The Mu Cang Chai flying site sits at the top of Khau Pha Pass, about 250 km from Hanoi. Below it lie rows of terraced fields stretching to distant, cloud-covered ranges at the foot of the Hoang Lien Son mountains. 📌 Note: this article recounts the 2022 "Flying Over the Scenic Land" golden-season paragliding festival, republished from Dan Tri. This year's flying and festival schedule may differ — please contact Mebayluon for current dates.
🎪 The 'Flying Over the Scenic Land' paragliding festival
In 2022, the People’s Committee of Mu Cang Chai District in Yen Bai Province, in coordination with relevant agencies, co-organized the paragliding festival titled “Flying Over the Scenic Land.” The event kicked off on September 2 and ran throughout the entire month of September, with the main festival activities taking place from September 23 to 26. It is the largest gathering of both domestic and international pilots, featuring spectacular and eye-catching paragliding performances.
International pilots had the opportunity to visit and paraglide over one of the “Top 10 most beautiful terraced rice fields in the world.” This is also a great chance for pilots to connect, exchange experiences, and learn from one another, contributing to the further development and professionalization of paragliding.
🪂 Tandem flights over the golden Lim Mong valley
Visitors can also personally experience the breathtaking beauty of Lim Mong Valley during the golden harvest season by flying tandem with professional pilots. Soaring above a shimmering sea of golden rice fields under the morning sunlight, gently veiled in early mist, is a perfect way to start a new day. Experiencing a flight over the ripened fields at sunset also leaves a powerful and unforgettable impression. In addition to paragliding activities, visitors to Mu Cang Chai during this time can enjoy vibrant cultural performances, including traditional songs and dances of the Northwest ethnic communities. During the September 2 holiday, there are also various folk activities such as goat fighting contests, fast rice harvesting competitions, plowing contests, rice field fishing experiences, beeswax pattern drawing on fabric, banh day pounding contests, the new rice celebration, the Hmong khen festival, and traditional spinning top competitions of the Hmong people.
🎭 September festivals and cultural events
Throughout September, Mu Cang Chai will continuously host a variety of unique festivals, attracting large numbers of visitors from near and far. Mr. Dang Van My, the paragliding pilot with the most flight hours in Vietnam and director of Vien Nam Tourism and Sports Joint Stock Company - the event organizing unit, shared: “I have been to Mu Cang Chai many times, but I am never less amazed by the pristine yet majestic beauty of this scenic land. I feel very happy to contribute to helping people admire Mu Cang Chai from thousands of meters above, taking in the full beauty of its terraced rice fields during the golden harvest season. This year, the paragliding festival gathers many talented pilots, and I hope it will become a highlight in visitors’ journeys to Mu Cang Chai.”
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/bay-du-luon-ngam-lua-chin-mu-cang-chai-yen-bai-20220831164208193.htm
Planning your own harvest-season flight? Prices, the best months of the year and how to book are all in paragliding in Mu Cang Chai.
