Notes for Visiting Mù Cang Chải in 2024

 

As there are fewer visitors this year, tourists heading to Mù Cang Chải during this year's rice season have many accommodation and experience options. However, choosing suitable transportation to reach the rice-viewing spots is essential.

Mù Cang Chải is entering the ripe rice season, with favourable weather, complete services, and fewer tourists than in previous years.

According to Giang A Chay, a tour guide in Mu Cang Chai, visitors started arriving on September 15 after a one-week pause due to the impact of Typhoon Yagi. At Mong Ngua and Mam Xoi hills, most visitors over the past week have been photographers from both Vietnam and abroad seeking to capture the golden season. More tourists, primarily travelling from Hanoi and northern provinces, tend to come during weekends.

“One of the advantages this year compared to previous years is that it's quieter, which allows for creating more beautiful photos,” said Giang A Chay.

Mu Cang Chải experienced rain over the weekend. “It rained at night, but during the day, it was sunny, so the tours were not affected,” A Chay said. However, he noted that some roads leading to rice-viewing points are dirt roads, making them slippery and difficult to travel.

Nguyen Trang, a visitor from Hanoi who travelled to Mu Cang Chải over the weekend (September 20-22), said that the weather at the destination alternated between rain and sun. Due to the rain from the previous day, travelling to the viewing spots the next day was quite challenging, as the dirt roads were muddy.

"There were a few minor landslides, but they were not significant. However, some sections required slower and more difficult travel," Trang mentioned.

On travel forums about Mu Cang Chai, local tourism experts advised visitors to “keep their original itinerary,” suggesting 3-4 days for the trip and to go with a “relaxed mindset,” as some difficult-to-reach spots may affect the overall experience. Northern tourists may not need to rush, as there will still be opportunities to see the golden rice fields over the next week or 10 days.

Paragliding Services

The event "Flying Over Scenic Landmarks – Golden Season 2024" runs from early September until the end of October. The paragliding launch point is at the top of Khau Pha Pass—one of northern Vietnam's four most incredible passes—at about 1,200 meters above sea level, overlooking the Lim Mong Valley. Paragliding hours are from 9 AM to 4 PM daily.

Paragliding prices: 2,190,000 VND per person (weekdays) and 2,590,000 VND per person (weekends).

Tourists will fly with a professional paragliding pilot. The flight lasts 10 to 25 minutes, depending on wind and weather conditions. Paragliding services will not operate on foggy days or when weather conditions are not safe.

Accommodation

Mù Cang Chải still has many available rooms due to the reduced number of visitors. Tourists can easily find accommodation at homestays and guesthouses, with prices ranging from 300,000 VND to around 1.5 million VND per night. Resort prices start from 3 million VND per night.

Some recommendations include Song Lung Khung Long Homestay, Pu Nhu Homestay, Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge, Ngoc Chien Pearl, and Mu Cang Chai Ecohome.

A view of Mu Cang Chai's terraced fields on September 21 from Song Lung Khung Long Homestay. Photo: Provided by Homestay

Transportation

There are several transportation options in Mu Cang Chai. Visitors can drive their cars to points near the attractions and hire motorbike taxis for each segment. Tourists can also hire local motorbike taxis for a full day to visit popular spots. Renting a self-driven motorbike is recommended for those with experience and strong driving skills.

The cost of hiring a motorbike taxi for a full day is around 500,000 to 600,000 VND per person, with room for negotiation sometimes. The average price for a round trip to specific points, such as Mong Ngua Hill, Mam Xoi Hill, Song Lung Khung Long, and the bamboo forest, ranges from 100,000 to 150,000 VND.

Tourists should carry cash to pay for motorbike taxi services to the rice-viewing spots, as some drivers do not accept bank transfers.

Entrance fees to certain attractions range from 10,000 VND to 30,000 VND.

For travel from Hanoi to Mù Cang Chai, in addition to personal vehicles, tourists can opt for buses departing from My Dinh Bus Station (Hanoi). The journey to Mù Cang Chải takes approximately 8 hours.