The ripe rice season in Mu Cang Chai usually takes place in September-October. The fields turn yellow, continuously on the mountainside, attracting tourists to admire the scenery and take photos.
Day 1: Hanoi - Tu Le - Khau Pha
Departing from Hanoi in the early morning, tourists go in the direction of Nghia Lo to Tu Le. This is a stop to have lunch, enjoy young rice flakes, sticky rice and admire the fields in the valley.
In the afternoon, the journey continues through Khau Pha Pass. From the overhead viewpoints, terraced fields appear in layers at the foot of the mountain. On cloudy days, the scenery sometimes appears and disappears in the mist.
With the characteristics of mountain passes having many curves, limited visibility when mist falls. Drivers need to reduce speed, only stop to take photos in places with safe parking spaces.
At the end of the day, tourists return to their accommodation in Pung Luong or the central area of Mu Cang Chai to have dinner and rest.
Day 2: Mam Xoi hill - harvest season village
In the morning, tourists come to Mam Xoi hill in Pung Luong commune. The fields winding around the hill, arranged in layers, are the highlights of the journey to explore the golden season.
The entrance road has small, steep sections and is easily slippery after rain. People who are not used to riding motorbikes on mountain roads should use local pick-up and drop-off services and agree on prices before going.
Leaving Mam Xoi hill, visitors can explore villages along the valley. Ripe fields that do not ripen at the same time create patches of green and yellow interwoven. At the starting point of harvest, people are busy harvesting, threshing rice and transporting it home.
When visiting, you should follow available paths, avoid stepping on rice and ask for opinions before taking pictures of people.
In the afternoon, tourists return to rest, enjoy sticky rice, hill chicken, stream fish or local pork.
Day 3: Dawn on Mong Ngua hill
On the last day, visitors wake up early to Mong Ngua hill. The sunshine at the beginning of the day highlights the curves of the terraced fields on the mountainside.
If the weather is favorable, you can watch low clouds drift through the valley. However, a sea of clouds does not appear every morning.
After taking photos, tourists return to their accommodation to eat, check out and then depart for Hanoi. Along the way, they can buy young rice flakes and sticky rice as gifts.
Reference cost
With the option of taking a passenger car, renting a motorbike locally and 2 people sharing a room, the estimated amount for each person includes:
round-trip passenger cars: 600,000-900,000 VND.
2 nights stay: 450,000-800,000 VND.
Rent motorbike, fuel: 400,000-700,000 VND.
700,000-900,000 VND.
Entrance ticket, shuttle bus and other expenses: 300,000-500,000 VND.
The total estimate rounded is about 2.5-3.8 million VND per person.
Tourists need to check the pick-up and drop-off points of the passenger car to arrange Tu Le stops, book rooms and ask for service prices before the trip.
