Explore

Moc Chau – Paradise on Earth: A Complete Travel Guide from A to Z

Located approximately 200 km from the center of Hanoi and taking about 4 hours by car, Moc Chau is always known as an ideal tourist destination in the North, with a special attraction when the cherry blossoms bloom in the early spring every year.

Administrator

17 March, 2024

104

When is the best time to visit Moc Chau?

Moc Chau experiences four peaceful seasons with a cool climate, and the beauty of nature is adorned by the diversity of flowers and fruits throughout the year. In January, the plateau is covered in the fresh green of blooming tea hills, along with the colors of cherry blossoms, apricots, plums, and peaches.

Around mid-May, ripe plums can be found in orchards, marking the busy harvest season for local residents and the time when traders from the lowlands come to purchase them. Although summer is not the time for flower blooming or strawberry harvest, the cool climate and outdoor activities make it an ideal time for picnics.

From August to December every year, Moc Chau enters the ripe plum season, with early ripe plums from August to October, followed by the extended sour plum season till the end of the year.

November marks the beginning of the radish season, followed by the proud blooming of bright yellow wild sunflowers, creating a vibrant and lively Moc Chau plateau in December.

Moc Chau experiences four peaceful seasons with a cool climate

Getting there

Moc Chau is about 200 km from the capital city of Hanoi. For those who enjoy traveling by motorbike, taking the old National Road 6 is an interesting choice due to the attractive scenery on both sides of the road, although caution is required when driving on imperfect roads. This journey can take from 4 to 5 hours to complete.

During the journey, travelers will pass through a beautiful S-shaped road in Van Ho district. This is an ideal stop for those who are passionate about wandering and capturing memorable photos.

For traveling by bus, passengers can choose Sơn La Province-bound buses from Mỹ Đình or Yên Nghĩa bus stations and get off at Moc Chau. The fare for high-quality buses is about 200,000 VND.

If you drive, the road will be easier with wider and less hilly roads. But it is important to adhere to the speed limits and pay attention to the rules when overtaking other vehicles. In summer, despite less fog, visibility can be limited in rainy weather. Especially, the Thung Khe area may have dense fog.

Moc Chau is about 200 km from the capital city of Hanoi

Accommodation

In Moc Chau, there are various accommodation options, from guesthouses to homestays. To ensure a good room in peak travel times, tourists should make reservations in advance by phone. You could choose between an eco-resort, with serene mountain landscapes and peaceful lakes, or experience a homestay-style stay living amongst the local community. The cost for overnight stays can range from 200,000 to 300,000 VND, but there are also cheaper options.

Some homestays with relaxing and worthwhile spaces to try include MAMA’s House, Le Chalet du Lac, Fairy House Moc Chau, House By Lake, The Nordic Village, and Moc Chau Retreat, with room prices ranging from 300,000 to 1,000,000 VND per night.

What to do

To fully experience the beauty of Moc Chau, two days may be enough for a quick trip. However, if you have more time, 3 to 4 days would be an ideal timeframe. During this time, you will have the opportunity to explore and take beautiful photos at interesting attractions. Additionally, you can also extend your trip to nearby attractions such as Thung Nai, Mai Chau, or visit the Hoa Binh hydroelectric power plant.

Rung Thong Ban Ang

The vast pine forest, covering an area of over 43 hectares, is located in Ban Ang, Dong Sang commune, Moc Chau district, Son La province. It is about 2 km from the center of Moc Chau town along National Road 43. The pine forest consists of tall pine trees on reddish-brown hills and a clear blue lake. This is an ideal destination for those who want to experience camping in northern Vietnam.

