Moc Chau, the green plateau of Son La, is an ideal destination for those who love nature, ethnic culture, and the experience of picking fruit in the garden. With poetic heart-shaped tea hills, romantic Ban Ang pine forests, majestic Dai Yem waterfall, and sweet plum gardens, Moc Chau attracts more than 1.5 million visitors each year, according to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Son La (2024). In 2025, Moc Chau is expected to increase the number of visitors by 15% thanks to events such as the "Plum Picking Festival" (May-June) and the Hanoi - Moc Chau expressway.
This article provides a detailed itinerary, specific costs, and savings tips for a self-guided 2-day 1-night Moc Chau tour, suitable for both beginners and professional travelers who want to experience effectively. Let's explore Moc Chau plateau!
Why choose Moc Chau 2 days 1 night tour?
Moc Chau, 190km from Hanoi, is famous for its cool climate, majestic natural landscapes, and diverse cultures of the Thai, Muong, and H'Mong ethnic groups. According to Thanh Nien newspaper (2024), Moc Chau is in the top 10 most beautiful green destinations in Vietnam thanks to attractions such as tea hills, Dai Yem waterfall, and plum and mustard flower seasons (November-February). A 2-day, 1-night self-sufficient trip allows you to fully explore the outstanding destinations, experience plum picking in the garden, and enjoy specialties such as fried veal and stream fish. The average cost is from 1.5-3 million VND/person, suitable for young people, families, or team building groups.
Prepare before traveling to Moc Chau on your own
To make your trip go smoothly, you need to prepare carefully. Here are the specific steps:
- Book tickets: From Hanoi, take a bus to Moc Chau (150,000-200,000 VND/ticket, 4-5 hours, My Dinh or Giap Bat bus station) or motorbike via Highway 6 (4 hours). Rent a motorbike in Moc Chau (100,000-150,000 VND/day) for flexible travel.
- Accommodation: 2-3 star hotel (600,000-1.2 million VND/night) or homestay (300,000-500,000 VND/night). Book via Booking.com, Traveloka to receive 10-15% discount.
- Estimated cost: 1.5-3 million VND/person, including transportation (300,000-400,000 VND), accommodation (300,000-1.2 million VND), food (100,000-200,000 VND/meal), entrance tickets (20,000-50,000 VND/site), and plum picking experience (50,000 VND/kg).
- Supported applications: Use Google Maps, Vietmap to locate. Book bus tickets, plum picking tour tickets. Follow the weather on AccuWeather to avoid rain (June-August).
- Luggage: Sports shoes, light jacket, hat, sunscreen (SPF 50+), digestive medicine, ID card. Bring cash because ATMs in Moc Chau are limited.
Tip: Book your bus tickets early to get a good seat. Go on Tuesday-Thursday to avoid the crowds. Bring a cloth bag to carry plums picked from the garden and specialties like Moc Chau tea and fresh milk.
Detailed itinerary for Moc Chau tour 2 days 1 night
Day 1: Hanoi – Moc Chau – Heart-shaped tea hill – Ban Ang pine forest – Dai Yem waterfall
6:00: Depart from Hanoi by bus (150,000 VND/ticket, My Dinh bus station) to Moc Chau town (4-5 hours). If traveling by motorbike, stop at Xuan Mai station (30,000 VND/breakfast).
11:00: Arrive in Moc Chau, check in. Rent a motorbike (100,000 VND/day). Have lunch (150,000 VND/meal) with fried veal, grilled stream fish, and wild vegetables.
13:00: Visit the heart-shaped tea hill (free, 30 minutes travel). Take photos at the lush green tea hill, especially the famous heart-shaped one at Tan Cuong tea farm. Rent Thai ethnic clothes (50,000 VND/set) to check-in.
15:00: Move to Ban Ang pine forest (10km, ticket 20,000 VND). Walk around Ban Ang lake, admire the cool green pine forest, and ride a tandem bike (50,000 VND/hour). Enjoy purple sticky rice yogurt (20,000 VND/jar) at a lakeside shop.
16:30: Visit Dai Yem waterfall (10km, ticket 50,000 VND). Take photos with the white waterfall, explore the love glass bridge (100,000 VND/ticket) to see the whole view. If you go in the rainy season (June-September), the waterfall is very majestic.
19:00: Dinner (150,000 VND/meal) with black chicken hotpot, buffalo jerky. Free to explore Moc Chau, enjoy milk tea (30,000 VND/cup). Overnight at hotel.
Tip: Go to the tea hill in the afternoon for beautiful light. Wear non-slip shoes when going to Dai Yem waterfall.
