When jungle rain calms down to make room for the stunning autumn sunlight, it is time for backpackers trekking to the mountain in the sky to admire the golden autumn in Mu Cang Chai District in the northwest province of Yen Bai.
Located 180 kilometers from Yen Bai City, Mu Cang Chai is situated at a height of 1,000 meters above sea level, starting from the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range with peaks running in Northwest-Southeast direction. Amidst the mountains are streams belonging to Red River and Da River valleys. The district covers 12,000 hectares, including one township, 13 communes and 110 hamlets.
Located in a temperate zone, the average temperature all-year round is 18.5 Celsius degrees so when the sunset comes, the district is blanked in mist and makes tourists feel they are in late winter of the lowland.
The center of Mu Cang Chai District lies in a valley expanding over seven kilometers. September and October is suggested as the most ideal time to visit Mu Cang Chai as everywhere, from magnificent mountains or beautiful terraced rice fields are bathed in glistening rays.
Terraced rice fields are visible from virtually everywhere in the district as they expand over 2,200ha, including 500ha in Che Cu Nha, La Pan Tan and De Xu Phinh communes. The terraced fields in these villages were recognized as a national heritage in 2007 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Terraced fields also contain many worthy cultural and historical values. Coming to Mu Cang Chai is to sense the luxury of nature and sweetness, coziness of ethnic people and values of culture. The journey to the site is a bit tough but travelers will be rewarded with landscapes like movie shots with splendid terraced fields, white bubbling waterfalls, murmuring streams or whispering winds through forests. Along immense hills, wild flowers such as daisy and water-rail flowers will make the scenery more romantic.
A trek through these villages offers a fabulous view inside the lives of the Mong people. Young boys are often seen joyfully playing on the roadside. In the distance, huts, used to provide cover as farmers watch over their harvest dot, the vista.
In addition to terraced fields, Mu Cang Chai was blessed with naturally beautiful flora and fauna and outstanding geographic features, including vast mountain ranges with high peaks which have protected the people for an age.
In the natural reserves in Mu Cang Chai’s Che Tao, De Xu Phinh and Pung Luong hamlets, people can spot 788 fauna species, of which 267 are used for herbal medicines, 241 floras including 54 animals, 132 birds, 26 reptiles and many of them are listed in the Red Book.
If you have plans for an autumn vacation, find Mu Cang Chai on the map, do your research and pack a bag to get ready. Something amazing is waiting for you.