Rice harvest, Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam

The Harvest Route: Mù Cang Chải

Last updated May 2018 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle

This post was last updated 5 years ago. Please check the comments section for possible updates, or read more on my Updates & Accuracy page.

INTRODUCTION | GUIDE | MAP | RELATED POSTS

Every year, between September and October, the terraced rice fields of Mù Cang Chải, a rural district in northern Vietnam’s Yên Bái Province, put on a show of picturesque harvest colours. In the fresh, dew-drenched dawn, hundreds of stepped rice paddies, carved into the contours of steep valleys, are illuminated by the autumn sun. The gold-green and toast-brown colours of the ripe rice are luminous. The curving terraces, although man-made, appear to be in complete harmony with the landscape, creating a hypnotic patterning across the hills and valleys. I call this spectacle the ‘Theatre of Rice’. Although extremely well-known among domestic travellers and Asian tourists, strangely Mù Cang Chải doesn’t get a mention in many popular English-language guidebooks. A good way to see the ‘show’ is to ride or drive along the scenic section of Highway QL32 between the small towns of Tú Lệ to Mù Cang Chải, via the lofty Khau Pha Pass. I call this the ‘Harvest Route’, covering 50km of picture-book scenery, which, in the right weather conditions, will fill your camera’s memory card within minutes.

Harvest Route: Mu Cang Chai

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GUIDE: THE THEATRE OF RICE


On this page, I’ve made a photo-essay of an early morning ride through the Theatre of Rice, including my annotated map of the Harvest Route with accommodation, food, and places of interest marked on it. Be warned that the area is very popular these days: on the weekends between spring and autumn it can get very crowded indeed. There are now loads of guest houses and homestays lining the Harvest Route, particularly around Tú Lệ and Mù Cang Chải towns. However, there are quieter, more scenic homestays on the back-roads either side of the main road, which are well-worth taking the time to explore. Rice and noodle eateries can be found in all the villages, and homestays provide home-cooked meals for guests. There are several viewing platforms and photography points along the route; there’s even paragliding available off the top of the Khau Pha Pass. The Theatre of Rice is best seen on your own two wheels: if you don’t already have a motorbike or bicycle, they can usually be rented from your accommodation. Hiring a car and driver from Sapa and making an overnight trip to Mu Cang Chai is another good option. For travellers without wheels, there are local public buses that ply Highway QL32 between all the main towns.


MAP:

Theatre of Rice: Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province

View in a LARGER MAP

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PHOTOS: THE HARVEST ROUTE


Time: 6:30am

The dawn sun creeps over the valley walls, shedding light on the rice terraces.

First light of dawn


Time: 6:45am

The early sun turns the rice a pale toast-brown.

Warm early light on the rice


Time: 7:00am

Women, most of whom are from one of Vietnam’s 50 ethnic minorities, make their way into the fields to begin a morning of work that often starts with a long walk.

Work begins in the fields


Time: 7:15am

By now the morning sun fills the whole valley, revealing the extent of the rice terraces.

The sun-filled valley


Time: 7:30am

Small huts dot the landscape offering shelter and storage space for farmers during the harvest.

Shelter & storage huts


Time: 7:45am

Work begins in the fields. A local woman stands atop a rice terrace, looking down to the river in the valley below.

A minority woman in the fields


Time: 8:00am

Seen from the Khau Pha Pass, the terraces look like a ‘rice glacier’, slowly sliding down the hillside.

View from the Khau Pha Pass


Time: 8:15am

As it gets later, you’ll find you’re not the only spectator enjoying the ‘rice show’.

Other 'spectators'


Time: 8:30am

While others watch, work in the fields goes on, with only rudimentary machinery and buffaloes to help.

Hard work & no machinery


Time: 8:45am

This is the real star of the show: rice. Vietnam is one of the world’s five largest exporters of the grain.

Star of the show: rice


Time: 9.00am

The sun is higher now. The dew has gone but a morning chill lingers. The colours get warmer; even if the air doesn’t.

Higher sun, warmer colours


Time: 9:15

Mid-way through their morning’s work, these women enjoy a break, before the harvest continues throughout the heat of the day.

Taking a break

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Questions, updates and trip reports are all welcome. However, please keep comments polite and on-topic. See commenting etiquette for details.

