The tea hills of Northwest Vietnam have long been a symbol of the highlands, with endless stretches of lush green embracing majestic mountains. More than just a livelihood for local people, the tea hills attract visitors with their peaceful, fresh beauty and unique cultural experiences. A tour of the Northwest tea hills, especially a 2-day journey to explore Mu Cang Chai, will take you to magnificent natural landscapes, immerse you in the life of ethnic minorities, and allow you to savor the unique culinary flavors of the highlands.
Day 1: Hanoi – Mu Cang Chai (Meal: – / Lunch / Dinner)
The journey to discover the beauty of Mu Cang Chai begins early in the morning when the car and guide pick you up in the center of Hanoi, setting off for an exciting trip.
Morning departure from Hanoi and the green Thanh Son tea hills
05:50-06:00: To start a new day full of energy, the car and enthusiastic guide from “Du lịch khắp thế gian” (Travel the World) will pick you up at the familiar meeting point – Hanoi Opera House. This trip promises unforgettable experiences on the Northwest roads.
06:20: The car continues to pick up guests at Gate No. 1 of the National Convention Center, another convenient pick-up point in the western area of Hanoi. After settling in, the car starts moving, taking the group away from the hustle and bustle of the city towards the charming land of Mu Cang Chai.
On the Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway, you can take a break or admire the dawn gradually breaking. About an hour and a half later, the car will stop at a rest stop for you to have breakfast, relax, and prepare for the next experiences.
After a light breakfast, the journey continues to the first impressive stop: Thanh Son tea hills in Phu Tho. The fresh green color of the tea hills appears before your eyes like a peaceful natural painting. You will have the opportunity to walk among the green tea rows, breathe in the fresh air, and capture beautiful moments. Thanh Son tea hill is not only an ideal stop for relaxation but also an opportunity to learn about the process of growing and caring for tea, one of the famous specialties of the Northern Midlands.
Tourists enjoying the lush green Thanh Son tea hills
Explore Nghia Lo and conquer Khau Pha Pass
11:00: Arrive in Nghia Lo town, a land rich in culture and history of the Black Thai people. The group will have lunch at a local restaurant. You will enjoy Northwestern specialties such as Tu Le sticky rice, grilled chicken, stream fish, and fresh forest vegetables. Lunch is not only a time to recharge but also an opportunity to discover the unique cuisine of this land.
After lunch, the journey continues to Tu Le, a beautiful valley famous for its sticky rice and young rice flakes (cốm). On the way, you will admire the Muong Lo field, one of the largest and most fertile fields in the Northwest, stretching like a soft silk strip between the mountains.
Before arriving in Mu Cang Chai, the group stops to take souvenir photos at the Mu Cang Chai district symbol, a landmark marking your presence in the land of magnificent terraced fields.
14:00: The journey to conquer Khau Pha Pass, one of the “four great passes” of Vietnam, begins. The pass winds around, following the mountainside with challenging but extremely spectacular bends.
15:00: Standing on the majestic peak of Khau Pha Pass at an altitude of about 2100m, you will be overwhelmed by the vast and majestic natural beauty. Khau Pha Pass, in the local language meaning “Heaven’s Horn,” is where heaven and earth meet, giving you the feeling of touching the clouds. From the top of the pass, you can overlook the entire vast Khau Pha valley, with the Lim Thai and Lim Mong villages faintly visible in the mountain mist in the distance. In September every year, the peak of Khau Pha Pass also becomes an ideal destination for paragliding enthusiasts, with the colorful and impressive “Flying over the Golden Season” festival.
Explore Mam Xoi (Raspberry Hill) rice terraces and arrive in Mu Cang Chai
16:30: Arrive at the stop near Mam Xoi (Raspberry Hill) rice terraces, one of the most famous tourist symbols of Mu Cang Chai. To reach Mam Xoi, you will experience the motorbike taxi service of local people, a fun and convenient way to explore the small roads leading into the village. Sitting on a motorbike taxi, weaving through the terraced fields, you will feel more clearly the majestic beauty and the ingenuity of the local people in creating these unique agricultural works.
18:00: After enjoying the scenery and taking photos at Mam Xoi rice terraces, the group returns to Mu Cang Chai town to check into a hotel or homestay, depending on the initial service option. You can rest and relax after a long day of traveling and exploring.
19:00: A cozy dinner awaits you at a local restaurant. After dinner, you are free to explore Mu Cang Chai town at night, enjoy the fresh and peaceful atmosphere of the highlands, or rest to prepare for the exciting second day of exploration. Overnight in Mu Cang Chai, listening to the sounds of the mountains and forests and enjoying the tranquility of the highland night.
Day 2: Mu Cang Chai – Tu Le – Hanoi (Meal: Breakfast / Lunch / – )
The second day of the Mu Cang Chai exploration journey begins with a fresh morning and unique cultural experiences.
Explore Mu Cang Chai in the early morning and attractive destinations
06:30: You gather for breakfast at the restaurant as instructed by the guide. Breakfast is usually served with local dishes such as pho, vermicelli, or steamed rice rolls, accompanied by hot tea or coffee, helping you recharge for a new day.
After breakfast, you will have free time to explore Mu Cang Chai according to your personal preferences. The guide will suggest some interesting places for you to choose from:
- Mu Cang Chai Market: A vibrant cultural space, a center for trading daily necessities and unique local products. This is a great opportunity to learn about the daily life of highland people and buy meaningful souvenirs.
- Thai village and water mill system: Visiting the Thai village, you will admire traditional stilt houses, learn about the customs and cultural life of the ethnic people. In particular, the unique water mill system, an innovative irrigation work of the local people, will surely surprise and delight you.
Travelers taking photos at the Mu Cang Chai rice terraces
- Bamboo forest: A green and peaceful space, where you feel like you are lost in the setting of ancient films. Mu Cang Chai bamboo forest brings pure and tranquil beauty, an ideal destination for relaxation and immersion in nature.
- Horseshoe-shaped terraced fields: Another unique perspective on the beauty of Mu Cang Chai terraced fields. Looking down from above, the terraced fields winding in the shape of a horseshoe create an extremely impressive and unique scene.
Say goodbye to Mu Cang Chai and return to Hanoi
09:00: After exploring and experiencing Mu Cang Chai, the car will take you to Ba Nha Bridge area, another beautiful scenic spot with unique shoe-shaped terraced fields. You can stop to take photos and admire the beauty of the “stairways to heaven” here.
11:00: The group stops at Tu Le, a land famous for delicious Tu Le sticky rice and beautiful, graceful Thai girls. Tu Le is also known for its specialty green young rice flakes (cốm), with a distinctive flavor of the mountains. The guide will take you to Tu Le market to visit, shop, and enjoy the fragrant and sticky green cốm, a must-try specialty when coming to Tu Le.
Before leaving Tu Le, the group will stop to take photos with the symbol of Mu Cang Chai district, to preserve beautiful memories of this land.
12:00: Have lunch in Son Thinh town, you will continue to enjoy delicious dishes of the Northwest. After lunch, the group gets on the car to return to Hanoi.
On the way back, the car will stop for rest and for you to have the opportunity to see the vast green tea hills in Thanh Son, Phu Tho again. This is also an opportunity for you to buy Thanh Son sour pork as gifts for family and friends.
18:30: Arrive in Hanoi, ending the 2-day Northwest tea hill – Mu Cang Chai tour full of experiences and memorable moments. The guide says goodbye and looks forward to seeing you again on the next exciting discovery journeys of “Du lịch khắp thế gian” (Travel the World).