Mu Cang Chai is a western district of Yen Bai Province, about 350km to the north-west of Ha Noi. The district is bounded to the north by Van Ban District (Lao Cai Province), to the south by Muong La District (Son La Province), to the west by Than Uyen District (Lai Chau Province) and to the east by Van Chan District (Yen Bai Province).
After taking a trip from Ha Noi to Yen Bai City, visitors will have going 40km on National Highway No.37 before turning on the right to catch National Highway No.32 running through Nghia Lo Township to Tu Le. From Tu Le, visitors will have to pass Nam Khat Pass, which is 2,000m above the sea level, continuing to go on the western slope of Hoang Lien Son Mountain range and along Nam Kim Stream before reaching Mu Cang Chai. Another option for visitors is they can take a trip on National Highway No.32 from Ha Noi, via Son Tay and Tu Le to end in Mu Cang Chai.
Due to the steep feature, fertile soil and mountain cliffs often stock water, the local people, mainly Mong ethnic minorities, can grow rice and establish terraced fields, one after another, from the foot to nearly top of mountains. Generations to generations of these people have made terraced fields as today.