Climbing the mountain while watching the terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai is an experience everyone wants to try in the ripe rice season.
With a flick, autumn has come all the way, the Northwest is entering the most beautiful season of the year. It seems that no one can resist when seeing the golden fields, stretching all over the hillsides. However, if you want to fully enjoy the golden season, don’t just focus on finding a virtual living spot, but combine it with a passion for climbing. You will be walking, watching the terraced fields, and inhaling the smell of ripe rice in the middle of the vast mountains.
In particular, Mu Cang Chai is known as the “heart of the Northwest”, and is also home to the most beautiful fields in the golden season. If you intend to climb the mountain to hunt for rice, here are some useful suggestions for you.
Photo: Lee Quang Vinh
BEAUTIFUL RICE FIELDS IN MY CANG CHAI
Mu Cang Chai is a district in a remote area of Yen Bai province. This place is also known as the “heart of the Northwest” because if you look at the map, the place will be located in the middle of the Northwest region.
Although it has been exploited for tourism many years ago, the nature in Mu Cang Chai is still very wild and there are many interesting things waiting for those who are passionate to explore. That’s why, every few years, people find a new trekking coordinate, satisfying the passion of the “crazy foot association”.
According to predictions from the locals, the rice season in Mu Cang Chai will officially turn yellow from around September 10 and end around October 10.
Some places suitable for both climbing and watching ripe rice, such as: Tu Le, Cao Pha Valley, De Xu Phinh (Mui Giay hill), Che Cu Nha, La Pan Tan (Mam Xoi hill) large, small Raspberry), Ta Chi Lu, Lao Chai … or the road from Tu Le up to Mu Cang Chai town.
Among the places mentioned above, Horseshoe Hill attracts the most trekkers. Located not far from the center of Mu Cang Chai, but perhaps because the road to the terraced fields in Sang Nhu village is the longest, the most beautiful and also the most “scary”.
It is known that to have a few seconds to watch the ultimate sunset here, we have to spend hours going through a dense forest, the road is very steep, bad and extremely slippery. Moreover, when the sun has just set, you also have to hurry down the mountain, otherwise the surrounding will be covered with a dark, dark color, it is difficult to see the direction.
HOW TO MOVE WOMAN
There are no long and winding passes like Ha Giang, but the road from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai is not easy at all. You must have heard many times about the condition of the roads here. Therefore, if you are not sure about the handlebars to ride a motorbike, then a car is the most optimal means of transport.
From the capital, you can go to My Dinh bus station or make an appointment at the pick-up point of the bus operators going north on Pham Van Dong and Ho Tung Mau streets. Because it is a mountain road, the travel time is relatively long, it is estimated that it also takes 6 to 8 hours. So, to save time, you should choose a sleeper bus, go from the night before to Mu Cang Chai at 3 am, rest a bit and then watch the sunrise.
In Mu Cang Chai, you can rent a motorbike to move around by day and combine with trekking activities of terraced fields.
Photo: Nhung Anh
PLACE “RESIDENCY”
In Mu Cang Chai, there are a few famous resorts that are mainly homestay accommodations. Depending on the destination you want to go to, you can choose the most convenient accommodation with the most convenient travel schedule. Here are some of the most popular places to stay.
Le Champ Tu Le
Le Champ Tu Le is known as the first 4-star resort of Yen Bai province. Although this place is located 35km from the center of Mu Cang Chai, it is still the choice of many tourists. The resort is designed as super beautiful bungalows, each room has a wooden bathtub, direct view to the mountain, seeing Nam Lung stream and Tu Le terraced fields.
Room rates here range from VND 2,500,000 to VND 7,000,000 a night.
Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge
Located about 20km from Mu Cang Chai town, Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge is a resort complex inspired by Thai stilt houses and H’mong pine roofing. It is this combination that gives this place a traditional beauty, bold flavor of the Northwest ethnic group.
Room rates here are not too high, only ranging from 800,000 VND to 1,200,000 VND for 1 night.
Suoi Kim 2
Homestay Suoi Kim 2 is located right at Nga Ba Kim, between Khau Pha pass and Mu Cang Chai town. The space here is a house on stilts, with trees and flower gardens right next to the stream. Not to mention, the owner is extremely friendly and cooks very well. Many visitors because they love the food here, order a full combo of breakfast – lunch – dinner, just go to explore and then come back to eat.
The average price of a double bed here is 400,000 – 500,000 VND/night.
WHAT TO EAT IN MY CANG CHAI
COST
Bus ticket price: 300,000 VND/person/way.
Motorbike rental: 200,000 VND/day
Gasoline: 200,000 VND
Room rate for 2 days: 600,000 VND
Food and drink: 600,000 VND
Tickets to visit, take pictures: 200,000 VND
Backup cost: 500,000 VND
Thus, with only about 1,800,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND, you can comfortably enjoy the golden season in Mu Cang Chai.
NOTES WHEN TREKING THE RICE
In order to have a favorable and unforgettable experience when hiking in the rice season in Mu Cang Chai, you need to keep a few things in mind.
Firstly, the bus from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai is not many, the quality is not good, often the situation of cramming customers. Therefore, if you do not want to lie on the floor of the car, you should take advantage of the time to get to the pick-up point 1 hour in advance to have room or you can go to the 2nd floor to lie down. Moreover, the garage also does not accept seat reservations, so it is best to contact the homestay in advance for assistance.
If you come to Mu Cang Chai for the first time, you should go on a tour, or follow the instructions of the locals.
Should bring compact luggage but also do not forget the necessary personal items, medicine, snacks. In addition, you should save honeycomb sandals and raincoats because most of the people going to Mu Cang Chai have to wade through the fields.
If you want to trek in the horseshoe hill and watch the sunset, you should walk from about 4pm to catch up and definitely arrive at the center before 7pm.
The Northwest mountains in the ripe rice season, if the terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai are second most beautiful, there is probably no place that ranks first. The scenery here is unspoiled, the people are so friendly, but hopefully each visitor here has a sense of preserving the scenery, avoiding stepping on rice and leaving no waste.