In this article, we have given you detailed information about the best rice fields in Vietnam. We've brought you 10 different regions along with the best ways to see the rice fields in those regions and the best time to do so.

 

An important note, before we begin: we are not recommending Vietnam-specific rice fields, as they are not tourist attractions - they are just farmland (which is really beautiful) . It is not if each rice terrace has its own address.

 

Instead, we've suggested specific towns, regions, and areas where you'll find these rice fields, along with the best ways and times to see the rice fields in those areas. 

 

 

Sapa - The coldest place in Vietnam 

 

 

 

If you’ve seen pictures of Vietnamese rice fields online or in brochures or on a documentary or whatever, that was probably Sapa.The most famous rice-growing region in Vietnam, it’s a massive tourist hub, packed with hikers, day-trippers, view-seekers and everyone in between.

 

Sapa is so ridiculously popular because it ties together lots of Vietnam’s most famous and alluring attractions into one tidy little package – you get staggering stacks of the nation’s iconic rice fields along with hikes (both long and short), a fascinating culture, spectacular scenery, rich history and colorfully-garbed local tribes.

 

Sapa’s population is mainly made up of Hmong people and Red Dao people, two of the oldest and most famous tribes in the nation.

The best rice fields in Sapa, Vietnam

The town of Sapa is surprisingly large, and it’s a small distance away from the villages and tribal settlements that are nestled right in the heart of the mountains and rice terraces. So don’t stay in the center of Sapa.

 

Instead, find a local family guesthouse or homestay in the mountains, and organize a trekking tour with that homestay. Arrange a 2-day or 3-day hike, which will take you through some of the most remote, rural, rice-packed areas in the region.

 

On a short tour from Sapa town, you’ll just see endless herds of other tourists, instead of the rural farmland, rice terraces and towering mountains which make the nation so special. Because Sapa is such a massive tourist attraction, you have to put some effort in to really enjoy it – and to see the region’s best rice fields.

 

• Location: Sapa is in north west Vietnam, close to the Chinese border, but the small tribal villages which dot the mountains are a short distance from Sapa center.
• Distance from the closest big city: Around 320km from Hanoi to central Sapa.
• How to get there: It’s easy to get a bus from Hanoi to Sapa. You’ll usually find local villagers in Sapa’s main bus station, who will invite you to stay in their rural guesthouses. That’s the easiest way to get an authentic experience, and to see the best of the region’s rice fields.
• When to visit: September and October. It’s a short window, but it’s an incredible window. Don’t be tempted to go any other time of year.

 

Ha Giang - The largest terraced field 

 

 

They say Ha Giang is the new Sapa, as the landscape is similar, the culture is similar, but the crowds are smaller. And that’s sort of true, but in reality, there are lots of crowds here too. (If you’re looking for the most untouched areas you can find, we’ve included some later in this article)

 

Ha Giang isn’t most famous for its rice terraces, but there are loads of them in the region, and if you’re here to tackle the Ha Giang Loop (why else would you be?), you’ll see plenty of them as you zip and zoom through the region’s karst, mountains and towering peaks.

 

The best rice fields in Ha Giang, Vietnam

 

The real appeal in this region is the Ha Giang Loop. If you journey along the entire circumference of the Ha Giang Loop, you’ll travel 350km through the region, taking in various views of farms, mountains, tribal villages, rice terraces, rivers, waterfalls and more. So in Ha Giang, you don’t even need to seek out the best rice terraces – you’ll just see them as you ride along.

 

If you’re on a tight turnaround, Hi Giang offers a convenient way to see Vietnamese rice fields without having to put in any extra effort.

 

• Location: Northern Vietnam, close to the Chinese border.
• Distance from the closest big city: Ha Giang center is around 300km from Hanoi, and around 230km from Sapa. You’ll find rice fields dotted around the entirety of the Ha Giang region.
• How to get there: There are very regular buses from Hano to Ha Giangi, and relatively regular buses from Sapa to Ha Giang. Once you’re in central Ha Giang, it’s very easy to explore the Ha Giang Loop.
• When to visit: Again, your best window here is September and October.

 

Hoang Su Phi - Vast and rich plateau fields

 

They say Ha Giang is the new Sapa, but I say that Hoang Su Phi is the new Ha Giang. If you want a similar experience to Ha Giang, but with more authenticity and less tourists, go to Hoang Su Phi.

