MU CANG CHAI | GOLDEN SEASON ON THE CLOUDY ROOF

There are places that make you go really slow – and Mu Cang Chai is one of them. Located in the Northwest highlands, in Yen Bai province, this place is famous for the most magnificent terraced fields in Vietnam – breathtakingly beautiful in the ripe rice season. Best season: • Late September – early October: rice turns golden, sunlight tilts, terraced fields like rolling waves • In addition, the flooding season (May – June) is also very poetic: water sparkles on the fields, high sky with white clouds, children running around on the banks Must-visit places: • Mam Xoi Hill (La Pan Tan): a place with a legendary virtual living corner with circular fields • Khau Pha Pass: one of the “four great mountain passes” in Vietnam, cloud watching and paragliding are extremely cool • De Xu Phinh or Che Cu Nha Village: explore the life of the Mong people, hunt clouds in the early morning • Tu Le Town: eat Tu Le sticky rice, bathe in natural mineral springs Reference cost (3N2D): • Hanoi – Mu Cang Chai passenger car: ~300k – 400k/trip • Motorbikes for rent on the spot: ~150k – 200k/day • Homestay: ~150k – 300k/person/night (should stay in a Mong stilt house for a real experience) Food: 100k – 200k/day (specialties: grilled chicken with mac khen, sticky rice, dried buffalo meat…) Tips: If you go during peak season, you should book a homestay at least 2 weeks in advance The mountain pass is winding, if you drive yourself, you should be steady and have someone experienced Early morning and late afternoon are the two best times to take photos Personal feelings: Mu Cang Chai is not a place for those who are in a hurry. There, people learn to breathe more slowly, listen to the wind through the mountain ranges, see the golden rice fields like the late season sunlight, and sometimes – just sitting on the steps, you will feel strangely lighter. #MuCangChaiGoldenSeason #Northwest Terraced Fields #High-Peak Cloud Hunting #VietnamILove