48 hours in Moc Chau

Moc Chau, with its characteristic spring flowers such as plum, apricot, and peach blossoms that bloom during Tet (Lunar New Year), and its mild weather, is ideal for a spring trip.

Moc Chau is currently in its peak tourist season, especially on weekends, and is expected to be crowded during Tet (Lunar New Year). The weather in Moc Chau is not too cold right now, with the lowest temperature around 10-12 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for New Year's trips.

This 48-hour itinerary in Moc Chau is based on advice from Quang Kien, a local tourism professional, and Duong Huy, a tourist from Hanoi who recently returned from Moc Chau. The itinerary is suitable for groups of friends and families with young children.

Day 1

Departing at 6:00 AM from Hanoi , Moc Chau is approximately 190 km from the city. Travelers can take Thang Long Highway (CT03), then National Highway 6, Kun Pass, Thung Khe Pass, through Hoa Binh, and finally to Son La. A stop at Thung Khe Pass, also known as White Stone Pass, is recommended. This is a popular spot for tourists to take photos, thanks to its snow-covered rock formations.

The journey takes approximately four and a half hours.

Having fun at Loi Tuoi Farm

48 hours in Moc Chau — **A field of canola flowers at Loi Tuoi Farm.** Photo: Quang Kien

This is a "multi-experience-in-one" destination located 18 km from the center of Moc Chau town. Visitors can immerse themselves in nature and capture beautiful photos. Entrance fee: 30,000 VND.

Here you'll find sprawling fields of canola flowers, a giant straw bear – a newly popular photo spot. The strawberry gardens are cultivated using natural, chemical-free methods, offering visitors the experience of picking strawberries. There's also a dairy farm here.

Have lunch in the town center.

Grilled chicken, grilled local pork, grilled sturgeon, stir-fried veal, fried stream fish, sticky rice from mountain fields, and various mountain vegetables are some of the dishes tourists can choose for their first meal in Moc Chau. Large and famous restaurants include Tuan Gu, A Pao, Tien Loc, Moc Chau Xuan Bac, Gui Quan, and Bao Chi.

Watching the sunset at cafes

Canh Cam Moc Chau, Mer Coffee, and Doi Gio Coffee are cafes with beautiful views. These cafes are situated on gentle hillsides, in small stilt houses with balconies, surrounded by tea plantations and meadows. Sitting here, visitors can enjoy the fresh air and watch the sunset without any obstructions.

Dinner with salmon

A must-try dish in Moc Chau is salmon. Popular places include Vuon Dao, Thanh Bay, Hang Doi, Dong Hai, Chieng Di, and Tam Beo. Most restaurants serve sets of 5-6 dishes, typically including salad, hot pot, crispy fried fish skin, breaded fried fish skin, grilled fish, fish spring rolls, and fish porridge.

A set meal for one person costs around 300,000 VND. "Tourists can order according to their preferences, not as a set meal, but if the restaurant is busy, there will be a long wait," Huy said, advising that reservations should be made in advance.

Spend the night in the town center.

Moc Chau boasts many homestays nestled among plum trees and tea hills, allowing guests to admire the blossoms right from their bedrooms. Some suggested options include Mama's House, Retro House, An Nhien Garden Moc Chau, and Moc Homestay, with room rates ranging from 400,000 VND to one million VND per night.

Day 2

Have breakfast in town.

Have breakfast around 7:30 AM at the hotel or along the streets in the town center.

"Breakfast in Moc Chau isn't anything special; tourists can choose from popular options like pho, eel porridge, sticky rice, or fish noodle soup," Huy said.

Discover Tau Cave

Hang Tau is located about 20 km from the center of Moc Chau town. Here, there is a wide grassy area and wooden houses of the H'Mong people forming an isolated cluster of residents, surrounded by mountains and forests. Hang Tau is likened to a primitive village because it has no electricity, internet, or phone signal. Water is piped down from the mountain.

Currently, locals are offering day trips to Hang Tau (no accommodation), with an entrance fee of 30,000 VND per person. Services include motorbike taxis (150,000 VND round trip) from Ta So intersection to the village (over 3 km), renting traditional ethnic clothing, horseback riding, and eating cassava cakes. Tourists can also buy chicken from the locals and have it prepared for lunch.

"Note that the road from Ta So to Hang Tau is difficult. There are steep slopes, the sides of the road are eroded, and many sections are hard to navigate," Huy said.

Visit the plum blossom gardens.

At the beginning of the year, you can't miss visiting the plum blossom orchards in full bloom. Tourists can follow the route to the Cho Long, Ngu Dong Ban On, and Na Ka sub-districts, where the plum blossoms are most abundant. Phieng Canh is also a destination located along the same road to the Na Ka plum valley. This is a Hmong village nestled amidst the plum orchards.

Alternative options: Moc Chau also has many other tourist attractions such as Fairy Waterfall, Chieng Khoa Waterfall, Dai Yem Waterfall, Heart-shaped Tea Hill, rose gardens, and pomelo orchards.

According to vnexpress.net

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/du-lich/48-gio-o-moc-chau-143271.html