160km from Hanoi-Vu Linh is a rural area of ethnic minority backgrounds and fields of rice on the banks of the lake Thac Ba. lake has 1.331 islands and many call it the “Ha Long” of the mountain. to Its excellent location makes it a perfect place for those who want to swim and live sunsets from the lake, experience the culture and cuisine of the ethnic group of dao white, and enjoy the tranquility of being surrounded by rice fields, ponds, and traditional wooden houses.

What to do in Vu Linh?

Vu Linh is a perfect place for active tourism. My favorite activity during my stay was, without a doubt, the walk by the lake in a boat to see the sunset. During the trip I was able to enjoy the beauty of the lake, full of small islands on which trees grow, and in which often graze buffaloes. In addition, I enjoyed the experience of bathing in the lake, admiring the colors of the sunset in this place unique. In addition, if you are interested in the caves, it is possible to employ a longer tour and visit the cave of Thuy Tien.

Vu Linh is also a perfect place to take a walk and enjoy the view of the rice fields and traditional houses. Also, if you like walking there is the possibility of hiring trekking tours with local guides to discover the environment, roads that pass through rice fields, jungles, and mountain landscapes. These tours often take you to visit the mount of Cao Well, from where you can see the lake from above with its hundreds of small islands.

How to get to Vu Linh?

Located approximately 160km from Hanoi and 220km of Sapa, it is possible to get to Vu Linh bus, minibus or motorbike from various points of Vietnam. You can catch the bus station, My Dinh in Hanoi (bus ‘Nam Yên’ or ‘Hai Huu’) and ask the driver to take you to Vu Linh (displays the name of your accommodation).

• Departure: 6:30, 9:00, 11:25 and 14:30

• Duration: 4h

• Price of the ticket (round trip): off 260,000 VND

Where to stay in Vu Linh?

I stayed in VuLinh Family Homestay, and for me it was a perfect place. In this homestay there are 2 accommodation options. In the first place, the cheapest option is to sleep in the traditional home built on wooden pillars. on the other hand, they also have a few private rooms with bathroom and air conditioning that are not only modern but also quite comfortable.

The resort Paradise Islands Thác Bà is located not far from Vu Linh, andn an island in the middle of the lake. This is one more option premium, by about 40€ / night, you’re going to be able to stay in a bungalow with breathtaking views and a swimming pool. This option will allow you to relax and enjoy the views, and from there you can also do tours of the lake. The larger, but of this place is that the wifi is a little weak , and that during your stay you’re not going to be able to pilot the culture of minority ethnic groups.

When is it better to go to Vu Linh?

The best times to visit the rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai are the months between May – June, rainiest months in which the inhabitants of this area, plant the rice fields and in which it can be clearly the water running between the terraces, and the months of September – October, the time of harvest in which you will find the rice fields of a yellow color that is very characteristic.

One last tip

Bring hiking shoes, a sweatshirt, an umbrella, a swimsuit and sunscreen!

I invite you to download this file with recommended accommodation in Vietnam, based on the opinions of travelers who are part of my group FB and group of WhatsApp.

Have you heard of Mu Cang Chai?

Don’t miss this guide to visit Mu Cang Chai, an area authentic with stunning landscapes and ethnic minority backgrounds.