Day 2: Na Ka Plum Garden – Pha Luong Peak – Return to Hanoi
7:00: Breakfast (40,000 VND/bowl). Fragrant vermicelli with grilled pork, rich grilled meat topping. Rent a motorbike to Na Ka plum garden (15km, ticket 30,000 VND).
8:30: Join the plum picking experience at Na Ka garden (50,000 VND/kg of plums to take home). Take photos in the cool plum garden, enjoy fresh plums right on the spot. Learn about the H'Mong ethnic culture through a local tour guide.
11:00: Move to Pha Luong peak (20km, ticket 50,000 VND). Light trekking (1-2 hours) to the top of the mountain, admire the Vietnam - Laos border and the sea of clouds (if the weather is nice). Take photos at the border marker.
13:00: Lunch (near Pha Luong, 150,000 VND/meal) with bamboo rice and grilled chicken. Buy specialties such as Moc Chau tea (150,000 VND/kg), fresh milk (20,000 VND/box) at the local market.
15:00: Check out of hotel, take bus (150,000 VND/ticket) or motorbike back to Hanoi (4-5 hours). Stop in Mai Chau to buy gifts such as dried bamboo shoots (100,000 VND/kg).
20:00: Arrive in Hanoi, end of trip.
Tip: Book tickets to Na Ka plum garden through Moc Chau Travel to avoid running out of seats. Wear trekking shoes when climbing Pha Luong. Check your luggage before leaving the hotel.
Compare package tours and self-guided tours
Choosing a package tour or a self-guided tour depends on your experience and budget. Here is a comparison table:
| Form | Cost (VND/person) | Preparation time | Advantage | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package tour | 2-3.5 million | 1-2 weeks | Tour guide support, save time, including car, hotel, entrance tickets | Fixed schedule, little flexibility |
| Self-sufficient | 1.5-3 million | 1-2 weeks | Flexible, free to choose destination, more economical | Time consuming planning, weather risks |
Tips: Package tours are suitable for beginners or international visitors who want to hear cultural explanations. Self-guided tours are ideal for young people who like freedom, but you need to book bus tickets in advance.
Tips to save money when traveling to Moc Chau on your own
To optimize your budget, apply the following tips:
- Book early: Book bus tickets 1-2 weeks in advance to get 10% off. Book hotels through Booking.com to get 10-15% off.
- Choose homestay: Stay at a homestay (VND 300,000/night) instead of a 3-star hotel (VND 1.2 million/night) to save 50%.
- Local food: Choose a budget restaurant (VND40,000) instead of a tourist restaurant (VND200,000/meal). Try purple sticky rice yogurt at the market (VND20,000/jar).
- Travel economically: Rent a motorbike (100,000 VND/day) instead of a taxi (300,000 VND/trip). Walk in Ban Ang pine forest to reduce costs.
- Join a group tour: Na Ka plum garden tour (200,000 VND/person) including tour guide, cheaper than renting a car yourself (500,000 VND/trip).
Note: Traveling in low season (September-April, except for flower season November-February) saves 20%. Bring cash because ATMs in Moc Chau are limited. Avoid buying specialties in tourist areas to avoid being overcharged.
Frequently asked questions about Moc Chau 2 days 1 night tour
1. What is the ideal time to travel to Moc Chau?
May-June (plum season), November-February (canola and plum blossom season). Avoid June-August due to rain. Go on Tuesday-Thursday to avoid the crowd.
2. How much does it cost to travel to Moc Chau on your own?
Self-sufficient from 1.5-3 million VND/person, package tour 2-3.5 million VND, depending on service and number of attractions.
3. Is Moc Chau tourism suitable for families?
Yes, Ban Ang tea hills and pine forests are safe for children. Homestays like Nha Ta Homestay have family rooms (500,000 VND/night). Please let us know in advance if you have children so we can adjust the menu.
4. What to do if the weather is bad?
Visit Moc Chau market, Thai ethnic cultural house instead of Dai Yem waterfall. Follow AccuWeather and contact Moc Chau Travel (0988 456 789) to adjust the schedule.
5. Are there any outstanding activities besides sightseeing?
Picking plums in the garden, cycling around the pine forest, enjoying fried veal and stream fish. Experiencing H'Mong culture at Na Ka and Moc Chau night market (free) is also very interesting.
Moc Chau 2 days 1 night self-guided tour is a great journey to explore the heart-shaped tea hill, Ban Ang pine forest, Dai Yem waterfall, and Na Ka plum garden. With a detailed schedule, specific costs, and 2025 saving tips, you can easily enjoy the green plateau without worrying about exceeding your budget. Plan today and prepare for an emotional trip!
Source: https://baonghean.vn/tour-du-lich-2n1d-hai-man-tai-vuon-cao-nguyen-tay-bac-10303147.html
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