Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai Vietnam: Transport & Ticket Guide
As a highland district in the Northwestern part of Yen Bai province, Mu Cang Chai has become a popular place to visit in Vietnam thanks to its beauty of the wild and romantic mountain view.
How to get from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam?
This article is a detailed transportation guide from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai, including tips on ticket prices, booking online tickets, and departure schedules.
Route Overview
Mu Cang Chai is about 280km from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
To get to Mu Cang Chai, visitors must cross Khau Pha pass – one of the four great peaks of Northwest Vietnam.
Currently, there are three options to travel to Mu Cang Chai:
- Option 1: Bus. It is the most comfortable and most time-saving option.
- Option 2: Train + Bus
- Option 3: Bike
Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai Bus
- Duration: 7.5 hours
- Cost: 330,000 VND
Traveling to Mu Cang Chai from Hanoi by bus is the most common and time-saving option.
Traveling by coach, you can go directly to the town of Mu Cang Chai without further transit. Also, you take a break on the bus before the journey and watch the beautiful scenery appear around you.
Cuong Lan offers a daily sleeper bus from Hanoi, taking approximately 7.5 hours.
About Cuong Lan
Cuong Lan is a well-known transportation provider in Northern Vietnam.
With a well-trained staff and drivers, Cuong Lan always tries to comfort customers on the journey. The carrier always puts the safety and comfort of customers first.
Bus stop
Hanoi bus station: 14 Đường Hồ Tùng Mậu, Mai Dịch, Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội
Mu Cang Chai bus station: Bến xe khách Mù Cang Chải, Tổ 6, Mù Cang Chải
Schedule
The bus departs at 11:30 pm in Hanoi and arrives at 7 am.
Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai Train
There is no direct train from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai, so you must stop at Yen Bai station.
Vietnam Railways offer daily trains from Hanoi to Yen Bai, and the journey takes approximately 3 hours 50 minutes to 4 hours 40 minutes depending on the train.
After arriving at Yen Bai, you can relax and explore the surroundings or take a bus to Mu Cang Chai straight away.
Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai Bike
If you decide to travel by motorbike to Mu Cang Chai, you should start your journey early in the morning, set aside time to rest during the trip.
Starting from Hanoi, you can go from Son Tay to Trung Ha – Thanh Son – Thu Cuc – Deo Khe – Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Khau Pha – Mu Cang Chai.
Safety tips: You should maintain speed when traveling and make sure the brakes are firm. Also, you should go in a single row, maintain an even distance between vehicles.
What to pack for Mu Cang Chai?
- Raincoats and jacket: The temperature at night in Mu Cang Chai is quite low, so you need a coat to keep your body warm.
- Shoes: You should choose shoes that are waterproof, durable, and resistant to mountainous terrain.
- Flashlights and first-aid kit
- Mosquito repellent: Poisonous mosquito and can cause malaria fever.
Hello, I am planning a trip to Mu Cang Chai in end August.
The website currently shows that there are no bus running.
Do you know the current bus situation over there?
Are there any alternative bus service to reach MCC from hanoi?
Thank you.
Hi, some buses may cancel their services at the moment. I suggest checking the booking website again in August. You can just book the bus a few days in advance.
Hi,
Do you know how is the rice fields scenery throughout the year? Do they have just one crop in a year or more and is the fixed time every year? Usually when is the planting time and harvesting time?
Thank you.
Hi Stanley,
There’s one crop per year and the planting time is from the end of May to the beginning of June. Usually, the best time to see Mu Cang Chai in the ripe rice season is from about September 15 to October 10 every year.
You can check my Best time to visit Mu Cang Chai for more info.