Mai Chau - Suoi Lon - Bac Yen - Thu Cuc - Nghia Lo - Tu Le - Mu Cang Chai - Than Uyen - Binh Lu - Sapa - Ta Van Village - Seomity - Den Thang - Ta Trung Ho -Nam Toong - Ban Ho - Sapa - Lao Cai – Hanoi.

Day 1: Ha noi - Mai Chau (L, D)

Breakfast, transfer to Mai Chau, on the way, trek some kilometers through ethnic villages (Muong and Thai). Lunch in Mai Chau. Overnight in Lac traditional village.

Approx: 4 hours driving/ 3 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 2: Mai Chau - Suoi Lon (B, L, D)

Transfer 17 kilometers then trek in an area of inhabitants of ethnic minority Thai, Muong the villages of Cun Pheo and Hang Kia. Arrive Bai Sang wharf for the cruising on Black river by local boat. Arrive at Suoi Lon for overnight in Muong' Village.

Approx: 0,5 hour driving/ 3 hours walking/ 3 hours boat trip / 1 hour lunch

Day 3: Suoi Lon - Bac Yen - Thu Cuc (B, L, D)

Transfer to Ta Sua plateau, you can contemplate the highland scenery of it. Visit some villages of ethnic Black H'mong and discover the daily life and custom of local inhabitants here, especially you can enjoy the local specialties: Ta Sua Tea and agriculture products then come back the mountain town for having lunch. After having lunch, visit the local market, the handicraft and farming products made by many ethnics are available here. Then continue to trek over 5 Kilometers through villages of Thai and Muong village. During the trekking you can take a rest and enjoy the local wine distillated by ethnics. Transfer to Thu cuc. Overnight in Muong Village.

Approx: 6 hours driving/ 1 hour walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 4: Thu Cuc - Nghia Lo (B, L, D)

Trek through Thai, Dao, Mong visit the water wheel. It is used to scoop the water for the rice fields near the streams. Continue going to Nghia Lo through the direction of Lung Lo pass. Arrive at Nghia Lo, check in hotel then take a visit the local market at the moment of decline of day.

Approx: 1,5 hours driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 5: Nghia Lo - Tu Le (B, L, D)

Leave Nghia Lo for the itinerary, trek and visit some villages of ethnic's minorities along the road: black Dzao, H'mong, white Thai, etc. They are very kind, honest and plain. Arrive at Tu Le village, dinner and overnight in house on stilt of inhabitants here. You can discover the daily life activities of this village in particular and the Thai ethnic in general in Vietnam. Overnight in Thai Village.

Approx: 1,5 hours driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 6: Tu Le - Mu Cang Chai - Than Uyen (B, L, D)

Take leave of inhabitants of Tu Le, it takes 2 Km to village center, you can visit lots of activity on the early market day and it is typical colorful ethnics of this high mountain regions. Transfer to the the footing of Kau Pha pass for us to start trekking about 9 Km through the forest and ethnic villages. This trail runs parallel with the famous and beautiful Kau Pha pass. We finish the trail at the peak of the pass (1800m above sea level). Transfer to Mu Cang Chai for lunch. Visit the local market and go on to Than Uyen. Arrive at Than Uyen, check in local guest house.

Approx: 3 hours driving/ 4,5 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 7: Than Uyen - Binh Lu - Sapa (B, L, D)

Transfer to Sapa, on the way, we can take trek to visit lots of beautiful villages of ethnic. Especially, you can meet the most typical ethics as: Lao, Lu (Xa Pho). They wear the long traditional and colorful costumes with jeweler hand made. Moreover, you can discover the kind face in black dyed teeth of ethnics here. Arrive at Sa Pa. Check in and rest of the day at leisure or visit Sa Pa famous tourist town in Northern Vietnam . You can visit and go shopping, market for buying souvenirs such as handicraft made by ethics, ethics' traditional costumes, etc before ending the days in North West Vietnam.