Here, you get similar views, similar tribes and similar landscapes, but with way fewer tourists. People are always talking about trying to find the most remote parts of Vietnam, pretending that Sapa, Ha Giang and Ninh Binh are really secluded and untouched.

 

Those places aren’t – but Hoang Su Phi genuinely is.

 

In Hoang Su Phi, you can take road trips through the mountains, which take in peaks, mountains, valleys, and the rice fields you’re so keen to see. For travelers seeking Vietnamese rice terraces, Hoang Su Phi is ridiculously underrated.

 

The best rice fields in Hoang Su Phi, Vietnam

 

Again, if you ride or motorbike (or take a motorbike tour) through the area, you’ll see lots of rice fields just by traveling around. But the best are found in the areas in and around the outskirts of Hoang Su Phi. If you want to seek out the best rice terraces you can, consider these places:

• Bang Phung – around 35km from central Hoang Su Phi, this village has some of the highest, steepest rice fields in the whole of Vietnam.

• Ban Luoc – only 15km from Hoang Su Phi, Ban Luoc is popular with hikers. It’s probably the best hidden hiking spot in all of Vietnam.

• Nam Ty – around 25km south of Hoang Su Phi, these terraces are some of the most accessible in the area, but they’re still incredible.

• Ho Thau – close to Ban Luoc, you’ll find lots of Red Dao tribespeople here (and some excellent rice terraces, obviously).

• Location: Northern Vietnam, along the Chinese border and just to the west of Ha Giang.

• Distance from the closest big city: Hoang Su Phi is around 280km from Hanoi, and around 80km west of Ha Giang.

• How to get there: There’s no direct bus from Hanoi, though you may be able to arrange a private transfer from Hanoi. Most travelers get a bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang before then arranging a private transfer (or riding a motorbike) from Ha Giang to Hoang Su Phi.

• When to visit: Again, the best time is September and October.

 

Mu Cang Chai - Large and long-standing rice fields of Vietnam

 

 

In terms of landscape, Mu Cang Chai is pretty similar to the three entries we’ve already listed. In terms of atmosphere, it’s similar to Hoang Su Phi, but it’s even more remote and untouched.

 

That’s largely because getting here is a pretty hefty challenge – if you’re approaching from the south, you’ll need to tackle the lofty heights of Khau Pha Pass, one of the highest and most dangerous roads in the whole of Vietnam.

 

But on a good day (when the skies are clear), it’s absolutely worth the trip – the views of the region’s rice fields from the top of Khau Pha Pass are some of the nation’s best, while the views from Mu Cang Chai are almost as good. A ridiculously mountainous region, the rice fields here are vast, and sit on both rolling hills and dizzying drops.

 

For a combination of mountains, local tribes, endless rice terraces, great drives, good hikes and untouched regions of Vietnam, Mu Cang Chai is excellent. 

 

The best rice fields in Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam

 

Again, you should book a trek from your guesthouse. Local people know this area better than anyone, and there are no official walking trails or waymarkings, so traveling with a local is the only way to guarantee that you’re definitely seeing the best (and most varied) views of rice fields. Any guesthouse will be able to arrange an incredible trek.

 

If you want the best views of the rice terraces on the drive in to Mu Cang Chai, you should tackle the trip with a private driver, allowing you to stop whenever and wherever you want. For rice terrace views, it’s one of the best experiences that Vietnam has to offer.

 

• Location: In the northwest of the nation, but not as far north as Sapa, Ha Giang or Hoang Su Phi.
• Distance from the closest big city: Around 300km from Hanoi and 150km from Sapa.
• How to get there: It’s possible to get buses from both Sapa and Hanoi, but some tourists also rent private drivers from other small places, or rent motorbikes to make their own way to Mu Cang Chai.
• When to visit: Mid September to mid October, leaving you with a pretty tiny window

 

Mai Chau - Old and little known rice fields

 

 

Continuing along our northern rice field theme, we now move a little closer to Hanoi in the form of Mai Chau.

While Vietnam’s most northern rice terraces are lofty shelves of mountainside layers, the terraces you see further south are usually much flatter, dominating seemingly-endless stretches of horizontal farmland. In this region of Vietnam, rice fields sit in the space beneath the mountains rather than on the side of them.

 

In Mai Chau, life is lived by what the land provides. Most people work in agriculture, most homes are situated near rice fields, and most meals include rice. Mai Chau is a popular getaway for Hanoi’s residents, who like to escape the busy bustle of the capital in pursuit of Mai Chau’s relaxing atmosphere.

