Dreaming of an adventure to discover the untouched beauty of Northwest Vietnam? Want to experience the gentle sway of a train winding through scenic routes, gazing at pristine white mustard flower fields and endless green tea hills? Join “Discovery To Wonders” as we plan a train journey to Moc Chau, a captivating destination in the Northwest!
1. Traveling to Moc Chau by Train: A Smart Choice for Your Trip
Moc Chau, the “flower paradise” of Son La, is about 200km from Hanoi, renowned for its majestic and poetic natural landscapes. However, due to the mountainous terrain, transportation to Moc Chau still faces limitations. Currently, there is no direct train route to Moc Chau. Therefore, the optimal choice is to take a train to Hanoi and then continue your journey by other means of road transport.
1.1. Traveling by Train to Hanoi: Convenient, Safe, and Relaxing
The train journey to Hanoi offers you the chance to witness the changing Vietnamese landscape in a slow and relaxed manner. Train ticket prices vary depending on the ticket type and train route. For example, train tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi range from 700,000 VND to 1,500,000 VND. You can refer to the detailed price table below:
| Trains from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi |
|---|
| Train Type |
| SE2 |
| SE4 |
| SE6 |
| SE8 |
Note: Sleeper berth prices may vary depending on the tier. Tier 1 and 2 are usually cheaper than Tier 3.
Nowadays, booking train tickets online via banking apps is increasingly popular. This feature is integrated into many major banking apps in Vietnam, offering outstanding convenience for passengers:
- Convenience: Book tickets anytime, anywhere with just a smartphone connected to the internet, without having to go to the train station.
- Speed: Payment process in just 1 minute, saving time.
- Flexibility: Easily search for trips, choose desired times and seat locations.
- Deals: Competitive ticket prices with many attractive promotions.
Booking train tickets on banking apps
To book train tickets to Hanoi via a banking app, simply follow these easy steps:
- On the main screen of your banking app, select the “Train Ticket Booking” service.
- Select your departure station, destination station, travel time, number of passengers, choose your train car and seat.
- Confirm your trip information.
- Enter passenger information (Full name, ID card/Citizen ID, phone number, email) and proceed with payment.
1.2. From Hanoi to Moc Chau: Road Transportation Options
After arriving in Hanoi by train, you can choose road transport to continue your journey to Moc Chau:
Personal Vehicles:
If you are driving a car or motorbike, follow National Highway 6 (QL6). This is the main route, easy to travel, especially suitable for those with long-distance driving experience.
Suggested Route:
- From Hanoi, take QL6 towards the Northwest.
- Arrive at Hoa Binh city, continue on QL6 to Mai Chau town.
- From Mai Chau, take National Highway 43 to Moc Chau (about 60km).
Note: Drive carefully and limit the use of scooters as QL6 has a lot of passenger buses and container trucks.
Passenger Bus:
You can book sleeper bus tickets from Hanoi to Son La or Dien Bien. Both routes pass through Moc Chau. However, buses usually depart in the evening (7-8 pm) and arrive in Moc Chau late at night. Therefore, book a hotel near QL6 for convenient check-in.
Currently, you can also easily book bus tickets to Moc Chau directly on banking apps. Use the “Bus Ticket Booking” feature and select Hanoi as the departure point and Son La as the destination. Most buses have a stop in Moc Chau.
2. Important Notes When Traveling to Moc Chau by Train
To have a smooth train trip to Moc Chau, keep the following in mind:
- Book train tickets at least 3-4 weeks before your departure date to avoid tickets selling out or not getting your preferred seats.
- Arrive at the train station before departure time to prepare for unexpected incidents.
- Pack your luggage neatly for easy mobility.
- Buy train tickets at official Vietnam Railways agents to avoid buying fake or overpriced tickets.
- Bring personal identification documents that match the information on your ticket for boarding procedures.
3. Moc Chau Train Travel Experience: Discovering Northwest Beauty
3.1. Best Time to Visit Moc Chau?
Moc Chau has four distinct seasons, each with its own beauty:
- Spring: Cool weather, lush green tea hills, peach blossoms in bloom.
- Summer: Hot weather, peak tourist season with the plum picking festival in Na Ka valley.
- Autumn: Brilliant yellow wild sunflowers, white mustard flowers, buckwheat flowers in full bloom.
- Winter: White plum and apricot blossoms, mustard flowers hidden in the mist.
You can visit Moc Chau at any time of the year to admire different beautiful landscapes:
- See peach and plum blossoms bloom before and after the Lunar New Year.
- Participate in the Het Cha festival in March.
- Immerse yourself in the Mong people’s Independence Day in September.
- Admire white mustard flowers in November.
- See wild sunflowers bloom along QL6 in December.
- Visit tea hills and Dai Yem waterfall from April to August.
Moc Chau's beauty varies each season
3.2. Transportation in Moc Chau
- Motorbike: Rent a motorbike to freely explore Moc Chau (90,000 – 160,000 VND/day).
- Taxi: Suitable for groups of 4-5 people (Thao Nguyen Xanh, Sao Xanh, Huong Sen…).
3.3. Must-Visit Destinations in Moc Chau
- Thong Cuong: Vast white mustard flower valley, about 3km from Moc Chau Farm town.
Thong Cuong – a famous tourist destination
- Ban Pa Phach: Majestic beauty of Northwest mountains and forests, near restaurant 70, about 5km from Moc Chau town’s junction.
The majestic landscape of Ban Pa Phach
- Ban Ang Pine Forest: Poetic space, fresh climate, preserving Thai ethnic culture.
Ban Ang Pine Forest
3.4. Moc Chau Specialties: Must-Try Dishes
- Be Chao Moc Chau (Stir-fried Veal): Grilled young veal over charcoal, served with fresh vegetables and special soy sauce.
Be Chao Moc Chau – Stir-fried Veal
- Moc Chau Salmon: Famous specialty raised in cold water regions.
Moc Chau Salmon
- Moc Chau Strawberries: High-quality strawberries, fragrant, delicious, and sweet.
Moc Chau Strawberries
4. Suggested Itinerary and Travel Costs for Moc Chau by Train (2 Days 1 Night)
To have a complete trip to Moc Chau, you should plan in detail. Below is a suggested itinerary for reference:
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Hanoi – Hoa Binh – Moc Chau | 7am | Depart from Hanoi to Hoa Binh via QL6 |
| 10am | Lunch at Thung Khe Pass | |
| 1pm | Arrive at Thong Cuong, Pa Phach | |
| Evening | Stay overnight in Moc Chau Farm town | |
| Day 2: Moc Chau – Hanoi | 7am | Breakfast |
| 7:30am | Visit Moc Chau tea hills and Ban Ang Pine Forest | |
| 12pm | Return to Hanoi, lunch along QL6 | |
| 1:30pm | Travel from Moc Chau back to Hanoi |
Travel costs to Moc Chau are quite reasonable. If departing from Hanoi, you only spend about 2,000,000 – 3,000,000 VND for the entire trip.
With the detailed information above, “Discovery To Wonders” hopes you will have a memorable and joyful train journey to Moc Chau! Don’t forget to use the train ticket booking feature on banking apps to find attractive deals for your trip!