When winter blankets the Northwest, the golden ripe rice fields and plateaus adorned with vibrant flowers yield to the embrace of frost and snow covering the mountainous landscape.
Unmissable Winter Getaways in Northwestern Vietnam
Explore the beauty of the highlands in Northwest Vietnam amidst the frost with these must-visit destinations.
Fansipan with its Winter Festival

As soon as you set foot in Sa Pa, you'll feel the piercing cold amidst the misty panorama. Take the cable car to Fansipan to truly experience winter with ice clinging to cherry blossoms and early-blooming apricot flowers. Here, a sea of clouds billows like a waterfall over the Hoang Lien range. The best time to marvel at the ice is usually before 10 a.m. If you're fortunate, you'll witness snowflakes gracefully blanketing the mountain forests – a rare beauty in Vietnam.
Year-end Celebration: The Roof of Indochina Comes Alive with Winter Festivities
This year's winter festival at Fansipan, themed 'Fansipan – the snowfall path,' is grand and more enchanting than ever. Marvel at the giant Christmas tree with a record diameter of 36 meters, illuminated by thousands of LED lights and adorned with charming gifts. Be surprised by the unique tree crafted from 6,000 corn cobs at the Cable Car Station area or the carrot-themed tree, weighing 1.2 tons, resembling a warm fire on the misty mountain top.

Fansipan's peak is immersed in the sweet melodies of hymns echoing through the mountains. Folk artists will bring lively tunes and vibrant mountainous dances of the Northwestern region. Don't miss the exquisite highland cuisine, featuring flavorful dishes like grilled native pig, fried sticky rice, triumphant cake, and ethnic alcohol, served in peaceful leafy stalls or the Harbor Restaurant.
From December 1, 2018, to January 20, 2019, Sun World Fansipan Legend recreates the European atmosphere on the Roof of Indochina, providing delightful entertainment experiences.
Moc Chau Flower Valley
While Sa Pa and Mau Son are veiled in the winter's frosty mist, Moc Chau Plateau remains vibrant with countless brilliant-colored flowers. From November to February, despite the fog covering the plateau, vast fields of mustard flowers continue to bloom, painting the land in shades of golden yellow.

Embrace the 'Golden Moment' in Moc Chau: A Wonderland of Blooms
This is the perfect time for young adventurers to explore Moc Chau, where not only the mustard flower fields but also various wildflowers showcase their vibrant colors along the national road to Son La. Golden wild sunflowers, crimson trang nguyen flowers resembling flames in the mist, and early-blooming white plum blossoms beneath the leaves create a lively and vibrant atmosphere in Moc Chau.
Mai Chau in the Fragrant Winter...
In Mai Chau during winter, the winding mountain roads evoke verses from the poem Tay Tien: 'Muong Lat flowers return in the night's breath,' 'Mai Chau in winter smells of sticky rice'... Pass through Khe Thung pass, where white plum and ban flowers emerge majestically in the early morning mist. As night falls in Ban Lac, the wooden stilt houses of the Thai people come alive with crackling fires and the enticing aroma of flavorful local dishes.
One of the most delightful experiences in Mai Chau during winter is savoring local dishes in the cold weather. Enjoy hot bamboo-tube rice with flavorful side dishes, indulge in large grilled slices of pork cooked over open flames with forest honey leaves, and occasionally 'change the wind' with stream fish marinated in mackenzie seeds, wrapped in lotus leaves, then grilled over charcoal. Take a few sips of Mai Ha wine distilled in aromatic wooden barrels, and you'll be captivated by the scenery and warmth of the people here.
Source: Kim Ngan/Vnexpress
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Explore: Travel guide on Mytour
MytourJanuary 15, 2019