 

The best rice fields in Mai Chau, Vietnam

 

Rent a bicycle, go on a hike or arrange a tour. In Mai Chau, you really don’t need to make any huge effort to see the best rice fields, as you’ll see them everywhere.

If you ride a bicycle into the rural outskirts of Mai Chau, you’ll be riding through rice fields. If you go on a walk, you’ll see rice fields. If you hike up a mountain, you’ll be looking down on views of rice fields. Wherever you go in Mai Chau, you’ll see rice fields.

 

• Location: Mai Chau is in the northern part of Vietnam, just west of Hanoi.
• Distance from the closest big city: Around 135km from Hanoi.
• How to get there: There are frequent buses from Hanoi, but you can easily and affordably get a private transfer (from many places) if you prefer.
• When to visit: If you want to see the rice fields at their greenest, it’s best to visit in May or June, but August, September and October are pretty good too.

 

Pu Luong - Abundant fields with seasonally stable lushness

 

 

Close to Mai Chau is Pu Luong, which offers a similar landscape but an even more remote and rural location. It’s a rugged and rudimentary place (even more so than some of the other destinations we’ve featured).

 

Here, bamboo water wheels work alongside water buffalo and local farmers to plant, harvest and nurture the rice-packed farmland. The landscape here is halfway between what you’ll see in Mai Chau and what you’ll see in places like Sapa.

 

While Mai Chau’s rice fields stretch out into the horizon, and Sapa’s are stacked onto the side of vertiginous mountains, Pu Luong’s landscape is mainly made up of rolling hills, lowy-lying streams and forested backdrops. It’s an undulating landscape, and the rice sits on and across much of it.

 

The best rice fields in Pu Luong, Vietnam

 

 

Ninh Binh is hugely underrated. It’s popular, it’s well known, and lots of tourists visit, but it still doesn’t get the credit and attention it deserves. The town itself is small and charming, but it’s outskirts are the real attraction.

 

Known as ‘Halong Bay on land,’ you get jagged karsts, lofty peaks, UNESCO-listed caves, excellent hikes, great bike rides and some of Vietnam’s best rice fields.

 

All of the outdoor action is in Tam Coc, only around 10km from the center of Ninh Binh’s diminutive dimensions. Here, you can see the rice terraces in a myriad of ways, by hiking, walking, cycling or even taking a boat trip.

 

The best rice fields in Ninh Binh, Vietnam

 

Hiking, cycling and walking are all good ways to see various parts of Tam Coc’s vast beauty, and there are endless peaks, trails and paths to explore, all of which offer excellent views of the region’s rice fields.

 

But the best rice-based experience that Ninh Binh has to offer is on the back of a boat. These basic but beautiful boat trips are, for me, one of the most exciting and alluring attractions in northern Vietnam.

 

On these boat trips, you’ll jump into a rustic and rudimentary wooden boat, and a local person will use their feet (seriously) to paddle you along. You’ll enter caves, glide by rice fields, float along the river, and see pigs, water buffalo and local kids. It’s unique, unusual and beautiful, and it’s one of Vietnam’s best experiences.

 

• Location: In the north, close to Hanoi.

• Distance from the closest big city: Around 100km south of Hanoi.

• How to get there: It’s easy to get a bus or train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, but lots of people instead decide to tackle that same journey on a motorbike. It’s best to spend a couple of days in Ninh Binh to give it the attention it deserves, but it’s possible to visit on a day trip from Hanoi if you’re short on time. From Ninh Binh, it’s easy to ride a motorbike or book a private driver to Tam Coc.

• When to visit: May and June.

 

The Mekong Delta - The most fertile alluvial rice fields in Vietnam

 

 

 Every other entry on this list is in (or near) Vietnam’s north, but the Mekong Delta is planted firmly in the south. A sprawling network of rivers, rivulets and various other waterways, The Mekong Delta is actually the biggest rice-producing region in the whole of Vietnam, which is pretty incredible, given how much of it is churned out in the mountainous north.

 

Around 70% of the nation’s rice comes from the Mekong Delta.

Exploring the rice fields in the Mekong Delta is a massively unique experience. Most of Vietnam’s rice regions are mountainous and hilly, meaning you need to hike your way towards the paddies.

 

But here, most journeys are tackled by boat, the landscape a bizarre but beautiful water-woven patchwork of farms, houses, villages, rice paddies and markets, their shapes and sizes dictated by the natural flow of the mighty Mekong.

 

The best rice fields in Mekong Delta, Vietnam