Mu Cang Chai rice terraces in the northern province of Yen Bai have been ranked 21st in the list of 50 most beautiful places in the world in 2020, according to Big 7 Travel. 

Mu Cang Chai rice terraces in Yen Bai province. Photo: Duy Khanh/Kinh te & Do thi

The travel site took into account Pinterest data for ‘most beautiful places in world’ pins, the most liked photos on Big 7 Travel Instagram, suggestions from readers and its editorial team.

“When you imagine magnificent Asian rice fields swirling on the slopes of velvet green hills, you’re picturing Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam. Centuries of careful cultivation have shaped what is easily some of the most beautiful rice terraces in the world,” the travel site wrote.

Mu Cang Chai is also full of hiking trails and vibrant local culture. Black Hmong, a branch of one of Vietnam’s largest ethnic minorities, are the primary residents. Moreover, Mu Cang Chai provides a unique look into their way of life, according to the site.

In 2019, the US business news channel CNBC included Mu Cang Chai among the top of the 2020 travel list praising its magnificent rice terraced fields, saying trekking here is popular, as is cycling and photography, and festivals attract record numbers of tourists every year, including an autumn paragliding festival that’s helping to establish Mu Cang Chai as a new destination for adventure travel.

Mu Cang Chai was also named as one of the world’s top 20 colorful places in 2019 by the New York-based magazine Conde Nast Traveler.