Ultimate Guide to Moc Chau: Tips for First-Time Visitors

Moc Chau captivates with its endless green tea hills, vibrant highlands, and white silk woven from a thousand mustard flowers, alongside the warm, intoxicating corn wine. Everyone who visits, even just once, is mesmerized from the first glance. To fully explore this enchanting Northwest region, let’s delve into the self-guided Moc Chau travel experience in this article.

Moc Chau (Collected Photo)

Moc Chau is a mountainous, highland, and border district located in the southeast of Son La province, about 200km northwest of Hanoi, with a natural area of 1,081.66 km2. Moc Chau district is traversed by National Highways 6, 37, and 43, and it features a border gate with Laos.

Moc Chau during the plum blossom season (Collected Photo)

Thanks to its favorable terrain, the Moc Chau Plateau enjoys a cool climate and a convenient location not too far from the capital, making it always an attractive destination for visitors. With a diverse ecosystem, especially the beautiful grassland landscape (grass fields, flower gardens), mild climate, and various scenic spots like Ngu Dong in Ban On, Heart-Shaped Tea Hill, Plum Valley, Dai Yem Waterfall, Pha Luong Peak, the ecological lake pine forest in Ban Ang, tea hills, and dairy farms…

When is the best time to visit Moc Chau?

Moc Chau during the wild sunflower season (Collected Photo)

With its characteristic highland terrain, the climate in Moc Chau is cool and pleasant throughout the year, making it suitable for trips for most young people today. But when is the best time to visit Moc Chau for unforgettable and impressive travel experiences? Below are some suggestions:

• Plum blossom season: Lasting from the end of January to mid-February (during the Lunar New Year), this is the ideal time to visit Moc Chau to chase the white plum blossoms that fill the sky with longing. The most beautiful spots to view plum blossoms include the pine forest in Ban Ang, Ba Khe area, Long Luong, Thong Cuong… However, as beautiful as the plum blossom season is, it fades quickly, lasting only about 3 weeks.

• Wild peach blossom and Het Cha festival season: As soon as the white plum blossoms season ends, the wild peach blossoms season begins. From March to April, Moc Chau is covered in a magnificent white and purple, equally dreamy and gentle. Additionally, the Het Cha festival, held annually by the Thai ethnic group at the end of March, celebrates community unity before spring and shows respect to the healers who have treated them in times of illness and disease.

Moc Chau during the peach blossom season (Collected Photo)

Moreover, from the end of November to mid-December, the white mustard and gentle yellow wild sunflower seasons burst into bloom. At this time, Moc Chau is adorned with a new dress from the hills, valleys, along both sides of National Highway 6… all covered in a delicate white, dotted with the yellow of wild sunflowers.

Directions to Moc Chau

Located about roughly 200km from Hanoi and about 100km from the center of Son La city, currently, you can only travel to Moc Chau by road on the pretty good National Highway 6.

Glass bridge at the foot of Dải Yếm waterfall (Photo: RuudNguyen.com)

Public Transport

You can take a bus from My Dinh or Yen Nghia bus stations. Buses run frequently and continuously, so you can flexibly call to book tickets in advance. Additionally, you can consider taking a limousine for a quicker journey.

Personal Vehicle

Follow the route from Hanoi to Thang Long highway (If driving a personal car, you can go straight and turn into the Hoa Lac – Hoa Binh bypass road to save more time), turn left to Xuan Mai on National Highway 6 towards Hoa Binh. Near the center of Hoa Binh, there will be signs directing to Son La. Continue up Cun slope, and follow National Highway 6 straight to Cao Phong; from there, it’s a straight drive.

S-shaped road section (Photo: RuudNguyen.com)

On the way, you’ll pass through Thung Khe, also known as the white rock pass. Remember to stop for photos. It’s a picturesque selfie spot for travelers that should not be missed on the way to Moc Chau.

Getting Around Moc Chau

Taxi

If you travel to Moc Chau by coach and are not familiar with riding motorcycles, and you have a group of about 4-5 people, you can use taxis.

Motorbike Rental

Moc Chau also has many motorbike rental points, offering a variety of options for you to choose from.

