Mù Cang Chải is a rural district of Yên Bái Province, in the Northwest region of Vietnam. As of 2019, the district had a population of 63,961. The district covers an area of 1199 km². The district capital lies at Mù Cang Chải.
It shares the border in the north with Van Ban district of Lao Cai province, neighboring in the south of Muong La district of Son La province, being the west of Than Uyen Lai Chau province, sharing in the east of Van Chan district and Yen Bai province. The district is located at the foot of Hoang Lien Son mountain range, at an altitude of 1,000 metres above sea level. To get to Mù Cang Chải district, travellers must pass through Khau Phạ Pass, which is one of four imposing passes in the northwest of Vietnam.
The rice terrace fields in La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha and Ze Xu Phinh have been recognized as national landscapes by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. There have been local festivals in Yên Bái and the Mù Cang Chải rice terrace fields that have been used to attract both domestic and international tourists. This region of northwest Vietnam is poor and relatively undeveloped has a rich natural environment.