Sunset in northern mountains

Son La province, over 300 km northwest of Hanoi, is the centre of the northwest mountainous region with diverse and abundant tourism resources. Son La has a tropical monsoon climate, featured by dry cold winter and humid, rainy hot summer. With a lot of mountains and valleys and the formation of many hydropower plants, Son La province has many sub-climatic regions. The regions with temperature of 18oC - 21oC are suitable for tourism development (Moc Chau Plateau, Ta Xua - Bac Yen, Co Ma - Thuan Chau, Ngoc Chien - Muong La, etc.). It also has hot and humid climate sub-regions such as Song Ma, Muong La and Phu Yen. With a cool climate in the springtime, Moc Chau Plateau with dreamlike flower hills is enchanting tourists far and wide. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Sunset is seen from a rice field in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau. As far as 450 kilometers from the capital, there locates a highland in northwest Vietnam, namely Lai Chau. This complex of plateaus is situated at the altitude of 1,500m above the sea level, comprising high mountains, pure streams and rivers. The annual average temperature ranges from 21oC – 23oC, with two seasons, hot-rainy and dry-cold seasons. Tourists coming to Lai Chau may choose between following the main road, the national 12th highway from Dien Bien Phu town to Ma Lu Thang border gate in Lai Chau, or the 4D road from Sapa to Lai Chau. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Lai Chau is said to be the land of Ban and Dao flowers (Bauhinia variegata and peach blossom), the unique ones of jungles, which attract and inspire thousands of artists. Yet, most of all, as the nation’s highest mountainous region, the beauty of Lai Chau is structured by the high mountain ranges stretching from the Northwest to the southeast. It shares the Fansipan Mount – top of the Vietnam’s highest mountain range (Himalaya)- with Sapa (in Lao Cai). Among others, some plateaus such as Sin Ho, Ta Phinh, Dao San, etc. are even higher than 1,500m, thus being covered in cloud, fog, and purely cool atmosphere all around the year. (Photo: Vietnam+)

An array of majestic and poetic scenes at sunset in the nation’s northern mountainous areas has been captured by photographers, of which many are travelers who snap photos of the landscape in those unforgettable moments. In photo: The sun sets on Moc Chau plateau in the northern province of Son La. Moc Chau, 190 kilometers from the capital city of Hanoi, is a popular tourist destination in Son La province in northwestern Vietnam. It’s beautiful, whether on dreamy, foggy days in the winter or brilliantly sunny days in the summer. The cool climate makes Moc Chau plateau a delightful resort for tourists all year round. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Tourist attractions on the stunning Moc Chau plateau are Pha Luong peak, the heart-shaped tea hills, the vast plum valley, and colorful flower-flanked trails winding through the mountains. Dai Yem waterfall, where Vietnam’s first glass-bottomed suspension bridge is installed, offers a bird’s-eye view of the whole plateau. The pedestrian bridge, 80 meters long and two meters wide, can receive 50-70 people at one time and it boasts a photoelectric sensor system and 30 special effects, including virtual flowers blooming, fish swimming, and heart shapes. The October-December period is when blooming white mustard flowers and yellow wild sunflowers stretch to the horizon in the plateau, creating an amazing scene in the eyes of tourists. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Located about 200km to the west of Ha Noi, at an altitude of over 1,000m, Moc Chau Plateau in Moc Chau District, Son La Province is an ideal destination in the journey of exploring the Northwest region thanks to its cool and fresh atmosphere, endless green tea hills, gardens of plum and apricot trees and various flowers, etc. The plateau is inhabited by the Thai and Mong ethnic minority groups, who like to show off their traditional lifestyle, cuisine, songs, dances, festivals, and folk games, including ball throwing (nem con) and walking on stilts (ca kheo). Moc Chau welcomed 75,000 tourists in October alone, an encouraging sign of tourism recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Visitors can admire immense green tea plots and also rent or buy colourful traditional costumes produced by local ethnic groups to take photos. In addition to tea, many households in Moc Chau Plateau also grow buckwheat and white kailan (cai) flowers for tourism business purpose. Visiting Moc Chau Plateau, visitors also have the opportunity to conquer Phieng Luong Peak, visit Dai Yem Waterfall, Son Moc Huong Cave, orchid and strawberry gardens in Ang Village Ecological Tourist Area, Chien Vien Pagoda, discover unique customs of ethnic groups of Thai, Mong, Dao, and enjoy local specialties such as salmon, grilled fishes (pa pinh top), five-colour sticky rice and dairy products such as fresh milk, yoghurt, milk cakes, etc. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Moc Chau Plateau has a temperate climate, topography and soil suitable for growing many crop plants, typically tea. Heart-shaped tea hills have become attractive tourist attractions, drawing a lot of visitors, especially young people. In order to effectively exploit tourism potentials and preserve the cultural identity, Son La Province has prioritized to develop community-based tourism type, especially in Moc Chau and Van Ho districts. Community-based tourism sites are increasing, typically Son Sao Ecological Guest House in Dong Sang Commune, Moc Chau District. Coming here, visitors have the opportunity to stay in traditional stilt houses; enjoy mountainous specialties; immerse in xoe dance of Thai ethnic people, ancient folk songs; take part in camp fire and many team building games; etc. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Moc Chau, 190 kilometers from Hanoi, is a popular tourist destination in Son La province in northwestern Vietnam. It is beautiful, whether on dreamy, foggy days in the winter or brilliantly sunny days in the summer. The cool climate makes Moc Chau a delightful resort all year round. With magnificent landscape and hospitable people, Moc Chau Plateau is always ready to welcome visitors. Tourist attractions on the stunning Moc Chau plateau are Pha Luong peak, the heart-shaped tea hills, the vast plum valley, and colorful flower-flanked trails winding through the mountains. Dai Yem waterfall, where Vietnam’s first glass-bottomed suspension bridge is located, offers a bird’s-eye view of the whole plateau. (Photo: Vietnam+)

An array of majestic and poetic scenes at sunset in the nation’s northern mountainous areas has been captured by photographers, of which many are travelers who snap photos of the landscape in those unforgettable moments. Among alluring northern mountainous tourist sites, Moc Chau Plateau attracts wanderlusts, especially young people with magnificent landscape and hospitable people. Moc Chau Plateau is always ready to welcome visitors. Tourist attractions on the stunning Moc Chau plateau are Pha Luong peak, the heart-shaped tea hills, the vast plum valley, and colorful flower-flanked trails winding through the mountains. Dai Yem waterfall, where Vietnam’s first glass-bottomed suspension bridge is located, offers a bird’s-eye view of the whole plateau. (Photo: Vietnam+)