Accommodation in Moc Chau

Moc Chau has two main towns: Moc Chau Town and Moc Chau Farm Town. Both places have many hotels, guesthouses, and homestays for you to freely choose from.

Currently in Moc Chau, you can find many homestay and bungalow models (Collected Photo)

If you plan to visit Moc Chau during weekends or public holidays, it’s advisable to book your accommodation in advance due to high demand during these periods.

Tourist Attractions in Moc Chau

Thung Cuong Village

Visiting Thung Cuong (Thong Cuong) Village to see the white mustard flowers, you will enjoy the simple life of the local people. This place is always an ideal destination for those who love traveling in the Northwest region.

Thung Cuong in the white mustard flower season (Collected Photo)

Thung Cuong Village is an ancient residence of the H’mong ethnic community, located more than 3km from the Moc Chau Farm Town, nestled between Dong Sang and Xuan Nha communes. The road to the village is flanked by enchanting valleys of overwhelming white mustard flowers that captivate any visitor.

For those who adore traveling in the Northwest region, Moc Chau always offers an exceptional destination for exploratory trips, especially during the cool weather season when the white mustard flowers bloom across Thung Cuong Village. Leave behind the daily hustle and bustle to enjoy the white mustard flowers with friends in Thung Cuong (Thong Cuong) Village. The beauty here will undoubtedly make your departure a reluctant one.

Pa Phach Village

Every season in Moc Chau has its beauty, but spring is the most beautiful when peach and mustard flowers bloom. Among these, nowhere is as picturesque as Pa Phach Village. This small village is filled with mustard flowers and numerous peach trees with large, orange fruit resembling hanging lanterns.

Pa Phach during the mustard flower season (Collected Photo)

Pa Phach below is a Thai ethnic village, while Pa Phach above consists of three areas: Pa Phach 1, 2, and 3, inhabited by the H’mong people. Previously, Pa Phach 1 was part of Van Ho commune, but it was merged into Dong Sang commune in 2002. Located between two mountain ranges, the terrain of Pa Phach gradually elevates, creating the green Pa Phach areas of the H’mong.

The climate here is exceptionally cool and fresh, surrounded by forests. A distinctive feature is the dense fog that envelops the area as evening falls, making it feel like being lost in a sea of mist.

Pine Forest of Ban Ang

Alongside the plum valleys of Ka Na, Pha Luong peak, Loong Sap border gate, and the S-shaped road, the pine forest of Ban Ang is considered by travelers as one of the “trending” destinations in Moc Chau. Visiting the pine forest of Ban Ang, visitors will be amazed by the perfectly harmonious natural landscape here.

Sunrise in Ban Ang (Collected Photo)

The pine forest of Ban Ang is located in the Ban Ang area of Dong Sang commune, Moc Chau district (Son La). It is situated 2km from the center of Moc Chau town, accessible via a turn from National Highway 6.

Ban Ang in Canola Flower Season (Collected Photo)

With its advantageous location on the Moc Chau plateau and its year-round cool, clean climate, the pine forest of Ban Ang is often likened to a mini Da Lat of the North, covering an area of over 43 hectares. It consists of lush green pine forests stretching over the hillsides around a natural lake of about 5 hectares.

Ban Ang is most beautiful on moonlit nights, with pine shadows reflected on the lake surface, the whistling sound of the pine trees in the wind, echoing the distant sound of a flute calling to a lover.

Tay Tien Park

The Commemorative Stele Memorial Area (Collected Photo)

Tay Tien Park, short for the historical relic commemorating the 52nd Tay Tien Regiment, is located on Na Bo hill in Moc Chau town. This site is also recognized as a provincial level historical-cultural landmark and scenic spot, so don’t forget to visit it when in Moc Chau.

At the relic site, a place that has entered the emotional verses of poet Quang Dung, the majestic beauty of Pha Luong peak is also showcased. At the foot of the mountain, the grandiose Ma River flows endlessly, creating a picturesque “landscape of mountains and rivers”.

Moc Chau Happy Land

Spanning nearly 5 hectares, Moc Chau Happy Land is nestled in a vast valley in Lun village, Muong Sang commune. Here, visitors are welcomed by carpets of flowers and heart-shaped flower beds planted with various vibrant flowers, including many species characteristic of the Northwest.