  1. Blake Respini says:
    June 19, 2023 at 1:58 AM

    Hi,

    First thanks so much. I did versions of the classic Ha Giang and Extreme North Northwest in 2018 and 2019. Most amazing!

    I’m thinking doing Sapa to Ha Giang this August but maybe also going to the rice terraces from Sapa. I don’t see any guide information regarding the route/ride from Sapa the Mu Cang Chung. Do you not recommend riding that? Any special considerations? According to Google maps, it seems like it just about 4.5 hours.

    Thanks,
    Blake

    1. Tom says:
      June 20, 2023 at 10:05 AM

      Hi Blake,

      Yes, it’s a nice ride due south from Sapa on roads QL4D and QL32 to Mu Cang Chai.

      However, if you’re going to ride from Sapa to Ha Giang anyway, there are lots of great rice terrace views on that route, especially around Hoang Su Phi.

      Another route to consider near Sapa is the Sin Ho Loop.

      Best,

      Tom

      1. Blake Respini says:
        June 20, 2023 at 8:56 PM

        Thanks, that is helpful. Based on what you said, I may just skip Mu Cang Chia to give myself more time on the way to Ha Giang, and around Hoang Su Phi. (I have learned that the most famous places are not always most superior, and I imagine Hoang Su Phi has fewer tourists.

  2. Ann-Katrien says:
    August 30, 2019 at 9:33 AM

    Hello,

    We will arrive in North Vietnam in the 2nd week of september and we only have ca. 3-4 days. What do you recommend: Ha Giang or Mu Cang Chai? (because we thought Sapa was more touristic). Do you have any tips on what to do?

    Thanks in advance,
    Ann-Katrien

    1. Tom says:
      August 31, 2019 at 7:35 AM

      Hi Ann-Katrien,

      Well, both are very scenic areas. But there’s probably more to ‘do’ in Ha Giang.

      You can hike, ride, stay in homestays etc in both locations. Many of these things can be arranged through your accommodation.

      There’s lots more about Ha Giang in this guide, and for Mu Cang Chai this map has some places to stay and see on it.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  3. Takis says:
    September 26, 2018 at 8:46 AM

    Hi Tom,

    First, thanks for all the afford you did to write this awesome guides! ??

    We are in Sa Pa right now and enjoying the beautiful scenery even when we just missed the harvest here of a couple of days.
    We want to take the harvest route from Sa Pa back to Hanoi. Do you know how the condition of the road (QL32) is? And do they harvest at the same time as Sa Pa region or do we have a chance to see the unharvested rice teracess?

    Thanks a lot! Greetings from Sa Pa

    1. Tom says:
      September 26, 2018 at 8:51 AM

      Hi Takis,

      As far as I know the condition of road QL32 is good, unless there has been very heavy rain recently, in which case there’s the possibility of landslides blocking the road.

      There is a chance that some of the rice terraces at Mu Cang Chai haven’t been harvested yet – either way, it’s still a very scenic ride.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  4. Anne Sophie says:
    September 26, 2018 at 7:59 AM

    Hello,
    Going up north from 25 october and considering to go to MCC: will it be worth it as it will be just passed the harvest time? Is this harvest by any chance late this year !?
    What do you recommend? Not worth it and better go direct to Ha Giang, Quan Ba, Dong Van, Meo Vac?
    thanks a lot
    Anne Sophie

    1. Tom says:
      September 26, 2018 at 8:20 AM

      Hi Anne Sophie,

      It will most likely be passed harvest time by late October. Mu Cang Chai is still a very scenic area to visit, though. But if you have to choose between that and Ha Giang in October, then I would choose Ha Giang.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  5. Ken Lee says:
    November 22, 2017 at 3:24 PM

    Hey Tom, just wanted to clarify…is there one or two ricecrops per year in Mu Cang Chai.

    1. Tom says:
      November 23, 2017 at 12:58 AM

      Hi Ken,

      Until recently I’ve always been told there’s only one crop a year. But on a trip last October I was told there are two. Certainly peak time for seeing the rice terraces in bright colour and sunshine here is just before the autumn harvest, late August and September, but it changes in other regions.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  6. Ian says:
    October 13, 2017 at 3:40 PM

    Hey Tom,
    Thanks for all your efforts in documenting your trips and replying to questions. I’m currently in Nghia Lo and looking forward to riding this route tomorrow. I will stay at least one night in the Mu Cang / Tu Le area before heading across to DBP for a couple of days and then back to Hanoi.
    Your information is invaluable
    Cheers.