The pine forest consists of tall pine trees on reddish-brown hills and a clear blue lake

Mu Nau Plum Valley

In early May, the plums in Mu Nau start to ripen, becoming round, juicy, and no longer green like plums in other places such as Na Ka or Phieng Khoang. Since the road to Mu Nau is somewhat difficult, it is recommended to use a manual motorbike instead of an automatic scooter. In case you rent a motorbike that is not strong enough, it is better to travel alone on one bike to ensure safety. When you reach the plum orchard, you have the opportunity to visit, pick plums yourself, and take photos. However, remember not to pick green plums to ensure the environment and crops are not affected.

The cost of a motorbike taxi service is about 120,000 VND per person. The entrance fee is 20,000 VND per person.

Sunflower Garden

A new destination in Moc Chau that is attracting attention is a hidden valley nestled among vast mountains, and due to a lack of clear signs, finding this place can be somewhat difficult. From the town, follow National Road 6 towards Son La, and when passing the landmark at Kilometer 106, you will come across an uphill road, which is the entrance to this magical sunflower valley. By early May, the flowers here start to bloom, and just a week later, the valley will become vibrant, creating a fantastic backdrop for memorable photos. The entrance fee is 30,000 VND per person.

Moc Chau Tea Hills

The town of Moc Chau in Son La province showcases a tranquil beauty with lush green tea hills surrounding it. The distance from the district center to Moc Chau Farm is only 7 km, where you can admire the tea hills or the vast green grasslands. Other popular attractions for tourists are the S-shaped tea hill and the heart-shaped tea hill, located along the route to Ngu Dong Ban On, about 15 km from Moc Chau Farm town.

Chieng Khoa Waterfall

The road to the waterfall is a dirt path, followed by a series of vertically standing steps near the water pumping station. After overcoming 200 steps, you will encounter an environmental sanitation fee collector before continuing your journey to visit and take photos at the waterfall.

Local residents provide boat rental services for tourists to have fun and take pictures without being limited to the shore. Female visitors can choose attire in the boho style or maxi dresses with accessories to create impressive photos. However, as the path to the waterfall is quite treacherous, wearing high heels is not recommended, and it is best to start the journey in the morning to avoid the noon heat.

The environmental sanitation fee is 10,000 VND per person. The parking fee is 10,000 VND per vehicle. The boat rental service is priced at 30,000 VND per person, or 10,000 VND per person for taking photos only.

Fairy Waterfall

Fairy Waterfall is made up of three tiers, each with its own unique beauty. The first tier showcases a serene beauty with a shallow water lake, allowing visitors to cool off. To reach the second tier, visitors will follow the flowing water upwards, although the journey may be somewhat challenging, it is worth it for the opportunity to capture impressive photos with a background of cascading waterfalls flowing into a crystal-clear pool of water. The second and third tiers are deeper and have moss-covered slippery rocks, making them dangerous to traverse, so visitors need to be cautious. The total height from the foot of the waterfall to the third tier is estimated to be about 150 meters.

From the center of Moc Chau town, the journey to Fairy Waterfall begins with a 25-km route along National Road 43. When you encounter the sign “Thac Nang Tien 2km,” it is advisable to turn right and continue straight to reach the waterfall. Moreover, if you continue 2 km along this route, you will reach Chieng Khoa Waterfall.

The ideal time to explore Fairy Waterfall is from March to May when the weather transition from spring to summer. The entrance fee to the waterfall is 20,000 VND per person. For motorbike parking, the fee is 5,000 VND per motorcycle, while for cars it is 20,000 VND per vehicle. Apart from enjoying the scenery, visitors also have the opportunity to take check-in photos on wooden boats at the third tier of the waterfall, with a boat rental fee of 10,000 VND per person.

Dai Yem Waterfall

Dai Yem Waterfall, located on the Vat stream, is where two streams flowing from Ban Vat, the homeland of the ancient Thai community, come together. On the way to the waterfall, visitors will pass the Ho Hen stream. With a height of over 100 m, the waterfall is divided into two areas: the upstream area has 9 tiers of water and the downstream area has 5 tiers, with both being separated by a flat area, ideal for fun activities and admiring the beautiful scenery.