Moc Chau Happy Land Tourist Area (Collected Photo)

Dai Yem Waterfall

Also known as “Nang Waterfall” or “Ban Vat Waterfall,” Dai Yem Waterfall is located in Muong Sang commune, Moc Chau. The waterfall is named Dai Yem because, according to legend, it represents the scarf of a girl who saved a young man from the floodwaters.

Dai Yem Waterfall originates from two streams, Bo Co Lam and Bo Ta Chau, flowing from a cave at the head of Ban Vat (the oldest historical site in this region where the Thai ethnic group settled). The water from the mountain source forms Vat stream for about 5 kilometers before merging with Bo Sap stream near the Vietnam-Laos border and flowing towards Yen Chau, creating a majestic waterfall.

Dai Yem Waterfall, also known as Nang Waterfall (Collected Photo)

“Dai Yem” waterfall is approximately 100 meters high, divided into two branches, one with up to 9 levels (like “nine steps of love” in legend), and the other with 5 levels, with both waterfalls about 200 meters apart.

Dai Yem Waterfall is most beautiful from April to August each year, when the water flow is abundant, and the entire 70m-wide waterfall becomes a white curtain of water, both majestic and poetic. From a distance, the waterfall looks like a “scarf” floating between heaven and earth.

Son Moc Huong Cave (Bat Cave)

Bat Cave, also known by the Thai ethnic group as Sa Lai Cave (meaning Water Cave, due to the perennial fresh underground water source flowing from this mountain range), covers an area of about 6915m2 and was formed by the erosion process thousands of years ago.

Moc Chau Bat Cave (Collected Photo)

The name Bat Cave originates from the large number of bats that used to inhabit this place; today, although not as many, there are still colonies of bats residing here. Photo: The entrance to the Bat Cave is likened to the mouth of a dragon.

Ngu Dong Ban On

Legend has it that the system of five caves – Ngu Dong Ban On (as called today) was discovered by the ethnic people living in the Moc Chau Plateau after a historic flood in 2006. Although Ngu Dong Ban On has been included in the list of attractive tourist destinations in Moc Chau, its challenging terrain makes it a relatively unexplored site for tourists.

The peculiar stalactite system in the cave (Collected Photo)

For this reason, it has retained its pristine beauty as it was at the beginning. Ngu Dong lies deep within the mountain crevices of Ban On, quite isolated from the outside world. Due to the difficult access paths, its untouched beauty remains preserved.

Moc Chau Tea Hills

Besides tourist attractions like Dải Yếm Waterfall, ethnic villages, Moc Chau enchants visitors with its vast green tea hills, especially the “heart-shaped tea hills”.

Early morning on the tea hills of Moc Chau (Collected Photo)

The green heart shape symbolizes vitality and love. The tea rows have been skillfully planted and trimmed by the local farmers into heart shapes, making these heart-shaped tea hills an impressive and popular destination, especially during weekends and holidays.

The most famous is the Heart-shaped Tea Hill within the joint venture farm with Taiwan (China). This tea hill is the most convenient for visitors as it’s quite close to Nong Truong Moc Chau Town (only about 10km away). There are also heart-shaped tea hills at Moc Suong farm in Tan Lap commune and Tan Hop tea hill.

Na Ka Plum Valley

Na Ka can be considered one of the most beautiful plum valleys in Moc Chau, which is why it has been described as a fairyland in spring. Located on the road to Tan Lap commune, Na Ka plum valley is about 7km from the heart-shaped tea hill and about 15km from Nong Truong Moc Chau Town. To reach the valley, one must pass through a narrow concrete mountain pass that only fits two small cars side by side.

The plum gardens stretch endlessly, immaculate in the Na Ka valley (Photo: Nem TV)

From a high vantage point, one can see the Na Ka valley covered in a blanket of white from the plum blossom slopes. The pure white spans the vast valley, across small hills and rugged cliffs. The peaceful scenery here is a far cry from the noise and dust of urban areas, still retaining a wild, pristine beauty as Na Ka has not been overexploited for tourism.

