Mu Cang Chai Trekking Tour: 3 Days

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Hanoi around 7:30 am by your local guide and begin the scenic drive toward Tu Le. On the way, you’ll pass through Nghia Lo, home to many Thai ethnic communities in Yen Bai Province.

Arriving in Tu Le in the early afternoon, you’ll go on a relaxed hike through rice fields, streams, and local villages. The walk takes you through the everyday life of Thai and Mong families, with chances to see traditional houses and kids playing in the streams. There are two hiking route options depending on your energy: a longer 10 km walk (~3.5 hrs) through Nam Co and Nam Pang, or a shorter 6–7 km path (~2 hrs). The trails are mostly flat but can be muddy and cross shallow streams—bring sandals or quick-dry shoes.

Spend the night at a traditional stilt house in Bung Som village, hosted by a local Thai family. If you prefer more privacy, we can arrange a hotel room in Tu Le instead.

After breakfast, drive over the impressive Khau Pha Pass, one of Vietnam’s most famous mountain roads. You’ll stop along the way for photos, with panoramic views over Lim Mong and Lim Thai villages—and the paragliding launch point on the pass’s summit.

Once you arrive in Mu Cang Chai (~9:30 am), you’ll go on a guided hike through some of the region’s most beautiful rice terraces. Trekking routes are flexible and depend on where you’ll be staying:

• If you stay in a Hmong homestay in La Pan Tan: trek 9–10 km from Che Cu Nha to Hang Dang De and a nearby Thai village (~3–3.5 hours).
• If you stay in the center of Mu Cang Chai: trek 7 km to Rasbery Hill (~2.5 hours).

Expect dramatic scenery, narrow trails, and maybe a glimpse into local farming work if the timing is right.

After lunch (picnic-style or local restaurant), visit a nearby Hmong home by foot or motorbike. You’ll have time to rest and learn about traditional Patik painting—a textile art used to decorate Hmong clothing. Explore the house and daily life in this quiet mountain village.

End the day with a short hike (5–8 km) to see the sunset over terraced rice fields or a bamboo forest, depending on what’s available that day. Then head to your homestay for dinner with a local family and a chance to experience the evening rhythms of rural life.

Start the day with a short trek based on your overnight location:

• From La Pan Tan (Hmong village): hike to Rasbery Hill (5–7 km)
• From the center (Thai village): hike 9–10 km from Che Cu Nha via Hang Dang De, passing a waterfall, rice terraces, and remote villages

On the trail, you may see or even try local farm tasks like rice planting or harvesting. There’s also a chance to visit a local house or school along the way for a deeper look at community life.

After the morning trek, drive back through Tu Le for lunch, then continue to Hanoi. Expect to arrive around 6–7 pm. Your guide will drop you off at your hotel and say farewell.