Notable here are the diverse rock formations, creating a flow of water through multiple layers of rock before pouring into the lake below, providing a sensation of more than just rushing water but flowing gently like a white silk ribbon. The entrance fee to the waterfall is 100,000 VND per person. This area is also very convenient with the presence of many restaurants and drinking water facilities.

Dai Yem Waterfall, located on the Vat stream, is where two streams flowing from Ban Vat come together

Dong Co 68 Grassland

The Dong Co 68 grassland is becoming a popular destination for young people in Moc Chau, with beautiful check-in photos. This place was originally a grass hill planted to provide food for dairy cows.

To explore this location, start from Quan Lau De 68, then turn left and continue moving forward, and you will come across lush green grasslands. However, before taking photos, remember to ask for permission from the landowner.

The most ideal time to take sparkling photos is from 5 pm onward, when the sunset starts to spread its light. The sunlight at this time is gentle but still bright enough to capture memorable moments.

From the center of Moc Chau, go towards Tan Lap commune, about 3 km to the 26/7 hamlet, and you will turn right onto a small road. Continue moving about 1 km, and you will reach the grassland. This road is suitable for all types of transportation.

Nguyen Thuy Village

Moc Chau always holds beautiful secrets, and the hidden village nestled in Hang Tau valley, belonging to Ta So 2 village, Chieu Hac commune, is an undiscovered destination for many people. The village has a pristine and unspoiled beauty, reflected in its poetic name. With 15 local families living here, the village is where livestock such as buffalo, cows, pigs, and chickens are grazing in large divided areas.

When deciding to explore this village, you need a local guide from the residents because the entrance is hidden and lacks clear signs. The village entrance road requires confident driving skills, so it is not recommended to use scooters due to many steep roads. However, all the difficulties in the journey will be rewarded when you set foot in the village and witness its true beauty.

Pha Luong Peak

Located about 30 km from Moc Chau town, Pha Luong Peak is known as the “roof” of this area, standing tall on the border between Vietnam and Laos. To hike from the foot of the mountain at the Pha Luong border guard station to the top of Moc Chau, hikers need to spend from 3 to 4 hours. The height of Pha Luong is over 2,000 meters above sea level. The road to the summit of Pha Luong is not easy but a truly challenging venture for those who want to conquer and explore. Standing on the mountaintop, you can admire and feel the magnificent beauty of the sky, clouds, and the majestic wind.

Food and Drinks

Along the main road of the town, where National Road 6 intersects, a series of eateries and restaurants have sprung up, serving not only specialties such as plums, tea, and milk but also other attractive local dishes of Moc Chau. Famous for its diverse cuisine, the dishes you should not miss when visiting this place include grilled beef, deep-fried stream fish, various ways of cooked catfish, salmon hot pot, pork blood pudding, buffalo meat, vegetables with fish sauce, and multicolored rice.

To enjoy milk-fed beef, you can visit restaurants such as Dong Hai, Xuan Bac 181, Nam Hung 70, Lan Hong 64, or Be Quan Moc Chau. Another interesting culinary experience is trying Moc Chau fresh milk hotpot. The hotpot broth, simmered from bones and various vegetables, is then mixed with a sufficient amount of milk to create a characteristic creamy color and a gentle aroma. Corn is added to enhance the natural sweetness. When the hotpot boils, the layer of milk on top will thicken, bringing a rich and enticing taste. At this point, the hotpot broth has reached its best taste for enjoyment.

In recent years, Moc Chau has also become known as a producer of high-quality strawberries, on par with products from Japan and Korea, thanks to the application of Japanese technology in cultivation. When winter comes, the farms here enter the strawberry harvest season when the red ripe fruit is temptingly attractive with its sweet and sour taste. Trying them with Moc Chau yogurt is an unforgettable experience. In summer, after the plum season, strawberry season comes with its own unique scent.

