The Best Travel Guide of Yen Bai Vietnam 2023

Yen Bai is a mountainous province with diverse natural scenery and many attractive places to visit such as Tham Le cave (Van Chan), Thac Ba lake, Giang stream eco-tourism, Muong Lo field, ancient relics network of war zones Van, Cang Don, Nghia Lo... Yen Bai province has many ethnic minorities and each ethnic group has its own cultural identity, making it a great destination for tourists. So what was Yen Bai, let's find out everything in Yen Bai, Vietnam - The Best Travel Guide of Yen Bai Vietnam 2023.

1. What need to know before traveling to Yen Bai

1.1 Where is Yen Bai?

Yen Bai is a mountainous province in the North, located in the center of the mountainous and midland areas of Northern Vietnam, to the Northwest bordering Lao Cai and regions of Lai Chau; The provinces of Ha Giang and Tuyen Quang are bordered by the East and Northeast, by the Southeast's Phu Tho province, and by the West's Son La province.

1.2 How to get to Yen Bai from Hanoi

From the Central or the South, to go to Yen Bai, you have to take a plane or train to Hanoi. The number 1 option is always to go by plane, which is both fast and healthy. If you want to save money, you can "hunt" cheap flight tickets to Hanoi on Traveloka. Popular flight routes to Hanoi with reference fares are as follows:

- Flight from Saigon to Hanoi: The fare includes taxes and fees for this flight segment can range from 800,000 to 1,700,000 VND.

- Flight from Hue to Hanoi: The price ranges from 600,000 - 1,300,000 VND/one way

- The route from Dong Hoi to Hanoi: The average fare ranges from 851,000 VND - 1,300,000 VND

- Can Tho to Hanoi route: The average fare ranges from VND 1,200,000 - VND 2,500,000

There are numerous methods to go to Yen Bai from Hanoi. If you'd like to travel by rail, you can either board the YB3 train, which travels directly to Yen Bai, or the SP1-SP3 train, which stops at the Yen Bai station on its way to Lao Cai.

A sleeper bus ride to Yen Bai is also an option. However, if you wish to visit Nghia Lo, Van Chan, Mu Cang Chai, or Yen Bai, you should look for a bus route that runs through Lai Chau. With more financial conditions and traveling in groups, you can absolutely rent a tourist car. If you are a genuine backpacker, it goes without saying that you will hit the road by motorbike. But remember to prepare carefully to ensure safety in your journey to conquer the Northwest!

1.3 History

At the end of the nineteenth century, after invading Vietnam, the French colonialists carried out "pacification" of our country, they placed Yen Bai in the army of the army (1891-1900). On April 11, 1900, the French colonialists established Yen Bai province, including Tran Yen government, 2 districts of Van Chan, Van Ban and provincial town located in Yen Bai village. So, what happened in Yen Bai?

During the resistance war against the US for national salvation, the Party Committee, government and people of Yen Bai ethnic groups continued to promote the tradition of heroism, dynamism, creativity, self-reliance and self-reliance in the revolutionary war. Use all your strength and wisdom to overcome difficulties, fight to protect the homeland, overcome the consequences, and heal the wounds of war; together with the whole country to provide aid to the South, contributing to the victory of the resistance war against the US and reunifying the country.

After more than 30 years of implementing the renovation policy, especially since the re-establishment of the province (1991), despite facing difficulties and challenges, the Party Committee, authorities and people of ethnic groups in the province have raised high spirit of solidarity, self-reliance, self-reliance, maximum mobilization of internal resources, resolute resistance to conservative ideology, dependence, subsidies, mobilizing and taking advantage of all resources for investment and development, striving for speed high and steady growth rate, taking industry and tourism as a breakthrough to promote economic development.

2. What is the best time to visit Yen Bai?

Yen Bai tourism has 2 beautiful seasons that you should not miss. The ripe rice season begins in the middle of September and continues into the middle of October. At this time, the rice will be bright yellow everywhere, the weather will be beautiful, and it is convenient to visit this location. The summer rains start to pour on the mountains around May or June, and the water is led from the slopes to the terraces during this time, the terraces sparkled with water as they basked in the late-afternoon light. The beauty makes many visitors surprised.

