Mu Cang Chai in October: Late Harvest, Blue Skies & Cloud Hunting

October is the start of the dry season in Mu Cang Chai. In the first week the higher fields are still golden, with far fewer people than in September. By the end of the month most terraces are harvested, pink and white buckwheat flowers grow on some of the cut fields, and clear mornings bring seas of cloud below Khau Phạ Pass.

Weather in Mu Cang Chai in October

• Temperature: 15–24°C in the day, cold at night
• Rainfall: Rare; the dry season begins
• Conditions: Deep blue skies and good visibility

Nights turn properly cold this month, so bring a warm layer for homestays.

Best things to do in October

• Photographing the last golden terraces at higher altitude in the first week
• Watching the sea of clouds from Khau Phạ Pass at sunrise
• Seeing harvest celebrations and threshing early in the month
• Buying cốm in Tú Lệ, and roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes from roadside stalls

Pros & cons

Advantages

• Late harvest without September’s crowds
• Dry, clear weather
• Cloud-hunting season begins

Considerations

• By mid-month most fields have been cut
• Cold nights
• Terraces look bare once harvested

Travel tips for October

• Come in the first week of October for the golden fields
• Leave for Khau Phạ Pass before dawn if you want to see the clouds
• Ask your host which communes are still harvesting

What to pack for October

• A warm jacket for early mornings
• Layers for warm afternoons
• A headtorch for pre-dawn starts
• Sunscreen