Phieng Canh village

Phieng Canh village, Na Ka are locations with untouched plum orchards, preserving the pristine beauty of Moc Chau’s landscape and atmosphere. The area and its inhabitants embody a simplicity, tranquility, and are surrounded by the scents of plum and peach blossoms, as well as golden mustard flowers.

Children of Phieng Canh village (Collected Photo)

Visiting Phieng Canh village, tourists can encounter the earthen houses featuring the traditional architecture of the Hmong people, veiled in mist, with far-reaching white plum blossom carpets on the hillsides creating a stunningly ethereal landscape like a paradise.

Long Sap Border Gate

The Long Sap Border Gate or Pa Hang Border Gate is a national border crossing located in Pa La village, Long Sap commune, Moc Chau district, Son La province, Vietnam.

Milestone 255 at Long Sap Border Gate (Collected Photo)

The Long Sap Border Gate is about 30km from the center of Moc Chau Town along National Highway 43. From the Moc Chau post office, follow National Highway 43 to the intersection with 20-11 street, then turn left, continue straight past Dai Yem Waterfall, Muong Sang, Dong Sang, Chieng Ve… to arrive.

Lao Market

The Lao Market at the Long Sap Border Gate is about a 30-minute walk from the border checkpoint. The market primarily serves the ethnic communities living near the border of the two countries, especially on holidays when the number of tourists increases. From Vietnam, visitors just need a passport or a Citizen Identification Card and to complete a few simple procedures to cross into the neighboring country, visit, and shop.

The market is a place of trade for the people living in the border areas of the two countries (Collected Photo)

The Lao Market at the Long Sap Border Gate is open both day and night. If you happen to visit Moc Chau, don’t forget to travel a bit further to explore this small market area. It may not primarily be a shopping destination, but it’s a place worth visiting to understand a unique aspect of the cultural exchange at the border of Vietnam and Laos. And remember to try the Lao beer.

Chieng Khoa Waterfall

Chieng Khoa Waterfall is located in Chieng Khoa commune, Van Ho district, approximately 12km from the center of Moc Chau. To reach Chieng Khoa Waterfall, just follow National Highway 6 towards Moc Chau district, then ask for directions from local residents or use a map for guidance.

Chieng Khoa Waterfall is now within the jurisdiction of Van Ho district (Collected Photo)

Along the way, you will see signs for Ben Pha 36km and To Mua 14km. Turn into To Mua road and travel about 4km more to reach Chieng Khoa Waterfall.

Chieng Khoa Waterfall, also known as Cloud Waterfall, is associated with the legend of the Ban Flower Festival – Xen Ban Xen Muong of the local people. The waterfall has not been developed for tourism, so it remains quite pristine and natural. You will admire the beauty of the waterfall resembling a white cloud hovering around the deep valley, throwing up white foam creating light mists of charming haziness.

Pha Luong Peak

Located 30 km from Moc Chau town, Pha Luong peak is the rooftop of Moc Chau. At an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters, Pha Luong is a popular destination for young people who love to explore. Conquering this mountain requires courage and good health from participants.

Pha Luong Peak (Collected Photo)

A majestic natural landscape in the forests and villages of Vietnam and Laos will be the most memorable images of this trip. Excerpt from the poem by poet Quang Dung:

“Climbing the winding steep slope

Through the sparse clouds, rifles sniffing the sky

A thousand meters up high, a thousand meters down

Whose home is it in Pha Luong, where the rain drifts far away?”

What to Eat in Moc Chau

Grilled Veal

Slices of veal cut into small pieces, marinated with spices, ginger, and lemongrass prepared in advance, the stove turned up high with a pan of boiling hot oil ready to produce the first batch of grilled veal. The sound of stirring, the spicy scent of ginger, and the fragrant aroma of the meat spreading, making it irresistible.

The meat is golden, tender, and indescribably sweet. The skin on the meat puffs up dotted with white, giving a crispy bite, but chew thoroughly to feel a slight chewiness lingering. Occasionally, savoring slices of ginger and lemongrass, golden in the dish, not too spicy but deliciously unique.