When visiting Moc Chau, you can also buy tea, milk, strawberry jam, corn, and corn wine as gifts from well-known points of sale such as the intersection at Km 73 near the town center, the area around hamlet 32 and Bo Bun, the intersection at Km 70, the apricot valley intersection, or Chieng Bi hamlet.

Coffee

Moc Chau has coffee shops with attractive scenery such as Rio Coffee & Tea Skyview, Doi Gio Wind Chill, Moc Coffee, Tom’s Garden Coffee & More, Doi Garden Coffee & Chill, with prices ranging from 40,000 to 60,000 VND per drink.

For those looking for an impressive check-in spot in Moc Chau, Lan Que Phuong Cafe is an unmissable choice. This cafe recreates the vibrant atmosphere of a bustling Hong Kong street and is located at address number 165 in hamlet 6 of the town. The drink prices here range from 25,000 to 50,000 VND per type.

Note

In Moc Chau, during the day, the weather is usually warm under the sun, but at night, the temperature drops significantly, and fog often appears. To keep warm and protect your health, make sure to bring warm clothing. Before setting off, remember to check your vehicle lights to ensure safety.

Protect the environment, do not litter, avoid trampling on local residents’ cabbage fields, do not climb trees or break branches from peach trees, plum trees, or flower branches.

Frequently asked questions

Moc Chau is located about 200 kilometers from Hanoi. If you’re adventurous and enjoy motorbike travel, the old National Road 6 offers an interesting journey with attractive scenery along the way. This trip will take around 4 to 5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Mỹ Đình or Yên Nghĩa bus stations to Sơn La Province and get off at Moc Chau. Bus fares for high-quality buses are around 200,000 VND. If you prefer to drive, the road is wider and less hilly, but adhere to speed limits and be cautious when overtaking.

Moc Chau offers a range of accommodation options to suit different budgets and preferences. You can choose from guesthouses, eco-resorts, and homestays. For a serene experience, eco-resorts offer mountain landscapes and peaceful lakeside settings. Homestays are also popular, allowing you to live amongst the local community. Overnight stays can range from 200,000 to 300,000 VND, but there are also cheaper and more luxurious options available. Some recommended homestays include MAMA’s House, Le Chalet du Lac, and Moc Chau Retreat.

To fully experience Moc Chau, we recommend spending at least two days, but three to four days would be ideal. During your stay, explore attractions such as the vast Rung Thong Ban Ang pine forest, the Mu Nau Plum Valley, the Sunflower Garden, and the iconic Moc Chau Tea Hills. Visit the Chieng Khoa Waterfall, where you can rent a boat and take impressive photos. Don’t miss the Fairy Waterfall, with its three tiers of unique beauty, and the Dai Yem Waterfall, located on the Vat stream. For a hidden gem, visit Nguyen Thuy Village, a pristine village nestled in the Hang Tau valley. If you’re feeling adventurous, hike to Pha Luong Peak, the “roof” of Moc Chau, offering breathtaking views from over 2,000 meters above sea level.

Moc Chau is famous for its diverse cuisine and local specialties. Be sure to try grilled beef, deep-fried stream fish, catfish cooked in various styles, salmon hot pot, pork blood pudding, and buffalo meat. Moc Chau beef chao is a local delicacy. You can also enjoy fresh milk hotpot, where the broth is mixed with milk for a creamy, aromatic experience. In recent years, Moc Chau has become known for its high-quality strawberries, which you can pair with Moc Chau yogurt for an unforgettable treat. The town also offers a range of coffee shops with attractive scenery, such as Rio Coffee & Tea Skyview and Lan Que Phuong Cafe.

Moc Chau experiences significant temperature changes between day and night, so bring warm clothing. The weather can be sunny during the day, but it gets cold at night, and fog is common. Check your vehicle lights before your journey and adhere to speed limits. Respect the environment by not littering, avoiding trampling on cabbage fields, and refraining from climbing or breaking branches from fruit and flower trees.