Ha Giang trekking travel guide

Trekking in Ha Giang is a wonderful idea if you plan for an adventure in Vietnam from October to March. North Vietnam trekking will take you through pristine nature with majestic mountains, untouched villages, cascading rice terraces, ancient tea hills, waterfalls,… especially encounters with diverse ethnic communities (among 19 groups in Ha Giang) with authentic and vibrant culture. 

Let’s start a plan for your Ha Giang trek with this blog now!

When is the best time to trekking in Ha Giang & Hoang Su Phi?

Each season in Ha Giang presents a different charm, but for those seeking an adventurous trekking experience, the period from October to March is highly recommended with desirable weather, crisp air, less rain, and dry trekking trails. Moreover, it’s a chance for you to gain a sight that will stay with you forever – golden rice terraces if you’re planning to visit Hoang Su Phi in October.

What to see & do in Ha Giang, Hoang Su Phi

Ha Giang is a vast province located in the northeastern mountainous region of Vietnam, bordering China. This is a land of rich and majestic natural landscapes, not only with challenging winding mountain passes with one side is a rocky mountain and the other is an abyss, or unparalleled sights like the Heaven’s Gate and the emerald river flowing like a silk ribbon at the foot of the pass, but also within the valley, there is the abundance and tranquility of rice terraces and hidden villages, home to 19 ethnic minority groups.

When exploring this vast land, we often explore it in two directions: West and East. The highlight of Western Ha Giang is Hoang Su Phi, an ideal destination for off-the-beaten-track trekking. The rest of the region houses a UNESCO-recognized Geopark, capturing everyone’s heart. Now, let’s visualize it more clearly with the map below and explore further in the next parts! 

Ha Giang province: Must-see destinations

West of Ha Giang, featured Hoang Su Phi trekking

Hoang Su Phi, a district about 100 kilometers west of Ha Giang city, is a hidden gem with enchanting beauty of terraced rice fields cultivated by the Dao, La Chi, Phu La, Tay, Nung, H’mong, and Pu Peo groups in the communes of Ban Phung, Ban Luoc, Ban Nhung, Nam Khoa, and more ancient villages. Until now, it remains as a less-known spot, so trek in Hoang Su Phi will bring any avid trekker to hidden villages of various ethnic groups through intermediate to difficult grading trekking trails! So, what can you admire through your trekking route?

Rice terraces

Surrounding your footsteps on the trekking trails are the vast and unparalleled terraced fields, especially during September – October – the golden season. Not inferior to Mu Cang Chai, regarded as the most worldwide beautiful terraced fields, the hundreds-year-old terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi also embellish the majestic beauty of the Northeastern mountains and showcase the skillful rice cultivation techniques of […]

Travel guide to Mu Cang Chai rice terrace in harvest season

Mu Cang Chai rice terraces are named as one of the 25 most incredible places in the world that look unreal but exist by Wonderlust Storytellers, Plus, in 2015, the golden terraced rice fields here were also recognized as one of the most worldwide beautiful landscapes by National Geographic with seasonal beauty alluring all travelers. 

Mu Cang Chai Rice Terrace

The upcoming time span (August – October) is the best time to enjoy the beauty of Mu Cang Chai, which will have charming changes from greenery to golden hue, bringing fertile beauty to vast fields. Along with that, authentic and amusing travel experiences are also awaiting you, let’s see below!

When is the best time to travel to Mu Cang Chai?

With DCT Responsible Travel, Mu Cang Chai is our homeland because we have supported it for years through a community-based tourism project in It Thai Village on the foot of Khau Pha Pass. Hence, we’re proud that we had many chances to experience the seasonal beauty of this land, not just the harvest season. 

Mu Cang Chai boasts vast rice terraces, mainly cultivated by H’Mong and Thai ethnic groups. They make two crops in a year with the main one drops in September and October. Based on this, let’s see the different features of this land in a year:

• March – May: A few areas in Khau Phạ have planted the first rice crop of the year, but overall, there isn’t much rice yet in Mu Cang Chai. Instead, you’ll see vast cornfields, and if you like, you can enjoy corn hand-on picked from those fields.
• May – June: This is the water pouring season in Mu Cang Chai, featuring terraced fields filled with water, like giant mirrors reflecting colorful nature. Some areas retain golden rice from the previous harvest, while in others, young seedlings start to be transplanted for the main crop of the year.
• July – August: This is the green rice season when the rice has matured, covering the land in a lush greenery hue. Young sticky rice, a specialty of Mu Cang Chai, is also harvested this time.
• September – October: Here is the worldwide famous ripening rice season, when the entire region is blanketed in a lush golden carpet of rice.
• November – February: After harvesting, this is a time span of the fellow season for both land and people to rest, relax and spend time with family and neighbors, and also prepare for Tết Festival (Lunar New Year).

How to get Mu Cang Chai? Where […]

Vietnam Rice Terraces: Deep Step Into Harvesting Season

Rice terraces in Vietnam during the harvest season allure every traveler who dreams of northern mountains of the country. August – October is the perfect time for you to immerse yourself in the beautiful golden carpet of ripe rice, but we believe you still have some considerations before embarking on a complete adventure.

Let’s find answers for a comprehensive trip during harvest season on our blog!

Top best places to see ripe rice terraces in Vietnam?

Maybe you will know some few famous names to admire the rice terraces, but Vietnam embraces more mysteries than that! You can find ripe rice throughout the northern mountainous region in this time span, but our team have selected some prominent destinations for you with overlapping terraces, beautiful shapes and impressive travel experiences.

• Mu Cang Chai – The most beautiful rice terraces in Vietnam harvest season
• Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang – Destination for trekking through rice terraced fields
• Sapa – Photographing route in the Northern mountain of Vietnam 
• Pu Luong Nature Reserve – Rice terraces near Hanoi

Let’s take a look at these above names and keep surfing to take a deep insight into features of each land (weather, golden time and travel experiences). We hope that you will find a suitable spot for you based on below detailed information. And now, get started with us!

Best places to see ripe rice terraces in Vietnam

Where to go and what to do in rice harvest season in Vietnam 2024?

Mu Cang Chai – The most beautiful rice terraces in Vietnam harvest season

According to National Geographic magazine, Mu Cang Chai is one of the most beautiful rice terraces in the world that embraces iconic rice terrace shapes. In each season, Mu Cang Chai boasts its own unique beauty and colors. In August, the terraces are mostly covered in lush green, and the golden time will drop from late August to October. The temperature during this period averages between 15-23°C, refreshing, and heavy rains (or storms) often occur in late September and October (it is noted that you should check the weather or ask a local tour operator before you go).

Golden time in Mu Cang Chai – August to October

Plus, it is undeniable that golden season is the peak season in Mu Cang Chai, making it very crowded. However, don’t worry! Traveling with DCT Responsible Travel, we will take you to our beloved small village at the bottom of Khau Pha Pass, an off-the-beaten-track spot that very few travelers know about. As a sustainable community-based tourism project that we have been committed to for many years, local people here also are our friends, and we are proud to […]