When visitors come to Mu Cang Chai terraced rice fields even for a single visit, they also experience the uniqueness of culture, the warmth of humanity, and the richness of nature. Despite its length and difficulty, the road to Mu Cang Chai terraces is very interesting. Visitors have arrived at the winding and meandering roads on the steep hillsides rather than the vast Muong Lo field filled with thousands of white banyan flowers, where the scenery changes constantly.

3. Top “must-visit” attractions in Yen Bai

3.1 Mu Cang Chai

3.1.1 How to get to Mu Cang Chai from Yen Bai city?

If you are far away to travel to Mu Cang Chai, maybe in Ho Chi Minh, then book a plane ticket to Noi Bai airport. When coming to Hanoi, you can take a bus or taxi to the center of Hanoi to rest and eat. Then move down to Mu Cang Chai terraces because Yen Bai does not have an airport for tourists, only an airport for a military base.

- From Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai by motorbike or car is fine. If you go by motorbike to Mu Cang Chai, it will take 8-9 hours.

- From Hanoi, traveling by private car or bus will be faster to Mu Cang Chai terraces. However, you should rent a motorbike to go to be more active.

3.1.2 Best things to do in Mu Cang Chai

Coming to Mu Cang Chai terraces even once, visitors also feel the richness of nature, the uniqueness of culture, the warmth of humanity. Although the road to Mu Cang Chai is far and difficult, it is very interesting. Visitors have not had time to view all of the Thai stilt houses in the large Muong Lo field with hundreds of white banyan blossoms, but have instead come to the twisting and meandering roads on the steep slopes.

High peaks like Pung Luong, Phu Ba, Mo De, and others have been produced for Mu Cang Chai by geological movements. The "four great mountain passes" in the Northwest's Khau Pha pass include this highest peak, which is shrouded in a sea of circling clouds and has a chilly environment all year long. Additionally, Cao Pha Pass is ranked as the fourth-most stunning location in the world for paragliding, adventure games, and thrill-seekers and enjoy the view. Experience a game of paragliding to explore the amazing natural beauty of heaven and earth from the air. Visitors will notice the elevation shift as they travel from this point onward from one pass to the next and from one mountain to another. Stunning terraced fields line both sides of the road, leaving everyone of us speechless and amazed.

3.2 Tu Le Valley

3.2.1 How to get Tu Le Valley from Hanoi

From Hanoi and other northern provinces, you can choose to travel by motorbike or by bus. And to make it easier to schedule, check out Tu Le's travel experience when choosing the means of transportation suggested by many of you below:

Bus: You can buy a Limousine ticket from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai terraces and go for about 7 hours with a ticket price of about 250,000 - 350,000 VND. Popular bus operators that you can choose from are: Anh Khang, Authentic, Cuong Lan,...When you come to Nghia Lo hotel, you will rent a motorbike or motorbike taxi to get to Tu Le.

Private car or car rental: Currently, there is a highway Hanoi - Lao Cai, then go to Yen Bai city, so you can rent a passenger car or drive your own car to go. Just six hours are needed to get there.

Motorcycle: For those of you who like to travel, you can also take this opportunity to experience. With only 6 hours, you can see the beauty of nature, especially can feel the aroma of rice, sticky rice and nuggets when coming to Tu Le, nothing is more wonderful.

For those of you in the South who miss the typical beauty of the Northwest, you can book a flight to Hanoi with a flight time of only 2 hours and a ticket price of about VND 1,000,000 via Vietjet airlines. Air, Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways,... If you want to save more, please choose Price Alerts to have more choices about cheap air tickets. And according to Tu Le travel experience, from the airport you can book 9-seat Limousines such as Daily, Golden, Nam Thang with ticket price of 300,000 - 340,000 VND and take about 1 hour 30 to arrive.

