Mu Cang Chai- a mountainous town of Yen Bai province in the North of Vietnam, is about 350 km from Hanoi and 1000 meters about the sea level. Maybe the poverty and backwardness is the first thing comes to your mind. But you don’t know that Mu Cang Chai is an amazing heaven with a lot of terraced rice fields and outstanding geographic features. It is a place of exceptional beauty and importance for the protection of the unique biodiversity found only here and for many people who live around the forest. Travel to Mu Cang Chai with: Jahan cruise mekong
Over the past few years, Mu Cang Chai is becoming a favourite destination not only for locals but also foreigners who are keen on photographing and want to explore the wild beauty of this landLocated in a temperate zone, the average temperature all-year round is quite low, it is around 18.5 degrees Celsius. Mu Cang Chai is the best place if you want to escape from the hot weather. One of the most impressive moments in Mu Cang Chai that you can not ignore is when the sunset comes. This place is covered by mist. You will feel as you’re in the late winter of the lowland.
The main reason makes the magical beauty of Mu Cang Chai lies in its 700 hectares of terraced rice fields. You couldn’t describe it in a word. This landscape is too much magnificent and imposing the eyes with picturesque landscape. Surrounded by mountains and hills, terraced rice fields are stretched from the tops down to the feet and overwhelmed the whole valley, making a giant colorful carpet. The best time to visit Mu Cang Chai is from the last 2 weeks of September until the middle of October. This is the period of time when the rice is in full blossom and the harvest is taking place. They are always striking and draw a considerable attention from photographers during the harvest. This fantastic picture is a perfect combination of different colors: green of forest and mountain, brown of the land and outstandingly yellow of terraced rice fields under blue sky. All of them are harmonizing under the sunshine. It is definitely a destination where you are given a chance to witness the majestic beauty of Mother Nature.
A mountain district off the beaten path is the home to the same stunning sceneries which were created by many terraced fields stretching down the mountain side as in Sapa but without the kitsch. If you’re keen on backpack, let’s try to visit Mu Cang Chai by motorbike. The feeling of passing some roads beside the vertical cliffs, to be sucked in cool wind will be in your mind forever. Setting your foot on Mu Cang Chai, it reminds you immediately about one of the Robert Frost poems. For more information, you can view: the best Indochina tours
“Two roads diverged in a wood
I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference”
To reach Mu Cang Chai from Tu Le, you have to pass the road which climbs from Khau Pha Mountain- the highest mountain in Mu Cang Chai to Khau Pha pass- one of the 4 greatest passes in Vietnam, where cool breezes blow throughout the year. A drive to the top of Khau Pha will take you through a thick mountainside pine forest- a rarity in Vietnam. Standing on Khau Pha pass, the first point of Mu Cang Chai district, looking down, you can see the cow farts. The rice views with pieces of yellow and green space create a beautiful trickle stream. Khau Pha pass comes quite difficult to go. However going to the other side of the pass, the clear blue sky appears step by step.
In Mu Cang Chai, you also have chance to experience the unique and rustic life of H’Mong ethnic group who have lived here for age. Along the way to Mu Cang Chai, you will see the H’Mong people working on the fields and see innocent eyes of the children. Both the foreigners and locals are amazed at the beauty masterpiece from the shining green seasons in Mu Cang Chai terraced fields. A small corner of the world you can hardly find in your modern life. You will see the peaceful ethnic minority villages. The poor life but is full of bright smiles. Sitting next to the locals, find out more about the living style and culture, try some local foods. What a unique experience! Besides exploring this land, it will be greater if you can combine your trip with charity activity. It makes your trip to Mu Cang Chai more meaningful.
As some other mountainous regions in Vietnam, Mu Cang Chai also has specific characteristics. The landscape, the people, the culture all of them have gathered in a simple and ordinary land. Highly recommended place if you want to find a nice and peaceful hostel to stay here.
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IV Blogging Team
