The Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai
Country: Vietnam
Province: Yen Bai

Tinh Yen Bai Holiday Weather today


Date/time of update: April 26, 2024, 4:29 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Clear Sky

Temperature: 36.31°C
Temperature feels like: 35.91°C
Minimum Temperature: 36.31°C
Maximum Temperature: 36.31°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1003hPa
Humidity:27%
Visibility: 10000m
Wind speed: 1.3m/sec
Wind Direction: 90 degrees
Cloudiness: 3%
Sunrise: 2024-04-25 10:33:28
Sunset: 2024-04-26 11:24:28

Nghia Lo Town is 80km south-west of Yen Bai provincial capital city and 200km north-west of Hanoi. Nghia Lo along with its Muong Lo Valley has come into Vietnamese literature and history books, it has been a low-key travel destination due to bad road, lack of tourist service and lack of information...

Travel Guide Nghia Lo, Yen Bai 

Overview

 Nghia Lo and Moc Chau (Son La Province) are the only two gateways to the North-West of Vietnam. During the First Indochina War, Nghia Lo played an important role in protecting the French-controlled region of the North-West which facilitated the French's occupation of Laos. The Viet Minh was determined in removing the French at Nghia Lo to liberate the North-West of Vietnam which was vital for the liberation of the whole country. And the French tried their best to keep their positions here. Fierce battles took place at Nghia Lo and the Viet Minh was eventually the winner. Paradissa hosts a number of battlefield tours and military historical tours which visit Nghia Lo.

Green rice at the Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai, Vietnam
Green rice at the Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai, Vietnam

Nowadays Nghia Lo is on Route 32 which is an important road for trade between the mountainous North-West of Vietnam and the lowlands, and between the North-West and the Chinese border in Lao Cai. The town somehow has enjoyed certain level of prosperity compared to other towns and districts in the province of Yen Bai.

Breathtaking landscape at Muong Lo, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai
Breathtaking landscape at Muong Lo, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai

Geography

Geographically Nghia Lo Town covers the whole Muong Lo Valley, the second biggest rice valley in the North-West of Vietnam. Most of the terrain of Nghia Lo is flat while there are high mountains that surround the whole area. The Ngoi Thia River, which starts its course in the mountains at Tram Tau – Yen Bai passing through Nghia Lo and which is among the biggest water sources for the Red River, is 165km in length. Thanks to this river, the rice cultivated at the Muong Lo Valley is well-known in Vietnam for its fragrance, flavor and glutinosity.

The Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai Province
The Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai Province

Climate

Bucolic Thai villages at Muong Lo, Yen Lo
Bucolic Thai villages at Muong Lo, Yen Lo

The Muong Lo Valley enjoys 4 seasons per annum; the annual rainfall is 1,400-1,600mm. The temperatures may be above 40C in the summer (May-July) and freezing cold in the winter (late November through February). It rains a lot from August through October.

People and Population

There are 17 ethnic groups who call the Muong Lo home of which the Thai accounts for 44%. The Thai culture is one of the draw cards for local tourism: people travel to the Muong Lo Valley to enjoy the Thai culture, Thai traditional dance, the daily life…

Havesting rice at the Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo
Havesting rice at the Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo

 

Things to do, Travel and Tours

Paradissa operates different types of tours which visit the Muong Lo Valley such as historical military tours, adventure tours and cultural tours. You can choose a 2 day/1night tour from Hanoi which visits Muong Lo only. At Muong Lo, you can choose to visit the Thai villages on foot, by car or by bicycle. You'll also learn about local life by tasting Thai food, by sampling their traditional performance with different dances (Xoe Thai)… Do not hesitate to contact our team should you need further information!

Golden rice fields at the Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo
Golden rice fields at the Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo

Accommodations
There are many choices with respect to where to stay at Nghia Lo. There are family-run hotels with basic facilities, 1-3* hotels with more amenities. Alternatively, you can stay with a local Thai family in their house on stilts.