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Rice terraces at Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai
Country: Vietnam
Province: Yen Bai

Tinh Yen Bai Holiday Weather today


Date/time of update: March 19, 2024, 2:15 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Overcast Clouds

Temperature: 19.43°C
Temperature feels like: 19.88°C
Minimum Temperature: 19.43°C
Maximum Temperature: 19.43°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1021hPa
Humidity:94%
Visibility: 5220m
Wind speed: 2.1m/sec
Wind Direction: 49 degrees
Cloudiness: 100%
Sunrise: 2024-03-18 11:06:18
Sunset: 2024-03-19 11:11:53

Yen Bai, a land of the rugged mountains that conceal so many records of history, of the breathtaking mountain passes which made many battles of Vietnam into legends, of the evergreen tea plantations which hypnotize the travelers passing by, of the golden rice terraces which have defined the standards of the wild beauty of north-western Vietnam, of the ethnic minorities whose life has remained unchanged for centuries, of the fresh hill stations whose climate remains almost unchanged all year round... is not yet on the tour itineraries or travel plans of most travellers to Vietnam.

Overview

Yen Bai is little-known to the traveler communities. Travelers started to know about Yen Bai through photos taken by some adventure photographers which showed the stunning beauty of the rice terraces, of the rugged mountains and of the green tea plantations.

Muong Lo Valley
Muong Lo Valley

Nowadays, with the upgrade of the road system and the economic developments in the area, Yen Bai is getting known more to the outside world and to the adventure travel communities. Still, there's little information about Yen Bai and due to lack of tourism infrastructure, that traveling through the province for the whole day, it's often that no other travelers caught in sight.

The Khau Pha Pass in Yen Bai Province
The Khau Pha Pass in Yen Bai Province

Paradissa Travel has got a number of community-oriented adventure tours and photography tours through Yen Bai, if you need further information, please don't hesitate to contact our Vietnam travel experts.

Gia Hoi, Van Chan
Gia Hoi, Van Chan

Reading this article and planning to travel through Yen Bai, then be prepared to expect the unexpected, be planned that your travel plan be changed, be aware that local people are still curious about the outside world, be known that the unknown remains in the local culture...A trip through Yen Bai can be a challenge or a reward; it could help to accumulate many unforgettable memories of adventure travel or it could disappoint the tourists who are more used to amenities...all depends on individual travel tastes.

Ta Xua Mountain offers great trekking adventure amid heavenly landscape
Ta Xua Mountain offers great trekking adventure amid heavenly landscape

Geography

Yen Bai is a mountainous province, located in the heart of the North West of Vietnam, 200km from Ha Noi. The province is bordered to the north by Lao Cai Province, to the west by Son La Province, to the east by Ha Giang and Tuyen Quang Provinces, and to the south by Phu Tho Province.

Magnificent nature at the Khau Pha Pass in Yen Bai Vietnam
Magnificent nature at the Khau Pha Pass in Yen Bai Vietnam

Yen Bai has a very uneven terrain ranging from flat plains (the biggest one is Muong Lo Valley) to rugged mountains of over 2,500 m in altitude (the highest is the Hoang Lien Mountain Range of over 3,000 m in elevation).

Breathtaking nature on the trek to the summit of Mount Ta Chi Nhu (Phu Song Sung) in Yen Bai Province
Breathtaking nature on the trek to the summit of Mount Ta Chi Nhu (Phu Song Sung) in Yen Bai Province

Due to differences in altitude and terrain, the weather pattern of each district of Yen Bai tends to vary from one to another. Generally, Yen Bai has a tropical monsoon climate with average temperature ranging from 20-22o C, with average annual rainfall of 1,500-2,200 mm and average humidity of 83-87%. It tends to rain a lot in the period from May through October while it remains dry for most other times of the year. During the summer, it may get up to 37-38oC in the low altitudes like Yen Bai City while it may go down to below Zero degree Celsius during the winter months in the mountains and hill stations.

The Cao Pha Tu Le Valley in Yen Bai Vietnam
The Cao Pha Tu Le Valley in Yen Bai Vietnam

Yen Bai Travel Guide, Tourist Attractions and what to see in Yen Bai

1/ Thac Ba Lake

The lake is 150 km from Ha Noi, the lake can be visited on a cruise by motor-boat.

Thac Ba Lake Yen Bai Vietnam
Thac Ba Lake, Yen Bai, Vietnam

2/ Suoi Giang Hill Station

The hill station located about 1,400m above sea level with cool climate all year round, the commune is known for tea trees of over hundred years old which provide the famed Shan Tuyet tea.

Tea plantations at Suoi Giang, Van Chan
Tea plantations at Suoi Giang, Van Chan

3/ Nghia Lo Town in Muong Lo Valley

The valley is 200 km from Ha Noi, 800 m above sea level. The town and the valley offers bike tours to nearby Thai ethnic villages.

Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai, Vietnam
Muong Lo Valley, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai, Vietnam

4/ Tu Le and Cao Pha Valley

These sites are adjacent and known to photographers for the stunning rice terraces.

Tu Le Cao Pha Valley, Yen Bai, Vietnam
Tu Le - Cao Pha Valley during the harvest time

5/ Khau Pha Pass

The pass is over 1,200m above sea level which provides breathtaking views of Tu Le and Cao Pha Valley. This is a must stop for photographers passing by.

