Travel to Moc Chau – Discover Useful Travel Experiences in Moc Chau for an Incredible Trip. Explore Famous Landmarks and Enjoy Exciting Activities Here. Plan your journey to Moc Chau and indulge in the wonderful moments in this Northwestern region of Vietnam.
I. Introducing Moc Chau
Moc Chau is a mountainous and border plateau district located in the Southeast of Son La province, 180km Northwest of Hanoi. With a natural area of 1,081.66 km2, accounting for 7.49% of Son La province, it ranks eighth among the 12 districts and cities of the province. Moc Chau is traversed by National Highway 6 and 43, and shares a border road with Laos spanning 40.6 km.
Moc Chau experiences all four distinct seasons, with a notable feature being its mild and cool highland climate year-round. The average temperature is around 18-20°C, with an average annual rainfall of 1,500-1,600 mm and an average humidity of 85%.
(Ảnh: Internet)
II. When is the best time to visit Moc Chau for tourism?
Moc Chau is a must-see destination for those who love to admire the beauty of flowers. Here are the best times to visit Moc Chau:
2.1 Peach and plum blossom season: January, February (lunar calendar)
Moc Chau is known as the paradise of flowers, especially peach and plum blossoms. Around 15 days after Tet, the local peach and plum trees in Long Luong and Van Ho Commune will start blooming.
2.2 White ban flower season: March, April
December is the season of white mustard flowers, January and February are when cherry blossoms and apricots bloom, and March is the time for the white ban flowers in Moc Chau.
2.3 Moc Chau ripe plum season: May, June
There are two famous places in Moc Chau to pick plums. Na Ka valley is about 20km from the town, and Mu Nau valley is a lesser-known place that can be difficult to find.
2.4 Moc Chau ripe Fuji apple season: August
Moc Chau is famous for the sweet and juicy Fuji apples, which can be eaten immediately after picking.
2.5 Mong ethnic Independence Day: September
On September 2nd, every year, the Mong people from all around the province gather in Moc Chau town to celebrate their Independence Day.
2.6 Buckwheat flower season: October, November
October and November are the time to see the white buckwheat flowers, which cover the hills and valleys of Moc Chau.
White mustard flower and wild sunflower season: November, December
November and December are the seasons of white mustard flowers and wild sunflowers, creating a stunning view of the vast fields of white flowers.
(Ảnh: Sưu tầm)
III. Means of transportation to Moc Chau
3.1 Motorbike
To get to Moc Chau by motorbike, follow the route from Hanoi to Thang Long Boulevard, then turn left to Xuan Mai and take National Highway 6 to Hoa Binh. When you approach the center of Hoa Binh, there will be a sign directing you to Son La. Follow the road up to Cun, and then continue straight on National Highway 6 until you reach Cao Phong. From there, just keep going straight. Along the way, you will pass through Thung Khe, so be sure to stop and take some photos. This is a beautiful spot that you don’t want to miss when you’re on your way to Moc Chau.
3.2 Bus
You can catch a bus at My Dinh Bus Station, which runs regularly and continuously from 9am to 10pm. The ticket price ranges from 120k to 150k per person. Some reputable bus companies you can consider include Hai Van, which specializes in providing buses from Hanoi to Moc Chau, Hai Nam, Ket Doan, Ngoc Thuan, Tuan Hien, and others.
IV. Places to visit in Moc Chau?
4.1 Moc Chau Plateau
Location: Moc Chau District, Son La Province.
Moc Chau Plateau is known for its extremely pleasant atmosphere and beautiful scenery all year round. Here, you can visit tea hills, picturesque villages, and beautiful flower seasons of peach blossoms, plum blossoms, and cabbage flowers. To be honest, Moc Chau Plateau is currently the most beautiful plateau in the Northwest region.
4.2 Ban Long Luong
Ban Long Luong is located on National Highway 6, and from the high pass, you can see the small houses below in the valley. During the season, the whole valley is immersed in the pure white color of plum blossoms and peach blossoms, and the pink color of cherry blossoms. The road to the village is quite small and stony, but both sides of the road are filled with fragrant flowers, making the scenery alluring.
4.3 Ang Pine Forest
Location: Ban Ang, Dong Sang Commune, Moc Chau District, Son La Province
Located right in the center of Moc Chau town, the Ang Pine Forest covers an area of about 60 hectares, making it an ideal place for a quiet weekend getaway. Here, there are camping tent rental services, homestays, and campfire services for groups of people.
4.4 Dai Yem Waterfall
The waterfall is located in Muong Sang Commune, Moc Chau District, Son La Province. From afar, the waterfall looks like a beautiful and gentle scarf connecting the sky and the earth. The waterfall is most beautiful from around May to September, when the water is abundant and creates a magnificent scene.
4.5 Ba Phach Cabbage Garden
This cabbage garden is about 5 km from the town center, and the road is a bit difficult, but there are a lot of white cabbages here. The most beautiful scenery is from November to the Tet holiday season because this is the time when the cabbage flowers bloom most and are most beautiful here.