3.2.2 Best things to do in Tu Le valley

Tu Le is a large valley in Van Chan district, Yen Bai district, located under 3 mountain ranges Khau Pha, Khau Song and Khau Than with an area of ​​nearly 3,000 hectares. This place is known for the charming Northwest scenery, in the fall there are specialties of fragrant sticky rice and natural hot mineral springs.

Tu Le's graceful beauty is often compared to "Thanh Son, Bich Thuy". Sheltered by three mountains Khau Pha, Khau Than, Khau Song Phap coincide, this place has a beautiful beauty, each season will have its own characteristic color. If May and June are the season to flood the valley, September and October here are flooded with the yellow color of terraced fields. The terraced fields in Tu Le have a peaceful beauty, looking down from above you will fully capture the scenery of the sky and the mountains.

Besides the beauty of the beautiful nature, this place is also favored by the hot springs all year round. Hot mineral spring in Chao village is located in the middle of the commune in Tu Le, hot mineral water flows from the ground up, always kept at a temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, which is very good for human health.

Besides the natural scenery that captivates visitors, the culture and charming people here also leave a special mark. Tu Le has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Thai, Mong and Dao ethnic groups, and is also a land with rich cultural colors. Coming here, you will learn about the daily life of the people, see all kinds of impressive brocade musical instruments, agricultural tools, cardamom, and medlar. What could be more wonderful when setting foot on the Northwest highland, watching the poetic nature in every afternoon and experiencing the daily life of the people here.

3.3 La Pan Tan

3.3.1 How to get La Pan Tan from Nghia Lo Town, Yen Bai

Starting from Nghia Lo town, Yen Bai province, you will have to cross a road about 84km to the West according to the suggestion from the Google Maps navigation application. Although the distance is far, but the road is quite simple, you only need to follow a single road, Highway 32, to get there!

3.3.2 Best things to do in Nghia Lo

La Pan Tan is a commune in Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai province, Vietnam. It borders Che Cu Nha and Cao Pha communes to the north, Cao Pha commune to the east, Pung Luong to the south, De Xu Phinh and Che Cu Nha communes to the west. The place is destined to have the most terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai terraces with 700 hectares. With a cool highland climate, the average annual temperature falls around 19 degrees Celsius. Early in April until early September is the time it rains. The population here is mainly H'Mong.

Coming to the raspberry hill in the late afternoon is also ideal because this place is tinged with romantic purple sunsets and is very poetic. This place also owns many immense flower fields such as wild peach flowers or typical mustard flowers. Especially the field of white buckwheat buckwheat flowers in the whole area. Just coming here and hiding in the flower fields is enough to be indescribable.

La Pan Tan Mu Cang Chai raspberry hill is also attractive with the wild and majestic beauty of Phu Nhu waterfall. A natural waterfall with strong splashes of water, splashing white sponges continuously. A picture painted by nature that can't be found anywhere else.

3.4 Thac Ba Lake

3.4.1 How to get to Thac Ba lake from Yen Bai city

To be able to move to the lake to visit and experience, visitors can choose to rent a motorbike in Yen Bai for about 200,000 VND/day. In the process of moving, you should check the map to avoid getting lost. For tourists who want to ensure safety and convenience, they can choose a taxi to travel. However, this vehicle is quite expensive compared to motorbikes, so you can consider it.

3.4.2 Best things to do in Thac Ba lake

Located on the territory of two districts of Yen Binh and Luc Yen of Yen Bai province, Thac Ba lake has an area of ​​nearly 20,000 hectares, with more than 1,300 large and small islands, and limestone mountains floating on the waves. , with a system of beautiful caves hidden deep in the mountain. Coming to Thac Ba Lake, visitors can enjoy watching the vast sea of water, the immense islands of trees reflecting on the blue lake surface.

Visiting Thac Ba Lake, you will have the opportunity to take a boat trip around the peaceful lake, feel the cool atmosphere from the clear blue water, and watch the smooth green forests on the rolling islands. jutting out under the great clouds, one island after another seemed to be endless.

