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Moc Chau Plateau

A high plateau of tea and dairy in the north-west, white with plum blossom for a few weeks each year.

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WhereSon La Province
Nearest cityMoc Chau town, on the plateau; Hanoi about 190 km
Best seasonJanuary to February for blossom; October to December for tea and cool weather
Time to allowTwo days
Getting thereNational road 6 west from Hanoi; buses from My Dinh station
EntryFree; individual farms and viewpoints charged

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 actually see

  • 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.

Honest expectations

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.

What to pack for Moc Chau Plateau

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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