Snow Vegetable

Moc Chau Stream Fish

The blooming season of white mustard flowers in the highlands of Moc Chau also marks a time when more tourists visit this land. Sampling local dishes is an activity tourists should not miss. On early winter days, when fog covers the paths, trying the hot stream fish will leave you with beautiful impressions of this land.

Crispy Fried Stream Fish (Collected Photo)

They are not known by specific names but collectively referred to as stream fish. A dish of fish includes various types, including mudfish, sometimes even stream snakehead, and tilapia… The stream fish in Moc Chau are usually round, with circular mouths, some have smooth skin, some are scaly, some are as small as a pinky finger, and the larger ones are just slightly bigger than two fingers.

These are naturally breeding fish found in streams flowing from natural water springs. Locals often use nets to catch stream fish. Experiencing the joy of strapping a basket to the side, wading through the stream to cast a heavy net into the water, and then pulling the net back up with excitement is unparalleled.

Moc Chau Salmon

This fish species, originally living in cold regions such as America and Europe, has been successfully farmed in Moc Chau. With its rich taste, beautiful pink flesh, and high nutritional value, salmon has become a luxurious dish for tourists visiting Moc Chau.

Moc Chau Salmon (Collected Photo)

For many years, salmon has been farmed in various locations with cold, clean water sources such as Sapa, Lai Chau, Lam Dong… to meet the demand of diners nationwide, especially in big cities. However, not many people know about salmon being farmed and prepared for guests in Moc Chau (less than 200km from Hanoi).

Moc Chau Man’s Sweet Potato

According to the elders in Nam Lau commune, there was a time when sweet potatoes here were considered a food to stave off hunger between harvests. Thus, this tuber has remained tied to the farmers to this day, even though life has become more affluent and comfortable.

Sweet potatoes grown in Nam Lau are especially fragrant and delicious, making a lasting impression on those who try them from afar. With its good reputation spreading, Nam Lau’s sweet potatoes have become a specialty attracting visitors, prompting locals to expand their cultivation area to meet market demand and bring income to their families.

Moc Chau’s Sweet Potato has a peculiar shape but tastes very delicious (Collected Photo)

The harvest season for sweet potatoes in Nam Lau runs from October to the Lunar New Year. Every day, groups of motorbikes travel to and fro Nam Lau, visiting each household to buy sweet potatoes for the market. In the past, these sweet potatoes were primarily sold to traders in Thuan Chau town.

In recent years, with the increased quantity, the market has expanded both within and outside the province. Nowadays, Nam Lau’s sweet potatoes are piled up, placed into small baskets, and sold at markets in Thuan Chau or along the stalls by national highway 6. Not only locals but also passing travelers buy a few baskets of sweet potatoes as gifts.

Chayote in Moc Chau

With the advantage of the land and the climate of the vast grasslands, suitable for temperate and subtemperate crops, chayote has been experimentally cultivated and has yielded high productivity in Moc Chau. When you are here, don’t forget to buy some as gifts.

Chayote has become the main crop for many families in Moc Chau (Collected Photo)

Moc Chau Strawberries

Just about 1km away from the area of Ban Ang, there is a zone where the cultivation of orchids and strawberries has been experimentally grown and has been yielding fruit for several years now. Strawberries have now established their position in the market.

Moc Chau Strawberries (Collected Photo)

These fruits are no longer unfamiliar to consumers in Hanoi. When the season comes, the delicious and fragrant strawberries from the Moc Chau highlands often appear in fruit stores, clean food shops, or a few supermarket chains.

The quantity of strawberries sold is not fixed because it depends on the amount of ripe strawberries that gardeners can harvest. Especially, if the weather is favorable in any year, the strawberry crop will be abundant, with ripe, red, and sweet fruits that are very attractive to customers.

Moc Chau Tea

With its abundance and long history, it was not until 1958 that tea became the main crop bringing fame to Moc Chau. Tea was first experimentally planted in the Moc Chau highlands in area 66, now known as Black Tea area, by military farm officers. Nearly 60 years later, tea in Moc Chau has developed into a large concentrated raw material area, with many high-yield, high-quality tea varieties.