Khau Pha Pass, Mu Cang Chai
Khau Pha Pass, Yen Bai, Vietnam

 

 Khau Pha Pass, Yen Bai, Vietnam
Khau Pha Pass, Yen Bai, Vietnam

6/ Mu Cang Chai

Mu Cang Chai is 300km from Ha Noi, 900 m above sea level. The district is famed for stunning rice terraces and captivating mountains. Mu Cang Chai has more of a temperate climate with summer temperatures hardly above 30 Degrees Celsius.

Rice terraces at La Pan Tan, Mu Cang Chai
Rice terraces at La Pan Tan, Mu Cang Chai

7/ Ta Chi Nhu (Phu Song Sung, 2,979m) and Ta Xua (2,865m)

These mountain peaks in Tram Tau District are the 6th and 10th highest mountain peaks in Vietnam respectively. Paradissa could organize trekking tours to these mountain peaks from Hanoi for 3 days, 2 nights each.

A "prairie" in the sky
A "prairie" in the sky on the trek to the Ta Chi Nhu (Phu Song Sung) Mountain

 

A breathtaking view of the mountains around Ta Xua from the Turtle Head's Boulder
A breathtaking mountain view on the trek to the peak of the Ta Xua Mountain

8/ Hotsprings

There are quite a few hotsprings in Yen Bai at Cat Thinh (Van Chan District), Nghia Lo Town, Tram Tau District, Tu Le… that you may like to combine with a homestay experience at a local Hmong or Thai family which could be a lovely relaxing holiday. On these tours, you can take part in activities such as cycling in the countryside, visiting ethnic villages, enjoying traditional dance, learning how to cook ethnic cuisine… The trips are suitable for both couples and families alike.

Enjoy a rejuvenative or regenerative holiday to Yen Bai with Paradissa
Enjoy a rejuvenative or regenerative holiday to Yen Bai with Paradissa

Adventure Travel and Trekking Tours, Things to do in Yen Bai

Paradissa offers adventure holidays, trekking trips, photography tours and tailor-made motorbike tours, mountain-biking adventures to Yen Bai and the North West of Vietnam.

Tu Le - Cao Pha Valley
Tu Le - Cao Pha Valley

1/ Adventure Travel in Yen Bai

The tourist attractions in Yen Bai include rivers, lakes, mountains, rice terraces and you need a sense of adventure to visit these places and adore the breathtaking natural landscape. To visit the beautiful valleys of Muong Lo and Tu Le, you'd need to do some walking; to visit the stunning rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai you are to get muddy on a motorbike trip or a hiking tour; and the wild mountains with sensational beauty... But it is all worth it given the chaste beauty and the lovely experience to be lost amid the heavenly landscape leaving all hassles of life behind...for a few days! Yen Bai will get you the most authentic and memorable adventure travel experiences.

amazing landscape at the Khau Pha Pass
amazing landscape at the Khau Pha Pass

2/ Trekking Tours, Hiking Trips in Yen Bai

Paradissa operates trekking tours at Mu Cang Chai for 3 days, trekking tours to Mount Ta Xua for 3-5 days, hiking tours to Mount Phu Song Sung (Ta Chi Nhu) for 3 days, trekking trips to Mount Lung Cung for 4-5 days. If you love more trekking amid wild nature, solitude communities, ... then we have amazing trekking tours to explore around the area of the awe-inspiring Hang Te Cho Waterfall!

Trekking to adore the amazing beauties of Yen Bai Vietnam
Trekking to adore the amazing beauties of Yen Bai Vietnam

3/ Photo Tours

Paradissa offers photo tours to Mu Cang Chai in late May – early June and late September – early October. The duration for each tour is from 3-5 days from Hanoi. On these tours you may have to get up early and walk or hike on muddy trails for the great moments and get angles for your great photography!

Amazing rice terraces on a photo tour to Yen Bai
Amazing rice terraces on a photo tour to Yen Bai

4/ Mineral Bathing Vacations

If you plan for some rejuvenative or regenerative vacations to Vietnam, then Yen Bai could be on the menu. But we have mentioned earlier that you need to have a sense of adventure to travel to Yen Bai as tourist infrastructure is still in the lack and there are no luxury travel facilities or services in the province just yet. On a rejuvenative or regenerative vacation with Paradissa, you will have relaxing time amid the wild nature bathing in a mineral swimming pool amid beautiful mountains or rice terraces.

On our adventure wellness experience you are to be surrounded by the wild nature or in pool amid the wilderness
On our adventure wellness experience you are to be surrounded by the wild nature or in pool amid the wilderness

Accommodation

There are decent hotels and mid-range hotels in Yen Bai City and in Nghia Lo Town. Simple guest houses can be found in most townships in the province. Homestay is available in Nghia Lo, Tu Le and Mu Cang Chai.

Harvesting in Muong Lo Valley
Harvesting in Muong Lo Valley

Getting there and away

Yen Bai City, 170km from Hanoi, is the provincial capital. From Hanoi you can travel to Yen Bai by railroad or by road. By road, you can either travel via National Route 2 or National Route 32 depending on the destination.

Route 32 at Van Chan Yen Bai which connects Hanoi and Yen Bai Province
Route 32 at Van Chan Yen Bai which connects Hanoi and Yen Bai Province

 

Route 32 at Mu Cang Chai via which we can travel between Yen Bai and Lai Chau
Route 32 at Mu Cang Chai via which we can travel between Yen Bai and Lai Chau

 

Route 2 near Yen Bai City via which we can travel from Hanoi through Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang to Ha Giang
Route 2 near Yen Bai City via which we can travel from Hanoi through Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang to Ha Giang

Yen Bai Average Monthly Rainfall and Temperatures


Vietnam Travel Guide