The lake also attracts tourists by the rich cultural identity of the Tay, Nung, Mong, Dao, Phu La, Cao Lan communities... living along the lake. Every year, they together organize special festivals such as the New Rice Festival when the weather turns to autumn, the special ceremony of the Northwest region, the New Year dance with traditional folk dances...

3.5 Suoi Giang

3.5.1 How to get to Suoi Giang from Yen Bai city or Hanoi

Suoi Giang is a highland commune in Yen Bai province about 12 km from the city center and about 200 km from Hanoi. You can travel to Yen Bai by bus or motorbike, and fortunately for us, the road from Hanoi to Yen Bai is far away but relatively flat, so traveling is quite convenient and convenient. fast.

- By bus: Catch the bus at My Dinh bus station for about 150.00 VND/person.

- Motorbike: Suoi Giang trip by motorbike from Hanoi -> go in the direction of Son Tay -> cross Trung Ha bridge -> go to Tam Nong town (Phu Tho) -> go along the Red River to Van Phu bridge (Yen Bai).

However, when we have reached Yen Bai and want to go to Suoi Giang, we need to move to the center of Van Chan district, where it is about 13 km from Suoi Giang commune and from this point on, the road is quite dangerous and challenging. The roads are quite steep, meandering, suitable for those who love adventure travel, climbing passes and wading streams. Although the road to Suoi Giang is quite difficult, in return for the wild beauty of the landscape on both sides of the road, you will feel that the effort is completely worth it!

3.5.2 Best things to do in Suoi Giang

Not only having a cool climate, Suoi Giang also has a majestic natural landscape, terraced rice fields curving along the mountain slopes, overlooking the sea of golden rice in Muong Lo region, the second largest granary in the West. North and a dynamic Nghia Lo town. Van Chan preserves the distinctive cultural traits of the Mong, Dao, and Thai people in addition to the surrounding natural beauty.  Visitors coming here not only travel under the canopy of primeval forest with interesting scenery, but can also gather tea, make tea and drink tea with hospitable Hmong girls, or contemplate and mingle in the mysterious atmosphere. hidden, sacred in the Ceremony of Gratitude of the Dao, bustling in the Spring Festival, warm in the New Rice Festival of the Thai...

In particular, Suoi Giang is also famous for ornamental rocks (purple veins, blue flowers) distributed mainly in Monkey mountain range in Giang A territory, Vang cliff and Suoi Lop village. This stone is only found in Suoi Giang, it not only has aesthetic beauty but also has very high economic value. It is from these advantages that Suoi Giang has been planned by the People's Committee of Yen Bai province to become Suoi Giang eco-tourism area, divided into functional areas, including a place to build a hotel, build a single family motel and a hotel. duplex, building a sight-seeing hut, building internal roads, squares... and transportation networks, electricity, water, and telecommunications. Every year, Suoi Giang still attracts tens of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists to visit and travel.

4. Top “must-try” food in Yen Bai

4.1 Grilled buffalo meat

Buffalo meat in the kitchen is made from fresh buffalo meat. Buffaloes in the mountains are naturally grazed, eat grass and forest leaves, so the meat is firm and sweet. After being marinated with typical spices of the Northwest such as mac Khen, wild chili, it will be dried on a wood stove or put in a drying oven.

How to make buffalo meat in the kitchen is not difficult but requires a lot of work. People cut large pieces of meat (can choose loin, corn on the shoulders, back of buffalo) and then divide the fibers into lead-shaped pieces. Next, cut along the grain and marinate the meat with chili, salt, ginger, forest leaf juice and mac Khen (wild pepper) and then hang it up in the kitchen to smoke it to blacken it, then dry it for preservation. Dried buffalo meat is packed in half a kilogram or one kilogram, which is easy to preserve, so tourists often buy it as a gift.

4.2 Tu Le green rice

The "heavenly pearl" of the Tu Le valley is compared to Tu Le sticky rice. This is a famous specialty rice in Van Chan land that anyone who has the opportunity to come here wants to buy. From Tu Le sticky rice, Yen Bai people make many delicious dishes such as Tu Le five-color sticky rice, Tu Le nuggets... Every dish is flexible, every dish is fragrant.

