The famous rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai are beginning to turn golden, signaling Mu Cang Chai golden season 2026.
Thus, this marks the start of one of northern Vietnam’s most spectacular travel seasons.
Currently, in mid-August, the first fields around Tu Le Valley and Khau Pha Pass are already changing color.
Other famous terrace areas, including La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha and De Xu Phinh, reach their best colors later.
Additionally, they do so in September and October.
This year, visitors have another reason to plan a trip during the harvest season. Tu Le will host the “Flying over the Golden Season” paragliding festival from August 30 to September 30, 2026.
The festival will open at 8:00 AM on August 30 at the landing site in Lim Thai Village. ([dtinews.dantri.com.vn](https://dtinews.dantri.com.vn/culture-and-sport/tu-le-to-host-month-long-paragliding-festival-over-golden-rice-fields-20260813114851520.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Additionally, the program will include professional paragliding performances.
Moreover, it will offer visitors tandem flights and views of the golden rice terraces from above.
Visitors can also combine the festival with trips through the terraced valleys, local villages and traditional Thai and Hmong communities. The combination of golden rice fields, mountain scenery and paragliding makes late August and September an especially interesting time to visit the area.
If you are planning a northern Vietnam trip around the harvest season, booking accommodation early is advisable.
Additionally, Mu Cang Chai and Tu Le can become busy when the rice fields reach their peak.
This year’s golden season is expected to develop gradually.
As a result, different parts of Mu Cang Chai will not all reach peak color at the same time.
Sources
- DTiNews — Mu Cang Chai rice terraces turn golden as harvest season begins
- DTiNews — Tu Le to host month-long paragliding festival over golden rice fields
- VietnamPlus / Vietnam.vn — Paragliding over the golden fields and activities in Mu Cang Chai
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