4.6 Heart-shaped Tea Hill
Location: Ban On, Moc Chau Farm Town, Moc Chau District, Son La Province
There are many heart-shaped tea hills for you to explore here. The Taiwan Tea Hill (the nearest one is about 10 km from the town), Tan Lap 3 Tea Hill, and Moc Suong Tea Hill are the most popular tourist attractions. From above, the clusters of tea bushes are shaped into romantic heart shapes. The tea hill area is quite large, making any photo taken here full of green color.
4.7 Na Ka Plum Valley
Located on the way to Tan Lap Commune, about 5 km from Moc Chau Farm Town, Na Ka Plum Valley is a famous place to visit during the plum blossom season. The whole valley is covered in the pink color of plum blossoms, creating a dreamy and romantic scene.
4.8 Strawberry Garden
Not only in Dalat, but this land also grows strawberries. Located about 1km from the Bản Áng eco-tourism area, you can visit the strawberry garden and pick ripe fruits with your own hands, enjoying them right on the spot.
4.9 Pha Luong Peak
Location: Chieng Son Commune, Moc Chau District, Son La Province
Although not as tall or majestic as other northern mountains, Pha Luong Peak is considered the “roof of Moc Chau”. Pha Luong Peak is seen as a natural boundary between Vietnam and Laos, and the peak is not too high, so it is suitable for those who want to conquer it in a day. To conquer Pha Luong Peak, it takes about 6km, and when you reach the top, you can observe the panoramic view of the majestic mountain forest, the village, and the vegetation of the two countries of Vietnam and Laos.
4.10 Love Glass Bridge
Location: Muong Sang, Moc Chau, Son La
This is a modern 5D technology glass bridge that is famous, using transparent glass panels underneath. When stepping on it, visitors will feel surprised as if they are floating in mid-air, while still being able to admire the entire natural scenery below the bridge. This is definitely one of the Moc Chau tourist destinations that you cannot miss.
V. What to eat in Moc Chau?
5.1 Nậm pịa
Nậm pịa is a very special dish in Moc Chau, Son La. It is made from the main ingredients of buffalo, cow, or goat organs, including the part that contains dung. Nậm pịa is often preferred as a snack during special occasions in Moc Chau’s highlands.
5.2 Stream fish
The round-shaped stream fish in Moc Chau is processed into many different dishes, but the most delicious one is grilled fish, also known as “lam nho”.
After being processed, the fish is marinated with special forest vegetables to create a unique flavor and aroma, such as lemongrass, chili, etc., and then tightly clamped on bamboo skewers. It is then grilled over a charcoal fire for about 15 minutes until it turns golden and fragrant. Stream fish is often accompanied by various fresh forest vegetables, such as lettuce, small shredded cabbage, mixed with herbs, and mint to create a refreshing taste.
5.3 Cải Mèo
With cải mèo, you don’t need to be too fancy to create the difference in taste between each cabbage. Just boil a pot of cabbage, add sliced ginger and you will remember that flavor forever.
In addition, cải mèo is also prepared with pork, beef, especially smoked pork and beef wrapped in cabbage. When visiting Moc Chau, at any restaurant, you can easily order cải mèo to enjoy.
5.4 Mán Mộc Châu Sweet Potatoes
Khoai sọ grown by the Dao people is the most genuine and delicious. This is not only a specialty dish sold in many shops for tourists to enjoy but also a popular gift. Mán Mộc Châu sweet potatoes are usually harvested and sold from July to October, November every year.
Buffalo meat, pork, and sausages hanging above the stove
In Moc Chau, and the Northwest region in general, this is a must-try dish that everyone has heard of. The carefully selected meat pieces are dried on small stoves, which will surely bring the peaceful atmosphere of Moc Chau to your home.
5.5 Five-color sticky rice
Five-color sticky rice is a traditional food of ethnic people in the northern mountainous region such as Tay, Dao, etc. The bundles of five-color sticky rice symbolize the five elements of the universe and are carefully selected to bring the best quality dishes to visitors. Each ethnic group and each region chooses a specific ingredient to make the unique five-color sticky rice dish.
VI. Hotels and Guesthouses in Moc Chau?
If you prefer modern and luxurious spaces, Sao Xanh, Thao Nguyen, and Cong Doan hotels are some good options with beautiful rooms and a variety of entertainment services that will make you feel comfortable and relaxed. Room rates at these hotels range from 400,000 VND to 1,500,000 VND per room per night.
For those who enjoy experiencing sleeping on a traditional wooden floor or want to save on costs, homestays or eco-guesthouses are available. Located right next to the Ang pine forest, Moc Chau Moc homestay has a simple, rustic design that is close to nature and environmentally friendly, combined with modern amenities that will make you feel most comfortable when choosing to stay here. Additionally, the host of the house also cleverly displays everyday items of the Thai people as a small museum for tourists to learn more about the daily life of the local people.