Tu Le nuggets have the typical green color of sticky rice, the most delicious when just finished. The sticky nuggets are fragrant and the aftertaste is a bit bitter, then turns to a light and slightly sweet taste. To make the batches of green, sweet, fragrant nuggets, Tu Le people have to go to the fields early in the morning, choose large, round and stretchy rice flowers but the straw is still green, reap them when it is still wet with dew at night. hand plucked meticulously and carefully.

4.3 Sticky rice with ant eggs

Each locality in the Northwest offers visitors a different specialty. With Mu Cang Chai Vietnam that specialty is sticky rice with ant eggs. When spring comes, it is also the time when black ants lay eggs. The Tay, Dao and Thai ethnic people in Yen Bai go back to the forest to find ant eggs to cook sticky rice. Mu Cang Chai Vietnam upland glutinous rice combined with Northwest forest ant eggs creates a special dish that makes visitors remember to eat once.

Sticky rice with ant eggs is a delicious dish that combines the sweet and fatty flavor of ant eggs with the rich and seductive perfume of upland sticky rice. To properly enjoy the sticky rice with ant eggs, you have to pick up the hot sticky rice with your hand and drop it right into your mouth. While chewing and feeling the sound of ant eggs popping, you will understand what is the "unforgettable aftertaste" of this specialty. Yen Bai highland people often eat sticky rice with ant eggs with dried stream fish grilled with charcoal, salt and pepper mixed with lemon. Once again, the flavors of the foods of the Northwest Thousand Springs are resonant, blended, sublimated, creating an unforgettable impression in the hearts of visitors.

4.4 Grilled chicken with “mat mat" leaves

Walking around Mu Cang Chai market, visitors will immediately be attracted by the attractive aroma emanating from the grilled chicken stalls. Northwestern chicken is marinated with spices carefully, molasses leaves are stuffed in the belly, then grilled on a charcoal stove. Chicken is grilled whole, so it retains its natural sweetness. Chicken meat is firm but not tough, when eaten with dipping sauce "delicious forget sorrow".

Grilled chicken with mac nectar has a sweet and sour taste of leaves. In addition, people often dip chicken with "cross occipital" mixture of blood and chicken liver, chili lime, garlic, and macadamia nut. Diagonal occipital is a special kind of dot of the ethnic people, slightly compared and thick. When served with grilled chicken, diners can feel both the sweet and sour taste of the macadamia leaves, the light taste of the mac Khen and the spicy taste of chili peppers.

4.5 Luc Yen banana cake

Banana is one of the crops that help people in Luc Yen district (Yen Bai) escape poverty. But also from the fragrant ripe yellow bananas, the Tay ethnic people in Luc Yen have skillfully processed them into banana cakes. Unlike other regions, banana cake here is made quite special, creating its own aftertaste and very delicious. The attractive thing about banana cake is that in addition to the filling, there are beans, peanuts and sugar, the rest of the additives are from bananas...

In order to make a delicious banana cake, keeping the intact taste of bananas, the color of the cake is as yellow as honey, people have to prepare quite elaborately. Ripe bananas are peeled and dried, then stored in a jar until baking, then take out and soak in hot water. Soak the rice for 2 hours and then grind it into a powder, mix it with sliced dried bananas to make a crust. As for the filling, people will often add beans, peanuts and sugar to enhance the flavor of the cake. The finished banana cake with banana slices is covered with the cake, just looking at it is attractive.

5. Best hotels to stay in Yen Bai

5.1 Le Champ Tu Le Resort hot spring and spa

Address: Tu Le town, Van Chan distric, Yen Bai

Located in Tu Le ward which is over 120km from Yen Bai city, Le Champ Tu Le Resort Hot Spring & Spa is the most luxurious resort in Yen Bai offering a full of services and entertainments such as, restaurant, garden, an indoor pool and a hot tub.

The resort is also well furnished and equipped with air conditioning, a private bathroom, a balcony with a mountain view in each room. Staying at this resort gives customers a total relax, experiences and satisfaction.

