Yen Bai

Despite being a new, lesser-known tourist draw in northern Vietnam, more and more independent travelers flock to this far-flung mountainous province for stunning pictures of mighty mountain ranges, rice terraced fields, and friendly ethnic people.

Location

Yen Bai Province sets its location around 200km from Hanoi having borders with Lao Cai, Son La, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, and Phu Tho Province. The province is ideally situated on the new Hanoi - Lao Cai Highway that many take to travel further north.
Photo: danviet.vn

Transportation

From Hanoi's My Dinh Bus Station, there are a lot of regular buses to Yen Bai Province every 5 minutes during the day. The total transfer time is about 3-3.5 hours. Alternatively, travelers can catch coaches to Lao Cai Province that passes through Yen Bai en route.

Rail transport is also convenient and it takes you directly from Hanoi to the city center.

Weather

Yen Bai features a tropical monsoon climate with temperate weather. The average temperature is 23C. During summer, it can be extremely hot and humid while winter is often freezing cold.
Photo: kimlientravel.com

Places of interest

Mu Cang Chai: perhaps any searches about Yen Bai Province lead to the image of Mu Cang Chai - an off-the-beaten-path tourist destination. This is a spectacular spot for a photo hunt, especially in the September and October rice harvest.

Thac Ba Lake: best-known for one of the three largest man-made lakes in Vietnam, Thac Ba Lake is dubbed as Halong on the mountain. Besides magnificent natural sceneries, Thac Ba Hydropower Plant attracts lots of visitors every year.

Nghia Lo Town: endowed with beautiful valleys, fresh atmosphere, and rich Thai ethic culture, Nghia Lo Town specializes in many bike tours and cultural tours.