Moc Chau Tea Plantations (Collected Photo)

Tea in Moc Chau primarily consists of the Shan Tuyet variety, covering up to 2500ha across the two districts of Moc Chau and Van Ho. Shan Tuyet tea provides a stable income for the local people, helping many poor families to prosper. There are many strains of Shan Tuyet tea produced by various companies such as Moc Cha Lotus Tea, Moc Chau Century Tea, Tung Hac Tea…, but the famous and competitive one against Thai Nguyen tea is only Chi Cho Long Tea, produced and processed from 200-year-old tea trees of the Cho Long land.

Products Made from Moc Chau Dairy Cows

With a large number of dairy cows raised directly on the farm, dairy products are one of the special items you should try when visiting Moc Chau. If you have the chance, enjoy a cup of freshly heated pure milk right after it has been milked.

Dairy Cows in Moc Chau (Collected Photo)

Other dairy products that you should also consider buying as gifts include sticky rice yogurt, fresh cow’s milk…

Festivals in Moc Chau

Son La is unique with its majestic mountainous landscapes, clear water streams, and the genuine, hospitable nature of its residents.

The Het Cha Festival of the Thai People in Moc Chau (Collected Photo)

Every spring, as the blossoms of ban flowers, peach flowers, plum flowers, and apricot flowers bloom profusely white across the mountains and forests of the Northwest, they add beauty to this land rich in revolutionary tradition.

Independence Day is one of the major festivals of the Hmong people (Collected Photo)

In Son La, there are quite a few unique traditional festivals of the 12 ethnic groups living in Son La being promoted such as the seasonal festivals, Ban Flower Festival, Peace Prayer; Rain Prayer Festival of the Thai people; Pang A Nụn Pan Festival of the La Ha people; Mương A Ma Festival of the Xinh Mun people; Xênh Pang Ả Festival of the Khang people…

Special notes when motorbiking to Moc Chau

• If you’re riding a motorbike, try to travel during daylight hours, avoid riding late after sunset as the road to Moc Chau is often thick with fog, especially through the Thung Khe pass. 
• Moc Chau is a hotspot for drugs, so when visiting the villages (especially in the Long Luong area), be always vigilant, never carry items for others, or leave your belongings or vehicles unattended.
• There are many speed traps along the QL6 route, so pay attention to speed limits in populated areas. Although QL6 is quite a good road, absolutely do not overtake on continuous lines on passes to ensure safety.

Travel itinerary to Moc Chau

Below are some suggested Moc Chau motorbike travel itineraries for your reference. Additionally, you can combine some tourist spots like Mai Chau, Kim Boi, Mu Cang Chai or even Son La, Dien Bien to enrich your travel experience.

Moc Chau is a destination that can be visited all year round (Collected Photo)

Hanoi – Moc Chau – Hanoi

Day 1: Hanoi – Hoa Binh – Moc Chau (200km)

• 7am: You get up early to prepare to depart from Hanoi towards Hoa Binh via QL6, or you can take the Thang Long highway then turn into the Hoa Lac – Hoa Binh bypass.
• 10am: You take a lunch break at the Thung Khe white rock pass, where there are quite a few dishes like grilled corn, grilled eggs, skewered meat… This section has many passes with beautiful check-in spots; however, you should move carefully, especially on rainy days as the roads are quite slippery.
• 1pm: You arrive in Moc Chau, you can visit Thong Cuong, Pa Phach villages. And stay overnight in Moc Chau Town or Nong truong Moc Chau Town.

Day 2: Moc Chau – Hanoi (200km)

• 7am: You get up for breakfast, personal hygiene.
• 8am: Move to visit some places like the heart-shaped tea hill, pine forest of Ban Ang, Dai Yem waterfall… distribute the time accordingly.
• 12pm: From Moc Chau return to Hanoi via QL6, you can stop to eat at some roadside restaurants.
• 2pm: Depart from Moc Chau to Hanoi. Around 7pm, you arrive in Hanoi.

