Buzz
As spring blossoms with mustard flowers and apricot blossoms, summer brings the majestic beauty of Mù Cang Chải, resembling a painting reflected on a mirror. When autumn arrives, romance fills the air, draping the golden cloak of ripened rice terraces. Embark on a journey to Mù Cang Chải in December, where you'll step into a 'Winter Symphony of Vietnam,' where despite the chilling cold, hearts are warmed profoundly. Is this indeed a special winter? A 'Not So Cold Winter' perhaps!
December in Mù Cang Chải - Vietnam's Winter Ballad
The cold carries a melancholic beauty, casting a poignant spell over Mù Cang Chải. Visitors find themselves lost in a fairyland, with clouds blanketing the mountain ridges, mist floating gracefully, and smoke wafting in the distance amidst the rugged mountains and deep ravines. Tiny winding mountain roads encircle the majestic peaks, leaving one in awe! So, what truly captivates visitors and holds them spellbound during December in Mù Cang Chải?
In December, Mù Cang Chải welcomes the onset of winter, with chilly air and ethereal mist blending with the earthy tones of traditional houses, creating an unforgettable landscape (Photo: Internet)
Try visiting here in winter to experience the season that everyone eagerly awaits, with a sense of anticipation for the upcoming traditional Tet holiday. It's a habit; whenever the weather turns cold, I feel indescribable emotions, the anticipation of Christmas approaching, the cold air awaited all year... and people seem to gather closer, sharing conversations around the warm red charcoal stove...
'Someone sings, intoxicated, in Bản Phố
Calves playfully frolic along the stream's edge
The wind swirls, scattering the red skirt hem
Swaying the slender bamboo forest'.
(Poetry by Nguyễn Khôi)
It would be a mistake to think that December in Mù Cang Chải is melancholic because the highlands seem blanketed in white fog. Few realize that amidst the cold of early winter, there are resilient mustard flowers blooming exquisitely, becoming the focal point of the region. Moreover, in mid and late winter, splashes of red and yellow from wild buckwheat and Chinese milk vetch adorn the white mustard flower painting blossoming amidst the valleys.
Pú Nhu Waterfall - one of the beloved destinations in Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái (Photo: Internet)
Merely feasting one's eyes and daydreaming in the early winter isn't enough to make one cherish this place. The beauty becomes more flavorful when savoring local specialties and enjoying a cup of wine, accompanied by deep conversations in the quiet evening, watching the sunset, hearing distant spouses calling each other to dinner, and...somewhere in the distance, the evening smoke quietly rises into the hills... or in the silent night, one revels in the warmth of hot tea while admiring the moonlight illuminating the hills. So, why hesitate any longer? Check out our carefully curated list of delicious dishes and must-visit spots to fully enjoy a December trip to Mù Cang Chải.
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Must-Visit Destinations
Khau Phạ Pass: As you drive along National Highway 32 from Yên Bái City for about 5 hours, you'll encounter a range of rugged mountains, winding roads, providing a sense of adventure for those who enjoy thrills.
Paragliding over Khau Phạ Pass - the most exciting experience in Mù Cang Chải during the year-end days (Photo: Internet)
Tú Lệ Commune: Tú Lệ attracts visitors with its golden terraced fields nestled amidst a vast valley, embraced by mountain walls, exuding the scent of freshly harvested rice, and the strong mountainous breeze, located in Văn Chấn district, Yên Bái province.
Bản Lìm Mông: Located in Cao Pạ commune, Mù Cang Chải district, Bản Lìm Mông is a destination hidden deep in the forest, with an allure that everyone wants to explore.
Mơ Waterfall (Mù Cang Chải): Along National Highway 32, a 30-minute walk, and you'll stand mesmerized for 5 seconds before the magnificent and sparkling scene of the pure white waterfall, uniquely spiraling down like a pinnacle. Mơ Waterfall belongs to the Mồ Dề stream and lies between the Nả Háng A and Nả Háng B hills.
Bản Lìn Mông is an endless source of inspiration for photographers and travel enthusiasts (Photo: Internet)
Unmissable Local Specialties
Close your eyes and savor the aromatic flavor of grilled pork over charcoal, the enticing delicacy of wild game meats infused with spices and sweetness, or indulge in the fragrant sticky rice grown locally here! Here are a few suggestions you shouldn't miss on this journey:
- Grilled forest pig skewers. From freely roaming black pigs, the firm meat exudes a tantalizing aroma. ...
- Sticky rice with Tú Lệ peanut salt dip. ...
- Cat apples. ...
- Honey. ...
- Wild bee larvae. ...
- Tú Lệ green rice flakes. ...
- Salmon and sturgeon fish. ...
- Fried grasshoppers.
Any traveler visiting Mù Cang Chải (Yên Bái) and tasting Tú Lệ green rice flakes even once cannot forget its fragrant chewy flavor (Photo: Internet)
That's why anyone who stops in Mù Cang Chải is captivated by it and chooses December travel to Mù Cang Chải as a destination after a year of hard work and exhaustion. The winter breeze gives someone a moment to reflect on what they have experienced throughout the year immersed in work, then gently soothes their heart with the warmth of human kindness here. You can contact Mytour for the best advice and assistance in booking Mù Cang Chải travel tours!
