In Yen Bai , the rice on the terraced fields of Tu Le and Mu Cang Chai is starting to ripen, so tourists should plan a visit in the next two weeks.
The journey begins in Nghia Lo town, 220 km from Hanoi. This is often a transit point to many tourist destinations in Yen Bai such as Mu Cang Chai, Tu Le, Tram Tau, and Van Chan. Tourists should depart from Hanoi the afternoon before and spend the night in Nghia Lo. There are many accommodations and dining options available here.
This itinerary was suggested by a travel company and based on the experiences of Mr. Nhat Quang ( Hanoi ) during his trip in early September.
Day 1
Morning and noon
You can have breakfast in Nghia Lo or on the way. Suggested dishes include black sticky rice cake, five-colored sticky rice, and ant egg sticky rice.
The journey to visit the terraced rice fields from Nghia Lo through Tu Le to Mu Cang Chai covers a total distance of nearly 90 km. The road is beautiful but steep and winding, so tourists should be careful when driving.
Mr. Nhat Quang suggested booking an overnight stay in Tu Le commune, about 50 km from Nghia Lo, because there are quite a few hotels and homestays there, it's quiet and not as crowded as the center of Mu Cang Chai.
"The Muong Hoa Hotel costs 500,000 VND per night for a double room, it's quite clean and has all the necessary amenities, and it's located right on the main road. If you're traveling in a large group, you can go into the village, like Lim Thai, and stay at the community house," Quang said. There are many similar hotels around the area where he stayed.
The Lim Mong Valley as seen from the rest stop on Khau Pha Pass. Photo: Nhat Quang
After checking in, you travel to Mu Cang Chai, about 35 km from Tu Le, passing through Khau Pha Pass, one of Vietnam's "Four Great Mountain Passes" along with Ma Pi Leng (Ha Giang), O Quy Ho (Lai Chau - Lao Cai), and Pha Din (Dien Bien). From here, you can admire the beautiful scenery of Lim Mong village. The pass summit is a must-see spot for photos.
In September and October, every weekend there will be a paragliding activity called "Flying over the Golden Season". Paragliding from the top of Khau Pha peak to admire the golden rice fields is one of the must-try experiences in Mu Cang Chai during the rice harvest season. Each flight lasts 10-15 minutes, with or without a flight attendant, and all necessary equipment is provided. Even if you've never paraglided before, you won't have any difficulty.
Please note that advance booking is required for this service, as only about 20 to 50 customers are served each day. Furthermore, availability depends on the weather. The price for a paragliding flight ranges from 2.2 million to 2.6 million VND per person, depending on whether it's a weekday or weekend.
Afterward, visitors can have lunch at the top of Khau Pha Pass.
Grilled buffalo meat wrapped in cabbage leaves and served with sticky rice at Khau Pha. Photo: Nhat Quang.
"Right at the top of the pass, there's a small restaurant serving ethnic dishes. Grilled buffalo meat wrapped in mustard greens and wild herbs, served with a dipping sauce made according to the local people's own recipe, is a must-try," Quang said. A large piece of grilled buffalo meat, enough for two people, costs 180,000 VND, and a packet of sticky rice costs 50,000 VND.
Afternoon
The entire afternoon is dedicated to visiting the famous rice-growing destinations of Mu Cang Chai. Even just stopping along the roadside will allow you to take countless beautiful photos. But according to the experience of many tourists, it's best to rent a motorbike to go deeper into the areas with the most beautiful terraced rice fields. "Many sections of the road are quite steep and narrow, so you need a steady hand on the handlebars, or hire a local to drive you," said Quang.
The three communes of La Pán Tẩn, Chế Cu Nha, and Dế Xu Phình are must-see destinations. These locations have been classified as special national historical sites. Horseshoe Hill, Raspberry Hill... are some of the frequently mentioned names. Towards the end of the year, you can also visit to admire the buckwheat flower fields.
If you have time, be sure to visit Mo Waterfall in Mo De commune, Mu Cang Chai district. The waterfall impresses with its clear water, white foam, and vibrant wildflowers, creating a stunning scene.
After shopping at Mu Cang Chai market, return to Tu Le for dinner and overnight stay.
The rice plants are still green on the Mù Cang Chải hills in early September. Photo: Nhật Quang
Day 2
Morning and noon
Wake up early and take a stroll through the rice fields of Tu Le to enjoy the fresh air and the faint scent of rice. The morning is cool, around 25 degrees Celsius. Remember to bring a light jacket. If you want to spend more time leisurely in the morning, consider cycling to Thai village, at the foot of Khau Pha pass in Tu Le.
The Thai village nestles against the mountain, boasting picturesque natural scenery, traditional stilt houses, and easily accessible roads. Interspersed throughout are terraced rice fields, a mix of green and yellow. If you have time to venture further, you can reach Lim Mong village.
Around midday, we returned to the center of the commune to learn about how the locals make the famous Tú Lệ rice flakes. Along the way and in the villages, you can see activities such as harvesting rice, threshing rice, and roasting rice flakes. Tú Lệ rice flakes are firm, not as soft as those in Hanoi, but they are fragrant. Furthermore, if you know how to preserve and process them (by adding water), Tú Lệ rice flakes can be used to make delicious dishes.
Have lunch at roadside restaurants with dishes like grilled chicken, grilled buffalo meat, and Tu Le sticky rice. A meal for two costs between 300,000 and 400,000 VND.
Afternoon
After more than a day of traveling and activities, relax by bathing in the natural hot springs at Le Champ Tu Le. This is a resort offering accommodation, hot spring bathing, and recreation right in the center of the commune. Overnight stays are free; otherwise, a ticket must be purchased. The all-inclusive package costs 700,000 VND. Individual tickets range from 200,000 VND to 500,000 VND.
The natural hot spring area has water drawn directly from a hot spring near the resort. There is one large pool and several smaller pools. If you enjoy thrilling and challenging activities, you should visit the Adventure Camp entertainment area with a variety of exciting activities such as zorbing (crawling into an inflatable transparent sphere and then rolling down a hill), high rope (adventure on a rope), rock climbing, and especially the longest zipline in Vietnam, over 1 km long.
You can have dinner at Le Champ before returning to the city. The menu features popular Vietnamese dishes, priced from 200,000 to 400,000 VND per person.
Tam Anh
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