Moc Chau Plateau

Moc Chau sits at about 1,050 metres in Son La and is cool enough to do things the delta cannot: tea planted in long curved rows across the hills, a substantial dairy industry with herds that supply a good share of Vietnamese fresh milk, and orchards of plum and peach. The blossom is the calendar - white plum flower through late January and February brings a rush of domestic visitors, followed by a second wave for the fruit in May. The Hmong, Thai and Dao villages on the plateau hold their own festivals, and Pha Luong mountain on the Lao border and the Dai Yem waterfall are the other stops.

What you'll find

• Tea in curved rows - across the hills of the plateau.
• A dairy industry at altitude - unusual in Vietnam.
• Plum blossom in late January and February - the peak visiting weeks.
• Hmong, Thai and Dao villages - with their own festivals.

When to go

January to February for blossom; October to December for the tea hills. Two days.

Practical notes

Blossom weekends are extremely crowded with Hanoi visitors and accommodation books out. Many viewpoints and orchards charge entry. Road 6 is busy with lorries. Mist is frequent.

Nearby

Dai Yem waterfall is on the plateau; Mai Chau is east down the road.

Key facts