In North Vietnam, travellers ask us most about three paragliding areas: Sa Pa, Mu Cang Chai and Hanoi. All three are part of the Mebayluon network and all are tandem flights with a pilot, so you need no experience. What differs is the view under your wing, the best season, the distance and how each one fits into your trip.
The short answer: already in Sa Pa? Fly Sa Pa. Want rice terraces in the water season or at harvest time? Fly Khau Pha (Mu Cang Chai). Only half a day in Hanoi? Fly Doi Bu or Vien Nam. Below we go through each area, then compare them and suggest one for each kind of itinerary.
Sa Pa: flying over the Muong Hoa valley
In Sa Pa, the Sapa Paragliding team takes off from Hang Da village on Hau Thao mountain, at about 1,500 m, flies for 8–15 minutes over the Muong Hoa valley and lands by the Lao Chai bridge in Ta Van commune, at about 1,000 m. The whole outing takes about 90 minutes. Prices start at 2,090,000 VND, with no deposit: you pay at the flying site. Guests from 3 years old, up to 110 kg. Everything about Sapa paragliding, including Sa Pa paragliding prices, is on the Sa Pa team's own website.
Muong Hoa is a long, narrow valley. From the air you look straight down its length: terraces on both slopes, villages and the stream on the valley floor, the Hoang Lien Son range behind. Sa Pa flies all year when the weather allows; autumn and winter give the clearest skies and, some mornings, a sea of cloud. June to August is the rainy season, when the team usually flies early, before the cloud builds.
Sa Pa suits you if Sa Pa is already on your itinerary: the flight fits into half a day, between village treks or a trip up Fansipan. Trains, the expressway and limousine vans run from Hanoi every day, so Sa Pa is the easiest of the mountain areas to slot into a trip.
Mu Cang Chai: flying over the terraces of the Khau Pha pass
The Mu Cang Chai flying site is near the top of the Khau Pha pass, right by National Road 32, with take-off at 1,268 m. You fly out over the Lim Mong valley and land by the It Thai bridge at the Mebayluon Clubhouse. A tandem paragliding flight lasts 8 – 15 minutes depending on the wind, about 40 – 60 minutes for the whole experience. It costs 2,190,000 VND on weekdays and 2,590,000 VND at weekends and on public holidays. It is also the only one of the three areas with paramotor flights: 15 minutes for 2,390,000 VND on weekdays.
The view changes with the rice. April – May is the water season, when the flooded terraces shine like mirrors. June – August is green and quiet. Late August to mid October is the golden season, the most beautiful and the busiest, so book 1 – 2 weeks ahead. After the harvest, cold mornings in late autumn and winter often bring a sea of cloud. From My Dinh in Hanoi, take the Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressway and leave at the IC14 interchange: about 280 km to take-off. Everything else is in our Mu Cang Chai paragliding guide.
Khau Pha suits you if you are heading to the northwest for the rice terraces, want to fly over a wide valley with little town around it, or want to try a paramotor flight. If you are travelling for the rice seasons, this is the first choice.
Hanoi: Doi Bu and Vien Nam, there and back in half a day
The two sites near Hanoi are about an hour's drive from the centre; the whole trip, flight included, takes around 3 – 5 hours. The 650 m package costs 1,790,000 VND and the 850 m package from Vien Nam summit 2,090,000 VND; the 4×4 up the mountain (150,000 VND per person) and transport from Hanoi are added when you book. Flights last 8 – 20 minutes depending on the wind.
The two hills face opposite ways, so the wind decides where you fly. Doi Bu takes the north wind and is the main site from September to December; from late October its slopes turn white with reed flowers. Vien Nam takes the south wind and is the main site from January to August, looking out over the Da river and Ba Vi mountain. The evening before, the team tells you the site and pickup time. Prices, transport and directions are in our Hanoi paragliding guide.
Hanoi suits you if you only have a day or half a day, are on a business trip, are travelling with family, or want a first flight before heading to the mountains. No overnight stay: out in the morning, back by afternoon.
Quick comparison
| Sa Pa (Muong Hoa) | Mu Cang Chai (Khau Pha) | Hanoi (Doi Bu, Vien Nam) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under your wing | Narrow valley, terraces, villages, Hoang Lien Son range | Wide valley, terraces stepping down the slopes | Wooded hills and plains; Da river, Ba Vi (Vien Nam) |
| Take-off | About 1,500 m | 1,268 m | 650 m or 850 m |
| Time in the air | 8 – 15 min | 8 – 15 min (paramotor 15 min) | 8 – 20 min |
| Whole outing | About 90 min | About 40 – 60 min on site | 3 – 5 hours including the drive from Hanoi |
| From | 2,090,000 VND, paid on site | 2,190,000 VND weekdays, 2,590,000 VND weekends and holidays | 1,790,000 VND (650 m), 2,090,000 VND (850 m) |
| Best season | Clearest in autumn and winter; flies all year | Water (Apr – May), green rice (Jun – Aug), golden rice (late Aug – mid Oct) | Doi Bu Sep – Dec, Vien Nam Jan – Aug |
| Best for | Travellers already going to Sa Pa | Rice-season trips, paramotor fans | Half-day or one-day visitors |
Which one fits your itinerary
- One or two days in Hanoi: fly Doi Bu or Vien Nam, out in the morning and back by afternoon.
- Two or three days in Sa Pa: fly Muong Hoa while you are there; the outing takes about 90 minutes, not a whole day.
- Travelling for the water season or the harvest: fly Khau Pha, and book 1 – 2 weeks ahead in the golden season.
- A northwest loop Hanoi – Mu Cang Chai – Sa Pa (3 – 4 days): fly both; the road between Sa Pa and Hanoi via National Road 32 passes Khau Pha.
- Want a paramotor flight: of these three areas, only Khau Pha offers it.
Still torn between Mu Cang Chai and Sa Pa? Mu Cang Chai or Sa Pa for paragliding compares terrain, wind and site facilities in more detail.
Quick questions
Which is best for a first flight?
Any of them. All three are tandem flights: the pilot flies, you run a few steps at take-off and then sit back and enjoy the view. Choose by your itinerary and the view you want.
Where to fly in November or December?
Hanoi is in Doi Bu's main season, with the hills white with reeds. Sa Pa has clear skies and some mornings a sea of cloud. Khau Pha has finished its harvest, but cold mornings often bring a sea of cloud. All three fly; pick the one on your route.
Can children and heavier guests fly?
All three take guests from 3 years old. In Sa Pa the limit is 110 kg (tell the team in advance if over 95 kg). At Khau Pha and in Hanoi the limit is under 120 kg; tell us in advance if you are over 90 kg or under 30 kg so we can assign the right pilot and equipment.
What if the weather is bad?
Wind and cloud decide whether you fly. In all three areas, if the weather is not safe you can reschedule or cancel free of charge; just let the team know in advance. Booking early lets the team watch the forecast for your date.
Booking
- Khau Pha (Mu Cang Chai): book on the Khau Pha flying site page.
- Hanoi (Doi Bu, Vien Nam): book on the Hanoi flying site page.
- Sa Pa (Muong Hoa): book on the Sa Pa team's website linked in the Sa Pa section above; no deposit needed.