5.2 Indigenous homestay

Address: Ham De village, La Pan Tan commune, Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai

Homestay was built with a great meaning. A Hmong family with six people living in decided to open a homestay to help tourists learn more about the daily life of the H'Mong people - an ethnic minority mainly living in Vietnam and taking the name Indigenous. Homestay. Although it looks rudimentary, the family does not let visitors lack anything. Moreover, the service is very attentive, the place is very clean. In the morning, when you step out the door, it will always be the scene of ripe rice. So Indigenous Homestay is a perfect choice.

This homestay is very popular with tourists because it has a cute, friendly host and a very good cook. Indigenous homestay Mu Cang Chai is quite comfortable, rooms here have a patio overlooking the rice fields, a kitchen with an oven and stovetop, and use of a shared bathroom. All rooms are fitted with a seating and dining area. Guests staying at this homestay can enjoy a delicious traditional local meal.

5.3 Hello Mu Cang Homestay

Address: La Pan Tan village, Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai

Located in La Pan Tan village, less than 20 km from the center of Mu Cang Chai town, Hello Mu Cang Chai Homestay looks from above like a big boat crossing the sea with a prominent heart-shaped symbol. . Homestay is like a small castle located in the middle of the "sea" of large terraced fields.

Thanks to the special terrain surrounded by four vast and magnificent spaces, the rooms at Hello Mu Cang Chai Homestay are always filled with morning light and the most poetic natural scenery in Mu Cang Chai Vietnam. The rooms have balconies facing the living, terraced fields and rolling hills of the northern mountainous region of the country.

Inside the homestay are unique designs imbued with the identity of the H'Mong ethnic group with many types of rooms suitable for many customers. Architectural design brings a breath of harmony between strange traditions and modern conveniences, bringing experiences to satisfy any visitor even the most fastidious.

5.4 A Su Homestay

Address: La Pan Tan village, Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai

A Su Homestay is the perfect location for you if you wish to find a homestay on a high hill with a lovely view whether it's sunny or rainy. This site is one of Mu Cang Chai's most picturesque locations to look for clouds, despite being a little out of the way and elevated. When you wake up, open the curtains, and a stunning sea of clouds appears in front of you, you'll feel wonderful. Each band of clouds and the brilliant red light of the early sun are floating directly in front of your eyes amid thousands of hills and mountains. You'll have the impression of being in a fairyland.

A Su Homestay, as well as eating, dozing, and remaining in the room, likewise offers tent rental types of assistance for Setting up camp to differentiate administrations for chose clients. In the home yard, A Su Homestay is a very ideal spot for Setting up camp. Particularly in the nightfall evening, there will be a very chill dusk space for you to unreservedly live practically. Additionally, you can spend the night stargazing. In the first part of the day, when you awaken, open the tent entryway and you will see a tremendous perspective on terraced fields, on the off chance that it is winter, before your eyes you will be a huge ocean of mists.

5.5 Dream House Mu Cang Chai

Address: La Pan Tan village, Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai

Unlike other homestays, in addition to the majestic green scenery of the mountains and the golden image of the terraced fields, Dream House also has a pink image of the buckwheat flower garden planted right in the homestay. In addition, located near this Mu Cang Chai homestay, there are also beautiful places such as raspberry hill, pine forest for those who are passionate about photography.

All rooms at the homestay have a very beautiful view of the rice fields, you can both enjoy the view and rest in the room with clean and fully equipped items. If you want to try the taste of the food of the locals, you can use the food right at this Mu Cang Chai homestay.

6. Conclusion

The above is a summary of the most detailed information about The Best Travel Guide of Yen Bai Vietnam 2023 tourism that you must know if you ever come to this land of heroic history and cultural quintessence. If you don't have a schedule to go this period, please come to Yen Bai.

* If you are looking for a tour in Northwest or espspecially places in Yen Bai let's check out tour packages below:

=> Vietnam Authentic Tour 21 Days

=> Best Vietnam Authentic 17 Days