Approx: 4 hours driving/ 3 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 8: Sapa - Tavan - Seomity (B, L, D)

You will go south by car toward Muong Hoa valley. Your trek will begin from Tavan village of Giay minority. The first day trek will be mostly uphill. Whenever you stop for a rest, you will be able to enjoy valley view. Before noon, you stop again at a nice spot for lunch. The trek will be softer in the afternoon. But the scenery becomes even more beautiful. You pass by Seomity village of Black Hmong minority before you arrive in a campsite, which locates nearby a river outside the village. While porters put up tents and cook dinner, you can take a walk to stretch the legs.

Approx: 0,5 hour driving/ grade 3 of 5/ 4 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 9:  Seomity - Den Thang - Ta Trung Ho (B, L, D)

The trek today takes you through beautiful rice paddies and over old suspension bridges. You will trek on small trail sneaking through rainforest. You arrive in Den Thang village of Black Hmong by noon. Here you stop for lunch either nearby a river or in a local school according to the weather. After lunch, the trek wills becomes tough on tinny footpath going up and down, which requires some concentration. You will reach to Ta Trung Ho village of Red Dao minority where you spend the night in local house. Both the valley and the village have just received foreign visitors. The night will be even more interesting when you are in the wonderful hospitable atmosphere of the Red Dao.

Approx: 0,5 hour driving, 5 hours walking, 1-hour lunch

Day 10: Ta Trung Ho - Nam Toong - Ban Ho - Sapa - Lao cai (B, L)

You are now at the fringe of the rain forest by the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochinavillage of Red Dao with its 3143 m, is located in this mountain range. You will start the trek today by ascending to Nam Toong minority. Here your lunch will be prepared in a local school. In the afternoon, before descending to Ban Ho, you can make a stop by a waterfall to refresh. On the last hours you can enjoy the valley one final time whilst trekking up to Su Pan, where your car takes you on the journey back to Sapa befor transfer to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi. End of service.

Approx: Grade 3 of 5/ 2-hours driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

Included:

• Transportation.
• Accommodation
• English or French speaking guide and local guide for trekking
• Meals as mentioned:B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner
• Train ticket ( soft sleeper cabin for 4 passengers)
• Entrance fee to indicated sights
• Permit and porter for trekking
• Sleeping bag and mattresses
• Waterproof bluebag for luggage
• Tents if needed
• Mosquito net
• Water, Fruit and Snack (3L/ pax/ day)
• Equipment

Not included:

• Other meals
• Tip
• Drinks
• Airport tax
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Visa
• Flight in/ out of Vietnam

Please contact us for the best price.

Email: northwestdiscoverytravel@gmail.com

North-west Vietnam the hidden charm

The remote northwest of Vietnam appeals to those wanting to get off the beaten track in one of Vietnam's most beautiful, unaffected and untouristed areas.

The travellers who do venture to Mai Chau, Son La and Dien Bien Phu often do so by way of a hired jeep and driver or do it by motorbike, while those striking straight north to Vietnam's hilltribe capital of Sapa avail themselves of the comfortable and efficient overnight train to Sapa. Whichever way you're headed, prepare yourself for stunning scenery as you pass through spectacular ravines and over breathtaking passes.

Best known for the burgeoning trekking centre of Sapa, there is a lot more worth investigating in this part of the country. The remote French firebase of Dien Bien Phu remains a drawcard, but it's as much the attraction of the trip there as the town itself that is worth visiting. A trip to Dien Bien Phu is easily combined with an approach to Sapa via "the back way" over the Fansipan pass (Vietnam's highest), allowing for more stunning scenery and the opportunity to see some of the less touristed parts of the country.


Another popular destinations is Mai Chau whose day-trekking and stunning scenery have helped it develop into a small tourist centre en-route to Dien Bien Phu -- many trips from Hanoi run out to Mai Chau -- and with good reason. It also forms a comfortable spot to rest those weary limbs before continuing onwards and up into the hills.

More and more travellers are now heading up into this part of the country, in part due to the long-awaited opening of the border crossing into Laos near Dien Bien Phu -- yes, it's true, you really can cross here now!

This is a time consuming part of Vietnam to visit, but if you have the time, the northwest is well worth adding into your trip plans.