Mu Cang Chai 4 Day Tour – Trekking & Sightseeing Off The Beaten Path

Your guide will meet you at your hotel around 7:30 AM to begin the journey northwest, heading into the heart of northern Vietnam. The road trip covers about 250 km, with scenic views and a gradual shift from cityscapes to mountain passes and rice fields.

Arrive in Tu Le by early afternoon. Stretch your legs with a walk through the valley, exploring rice fields, streams, and quiet Thai and Hmong villages. It's a relaxed start with time to take in rural life, traditional stilt houses, and maybe even dip your feet in the stream alongside local kids.

Depending on your energy and preference, choose from a 2-hour or 3.5-hour hike. Both routes take you along muddy paths, through rice terraces, and across small streams — nothing too steep, but just adventurous enough to feel like a journey. You’ll end the day at a local homestay in Bung Som village.

Dinner is served at your host family’s home. Enjoy a peaceful night in a wooden stilt house run by a local Thai family. Private rooms or hotel stays can be arranged if preferred.

After breakfast, hit the road to Mu Cang Chai, driving over Khau Pha Pass — one of Vietnam’s highest and most dramatic mountain passes. Stop along the way for views over Lim Mong and Lim Thai villages, and the famous paragliding launch point.

Arrive in La Pan Tan and start a scenic 3-hour trek to Raspberry Hill, a terraced mountain slope famous for its circular rice patterns. These man-made formations were shaped by Hmong farmers over generations and are among the most photographed landscapes in Vietnam.

After the hike, either enjoy a simple roadside lunch or step into a local Hmong household to cook and share a traditional meal — a great way to learn more about daily life.

Continue hiking through a bamboo forest to Mang Mu village, where you’ll visit a local house and try your hand at batik fabric drawing — an art form passed down through Hmong generations. From there, trek to Mong Ngua village, known for its horse-shaped rice terraces and spectacular sunset views. The trail here is steeper, but the payoff is worth it.

Spend the night in a traditional Thai or Hmong stilt house. If you're curious to experience more of Hmong life, you can choose to stay in Hello Mu Cang Chai Homestay in La Pan Tan.

Start your day with a 3–3.5 hour hike through rice fields and remote mountain paths from a Thai village to Che Cu Nha. Along the way, pass waterfalls, hill farms, and isolated Hmong communities. You might even get a chance to try rice planting or harvesting, depending on the season.

After the trek, loop back to La Pan Tan and return to Raspberry Hill — a chance to revisit this stunning viewpoint at a different time of day, or venture a bit farther depending on your pace and interest.

Hop in the car for a 3-hour drive to Tram Tau, a quiet mountain town known for its hot springs and peaceful landscapes. Check in to Zoni Home, your cozy homestay for the night.

You have two options this morning:

• Relax at the Tram Tau hot spring and enjoy a peaceful soak with mountain views
• Or go for a short, easy hike through Luu village’s rice fields, home to the Thai ethnic group
  For those wanting a bit more challenge, there’s a slightly tougher 7 km trek to the beautiful Ta Xua waterfall.

After lunch in Tram Tau, begin the drive back to Hanoi. Expect to arrive by early evening, with drop-off at your hotel and a warm farewell from your guide.