    1. Tom says:
      October 14, 2017 at 2:26 AM

      Hi Ian,

      Thanks. Great to hear you’re enjoying the trip so far.

      However, I’m pretty sure the road between Nghia Lo and Mu Cang Chai is cut off at the moment, due to the collapse of a bridge near Nghia Lo and landslides near Mu Cang Chai after last week’s heavy rains. I strongly recommend checking the road situation with your hotel staff or online news sources before you set out.

      If you do manage to take this route, please send me an update about how you found the road conditions.

      Good luck,

      Tom

  7. Arnaud says:
    June 7, 2017 at 3:26 PM

    Hi Tom,
    Back in VN, and this time I am doing the Northwest loop, from Hanoï to Lao Cai, through Mai Chau, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, and I hope Sinho and Bac Ha depending on the weather conditions, using part of your itineraries of course.

    Today I did the Harvest road, but unfortunately it was a rainy day. When I arrived to MCC, the sun arrived. Just dropped by bag to my homestay and went back on the road to go back and forth to the pass. Amazing scenery. The paradise of rice paddies lovers and photographers!!! Thanks again for your website on which I discovered Mu Can Chai.

    By the way, for those who don’t want to stay in Nha nghi on the main road, there is a couple of charming wood made homestays next to each other, right after the bridge at the center of the town. Cross the bridge, turn left and continue on 300m. Three houses with chinese lanterns are just there. Cost 400,000 dong per night incl. a great dinner, breakfast and wifi!!! Much better option in my opinion.

    Cheers
    Arnaud

    1. Tom says:
      June 7, 2017 at 5:25 PM

      Hi Arnaud,

      Good to hear you’re back in Vietnam and enjoying it again.

      Great that the sun came out for a bit so that you could see the ‘rice show’.

      Thanks for the suggestion about the homestays – they sound like a good deal.

      Enjoy the rest of your trip,

      Tom

  8. Chris says:
    January 21, 2017 at 4:24 PM

    I’m heading up to Sapa in a few days and thinking of passing through Mu Cang Chai. Will there be much to see at this time of year, or have I missed it? Thanks!

    1. Tom says:
      January 22, 2017 at 12:09 AM

      Hi Chris,

      The rice fields probably won’t be as colourful as there are in these images at this time of year, but it should still be a very pretty ride, so I think it’s worth it.

      I hope the weather is good for you.

      Tom

  9. Connor says:
    June 27, 2016 at 5:30 AM

    Currently in Hanoi planning on riding all the way down to saigon along a variation of the “classic route” posted on the site. Just wondering if it would be worth taking a few days to detour up north to see these terraces. I would be heading there at the beginning of july. You mentioned harvest isnt until september and october, so what’re your thoughts?

    1. Tom says:
      June 27, 2016 at 6:39 AM

      Hi Connor,

      Yes, I think it’s a good idea to start your trip with a detour to see the rice terraces at Mu Cang Chai, as long as you’ve got a bit of time to spare. July is just before the harvest, so the colours should be good and bright then. There’s a chance of rain, but there’s not much you can do about that!

      Tom

      1. Connor says:
        June 28, 2016 at 6:19 AM

        Thanks for the quick reply! I really appreciate your insight. This website is amazing

  10. Raina says:
    July 28, 2015 at 11:04 AM

    Thinking of going here in October. How far is it from Hanoi?

    1. Tom says:
      July 28, 2015 at 3:30 PM

      Hi Raina,

      October should be a good time to go – but the earlier the better: because that’s harvest time, so the later you leave it the higher the chance that the rice will have been cut. I went late September and it was perfect. By the time I was in the northeast, in mid-October, the rice fields had already been harvested, and so the landscape didn’t look quite as spectacular.

      The Harvest Route is roughly 250km from Hanoi. You can get there in a day if you leave early in the morning. The second half of the drive is very scenic. But some sections of road were under partial construction when I last visited (2014).

      Bear in mind that, although this isn’t really on most foreign travellers’ itinerary, it is a big attraction for domestic tourists. September/October is peak time because this is when the rice fields look their best, so either book a hotel in advance or make sure you arrive at Nghia Lo, Tu Le or Mu Cang Chai before the afternoon so you can bag a room 🙂

      I hope you have a good trip,

      Tom