Yen Bai
Đông Bắc
Terraces under a heavy sky · Vietnam Hidden Light · Pexels License
A magnificent northwest with the golden Mu Cang Chai terraced fields, the thousand-island Thac Ba Lake and vibrant highland culture.
Yen Bai is a northwestern mountain province renowned for the Mu Cang Chai terraced fields — a special national relic and a wonder shaped by the Hmong people. In the ripe rice season, the whole region turns a breathtaking gold. Yen Bai also has Thac Ba Lake with over 1,300 green islands, the Suoi Giang tea hills, hot mineral springs and the vibrant culture of the Hmong, Thai and Tay. It is an ideal destination for lovers of magnificent nature and highland identity.
Best time to visit: September to October
Local specialties
- Tu Le green rice flakes
- Smoked buffalo meat
- Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea
- Thac Ba Lake grilled fish
Places (3)
Mu Cang Chai Terraced Fields
A wonder of terraced fields golden with ripe rice, a special national relic crafted by the Hmong people over generations.
Thac Ba Lake
One of Vietnam's three largest man-made lakes, with over 1,300 green islands, likened to a 'Ha Long Bay in the mountains'.
Khau Pha Pass
The longest pass on Highway 32, riding through cloud at 1,200–1,500m above the Mu Cang Chai terraces.