Amazing rice terraces at Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai, Vietnam
  • Visited places: Hanoi, Sapa, Bac Ha, Yen Bai, Muong Lo Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai
  • Tour Activity/Theme: Adventure, Trekking, Ecotourism, Ethnic market, Ethnic village, Sublime nature, Homestay

Trekking Tours in Mu Cang Chai and Sapa are hiking and trekking adventures in 5 days, 4 nights. The trip is for our adventure travelers to explore the natural beauty of Mu Cang Chai famed for amazing rice terraces and Sapa well-known for cool climate, sublime mountain and colorful ethnic minorities.

Trekking Tours in Mu Cang Chai and Sapa Overview

Hanoi – Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Khau Pha Pass – Mu Cang Chai – O Quy Ho Pass – Sapa

What to expect from the trip:
- The most beautiful mountainscape in Vietnam.
- The most beautiful rice terraces in Vietnam.
- The most beautiful mountain passes in Vietnam.
- Lovely encounters with ethnic communities on the adventure.
- Exotic and colorful market of Bac Ha.

This is a hard trekking adventure and it is required that you are fit and you have hiking boots, ponchos/raincoats for the treks. The best time to take the trek in September – early October when rice terraces turn into yellow golden colors. Some rains are expected during this time though.

Mu Cang Chai rice terraces on the trek
Mu Cang Chai rice terraces on the trek

The temperatures may be extremely cold in December – February and you should bring along warm clothes. In June-July, it may be either warm or rainy that weather updates should be closely monitored before taking on this trip. It is nice in August mostly, still there are rains sometimes that the trip may not be operated. It is dry in March – April but there is no rice during this period.

All homestays have lovely natural settings about and are equipped with hot shower and western toilets. The conditions are very simple and may not be suitable for travelers with high demands for quality and amenities. Most included meals are cooked hot by our hosts. There are 2 picnic lunches for the 2 trekking days; these meals are simple.

A Hmong lady amid the golden rice terraces at Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai Province, Vietnam
A Hmong lady amid the golden rice terraces at Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai Province, Vietnam

Accommodations
Mu Cang Chai: Homestay amid rice terraces
Sapa: Homestay amid rice terraces

{Inclusions
English-speaking guide;
Transportation as indicated on the tour itinerary;
Accommodation with homestay as indicated on the tour itinerary;
Meals as indicated as indicated on the tour itinerary: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner;
All admission fees as indicated on the tour itinerary;
}
{Exclusions
Insurance of any type;
Drinks or personal expenses;
Others not specified in the inclusions;
}

Detailed itinerary

Day1 ( Wednesday ) Ha Noi – Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai (300km) (B/-/D)

0800 A.M Depart Hanoi and head northwest to Mu Cang Chai. The road snakes along mountain slopes in the Northwest of Vietnam. There are rice valleys and tea plantations along the road. We stop for sightseeing and taking photographs at Thanh Son (Phu Tho), Muong Lo Valley (Yen Bai), Khau Pha Pass (Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai).
Lunch en route on your own account.
Arriving at Mu Cang Chai in late afternoon, check into our homestay amid lovely rice terraces.
Dinner included at the homestay.
Overnight at homestay at Mu Cang Chai.

Rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai
Rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai

Day2 ( Thursday ) Mu Cang Chai Full Day Trekking (B/Picnic Lunch/D)

Breakfast at the homestay.
Enjoy the whole day trekking amid the famed terraces of Mu Cang Chai. There are Hmong communities on the mountain slopes that we could visit on our hike.
Picnic lunch and dinner at the homestay are included.
Return to the homestay for the night.

Breathtaking landscape at Mu Cang Chai
Breathtaking landscape at Mu Cang Chai

Day3 ( Friday ) Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – Sa Pa (150km)/Hiking Lao Chai – Ta Van (B/-/D)

Breakfast at the homestay.
Bidding farewell to our hosts and travel amid forested mountains, mountain gorges, rice valleys and tea plantations on high elevations to Sapa. We’ll stop for sightseeing at Muong Than Valley (at Than Uyen, Lai Chau) and the O Quy Ho Pass, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam between Lai Chau and Lao Cai. Arriving at Sapa, have time for a stroll in the town center to visit Sapa market.
Free time for lunch.
Then continue further into the Muong Hoa Valley.
Dinner at the homestay included.
Overnight at homestay at Ta Van Village (Giay People) amid rice terraces of the Muong Hoa Valley.

Scenic road at Than Uyen Lai Chau Vietnam
Scenic road at Than Uyen Lai Chau Vietnam

 

Green tea plantations at Than Uyen Lai Chau
Green tea plantations at Than Uyen Lai Chau

Day4 ( Saturday ) Trekking: Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Ta Van (B/Picnic Lunch/D)

Breakfast at the homestay.
Enjoy trekking on mountain slopes passing through villages and bamboo forests to Giang Ta Chai, home to Red Dao People. Then hike back to the waterfall from Giang Ta Chai and trek uphill to Su Pan. Stroll back to Ta Van from Su Pan on a scenic road overlooking the lovely valley.
Picnic lunch and dinner at the homestay included.
Overnight at homestay at Ta Van Village (Giay People) amid rice terraces of the Muong Hoa Valley.

Breathtaking Muong Hoa Valley on the trek
Breathtaking Muong Hoa Valley on the trek

 

Refresing waterfall near Giang Ta Chai Village
Refresing waterfall near Giang Ta Chai Village

 

The suspension bridge from Giang Ta Chai to Su Pan
The suspension bridge from Giang Ta Chai to Su Pan

Day5 ( Sunday ) Sapa – Bac Ha Market (100km)/Bac Ha – Hanoi (310km) (B/--)

Breakfast at the homestay.
0700 A.M Depart Sapa for Bac Ha Plateau on a sublime mountainous road.
Visit the exotic Bac Ha Market which is in session on Sunday morning only.
Free time for lunch.
Take the highway back to Hanoi. End of service. We trust you had great trekking tours in Mu Cang Chai and Sapa with AdventureGreen.

Bac Ha Sunday Market, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam
Bac Ha Sunday Market, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam
Hillsides covered in flowers at Bac Ha Plateau (Lao Cai Province) in spring time
Hillsides covered in flowers at Bac Ha Plateau (Lao Cai Province) in spring time

Vietnam Adventure Travel