Hanoi – Ngoc Chien – Muong La – Moc Chau

Day 1: Hanoi – Nghia Lo – Khau Pha Pass – Nam Khat – Ngoc Chien

• 7am: Depart from Hanoi in the direction of QL32 up to Trung Ha bridge – Thanh Son – Van Chan – Nghia Lo. Rest at Tu Le by noon.
• Continue over the Khau Pha pass near the foot of the pass there’s a sign to Nam Khat. From Nam Khat ask locals for directions to Ngoc Chien (Muong La). Overnight at Ngoc Chien and experience Thai ethnic sticky rice, hot spring bath.

Day 2: Ngoc Chien – Muong La – Son La – Moc Chau

• 7am: Wake up early for breakfast and depart from Ngoc Chien back to Muong La. On the way, you can visit the Son La hydropower plant. Then continue from Muong La back to Son La city, stop by to visit the Son La prison monument. Have lunch in Son La city.
• 1pm: Move from Son La city back to Moc Chau, this road is quite beautiful so just take it easy. In Moc Chau, you can explore Dai Yem Waterfall, heart-shaped tea hill, Ban Ang pine forest…

Day 3: Moc Chau – Hanoi (200km)

• 7am: You get up early for breakfast in Moc Chau.
• 8am: Start exploring Thong Cuong, Pa Phach.
• 11am: You can have lunch in Moc Chau or start heading back to Hanoi, stopping to eat at some roadside restaurants along QL6.

Hanoi – Moc Chau – Son La – Mu Cang Chai – Hanoi

Day 1: Hanoi – Moc Chau – Son La (300km)

• 7am – 12pm: You get up early and move from Hanoi to Moc Chau via QL6.
• Upon arrival in Moc Chau, you can explore some points in Moc Chau like Dai Yem Waterfall, Heart-shaped tea hill, Ban Ang pine forest, plum valley…
• Around 4pm, you move from Moc Chau to Son La.
• Spend the night in Son La city.

Day 2: Son La – Quynh Nhai – Than Uyen – Mu Cang Chai (200km)

• Wake up early to visit the city center of Son La with many historical relics like Son La prison…
• Then from Son La city take provincial road 107, turn to QL279 towards Than Uyen to reach Mu Cang Chai. This route explores QL279, a vital inter-provincial route connecting provinces such as Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Lang Son, Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Son La, and Dien Bien. The road was constructed in February 1979.

Day 3: Mu Cang Chai – Hanoi

• You explore Mu Cang Chai visiting famous points like the raspberry hill, the villages such as La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha.
• Then on the way back to Hanoi via QL32 continue to explore Tu Le, Ban Lim Mong, Khau Pha Pass. If it’s the ripe rice season around September, you will see a very beautiful scene. By evening, you will be in Hanoi.

Hanoi – Mai Chau – Moc Chau – Hanoi

Day 1: Hanoi – Hoa Binh – Mai Chau (130km)

• 7am: You start from the center of Hanoi.
• 9am: Upon reaching Hoa Binh city, you can stop to visit Hoa Binh hydropower plant.
• 10am – 12pm: Continue moving on QL6, take breaks and eat at the white rock pass of Thung Khe.
• Around 1pm: Start exploring Mai Chau, remember to stop at the flagpole before reaching Mai Chau to enjoy the panoramic view of Mai Chau. Overnight in a stilt house and enjoy the culinary culture of the Thai people.

Day 2: Mai Chau – Moc Chau (70km)

• 6am: Get up early for breakfast and move up to Moc Chau. If you can leave early, you will have more time to enjoy the spots in Moc Chau.
• 8am: You will arrive in Moc Chau, visit points like the dairy farm, heart-shaped tea hill, Ban Ang pine forest, Dai Yem waterfall…
• Spend the night at hotels (Muong Thanh, Trade Union…) and remember to enjoy the famous veal chao dish.

Day 3: Moc Chau – Hanoi (200km)

• On day 2, continue exploring Moc Chau to the points you haven’t been to as mentioned above.
• 1:00 pm: After lunch, you move from Moc Chau back to Hanoi via QL6. You can stop at some roadside shops to buy gifts for relatives and friends.

See more: Son La Travel Essentials: What You Need to Know Before You Go

See more: Top Tips for a Successful Motorbike Trip to Ta Xua

See more: Conquering Pha Luong Peak: A Complete Trekking Guide