Mu Cang Chai - Magnificence of Nature

At an average altitude of 1,000 m above sea level, Mu Cang Chai is a magical gift created by the terrain, climate, natural landscape and rich resources.

With a natural area of over 1,200 km2; Mu Cang Chai borders Van Ban district in the North (Lao Cai province); borders Than Uyen district in the West (Lai Chau province); borders Muong La district in the South (Son La province); borders Van Chan and Van Yen districts in the East (Yen Bai province). Mu Cang Chai district has 13 communes and 1 town, the population is over 67,000, including 12 ethnic groups, in which the Mong people account for nearly 90% and the Thai, 5.2 %.

The district center is located in Mu Cang Chai town, nestled in a valley, surrounded by high mountains. The town is divided into the left bank and right bank by Nam Kim Stream, a long stream with a large flow of water all the four seasons murmuring like the sacred music of nature.

The district is surrounded by majestic mountains such as Lung Cung mountain, Nam Co commune, 2,913m high, ranked 11th among 19 highest peaks in Vietnam; Pung Luong peak, Pung Luong commune 2,070m high; Ta Cay Dang and Trang Cay Dang peaks are over 2,000m high, an attractive and challenging destination for photographers, tourists to experience and conquer.

The district features a fresh, cool climate. The annual average temperature is about 19oC, in which the highest average summer temperature is about 24oC. Snow often appears on the mountain peaks and Khau Pha pass area in winter, attracting photographers and tourists to explore and experience.

Historical tradition

The tradition of patriotism and solidarity against foreign invaders of the people of all ethnic groups is a precious capital in the history of Mu Cang Chai. Typically, the Khau Pha guerrilla team, the Che Tao, Lao Chai guerrilla team coordinated with the army to organize hundreds of battles, making many resounding victories in the resistance war. In 1998, Cao Pha commune was conferred "Hero of the People's Armed Forces in the resistance war". Now, the Khau Pha guerrilla team relic is an attractive sightseeing place attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.

On October 18, 1955, the Prime Minister issued Decree 606-TTg establishing Chau Mu Cang Chai under the Thai-Meo Autonomous Region, including 13 communes in Than Uyen, Van Chan and Chau Muong La. In October 1962, Mu Cang Chai became a district of Nghia Lo province. On February 16, 1976, Hoang Lien Son province was established and Mu Cang Chai district of Hoang Lien Son province was established. In 1991, Hoang Lien Son province split into Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces and Mu Cang Chai became a district of Yen Bai province.

With the desire to conquer nature for survival on the land of heaven, the ancestors chose rocks located in a position with a clear vision to carve shapes such as mountains, tortoises or like a sheet of paper unfolding before majestic nature. The images carved on the rocks are mostly terraced fields, cranes, heavenly horses, astronomical maps, yin and yang, five elements and many ancient characters and scripts. According to museum experts in Yen Bai province, the owners of the carvings on the ancient rock are the Mong people who carved them in the 16th and 17th centuries. Some of them were carved on the ancient stone beach of Lao Chai commune, with more than 20 blocks. Ancient rocks are scattered on the shifting fields with the volume from 2 to 50 m3. The carvings are the sacred message of our fathers to present and future generations.

By Thanh Nga, Vietnam Business Forum