Mai Chau Valley

Mai Chau is a beautiful valley where you’ll find enchanting peaceful villages of the White Thai people, surrounded by lush green mountains and dotted with lakes, rice fields, rivers and traditional wooden stilt houses with thatched roofs. This charming valley resembles an immense green stadium where small dirt paths wind through rice fields and lakes. Its lush wildlife and relaxing atmosphere are enough to attract a large number of tourists. In general, they spend about two days in Mai Chau, coming to enjoy this small paradise of peace.

Where is Mai Chau located?

Mai Chau is a mountainous district situated at the far west of Hoa Binh province, adjacent to Pu Luong in Thanh Hoa and Moc Chau in Son La. Mai Chau is located about 140 km from Hanoi and about 60 km from the city center of Hoa Binh.

This valley possesses the typical beauty of the Northwest region. Coming here, visitors can admire poetic and majestic tourist sites and enjoy privileged moments in the heart of nature.

When to visit Mai Chau?

This valley enjoys a cool and pleasant climate almost all year round, so you can visit it at any time. In summer it’s warm, but less than in the big cities, and the open spaces always offer purer air. However, the period when Mai Chau is most beautiful is from October to December and from March to April. These are the months when flowers bloom, and especially between March and April many festivals are held that allow you to experience unforgettable moments.

As for rice cultivation, it begins in March and ends in May; so during this period you can admire green or golden fields. Furthermore, the activity of the farmers makes the landscape even more fascinating.

How to get to Mai Chau?

Mai Chau is a region, so depending on your precise destination, travel time can vary considerably. Below you’ll find general information. Further down we indicate the villages where you can stay: you’ll just need to choose the means of transport that will take you directly to that place.

By bus

The journey takes about 3 hours. You can take a bus from one of Hanoi’s stations: My Dinh, Giap Bat or Yen Nghia. An excellent alternative for those who prefer to leave from central Hanoi is the Moc Chau Express bus. This type of transport is quite economical: the ticket costs about 4–5 USD, depending on the company.

By private car

If you seek comfort and flexibility, traveling by private car is the best choice. The journey usually takes 3–3.5 hours. The great advantage of traveling by private car is that you can decide your departure and return time, or stop along the way to take beautiful photos.

Where to stay in Mai Chau?

There are several villages where you can stay during your visit to Mai Chau:

How to get around in Mai Chau?

The best way to explore Mai Chau is on foot or by bicycle. Bicycles can be rented from locals or at homestays for 1–2 USD. Walking or cycling on Mai Chau’s dirt roads, admiring the splendid landscapes of wildflowers, rice fields and villages, is a very pleasant experience.

What to see and do in Mai Chau?

Thung Khe Pass

Before reaching Mai Chau, you’ll pass through Thung Khe Pass. Don’t rush; stop to admire Mai Chau from a distance like a painting with a thousand colors. Coming here, you’ll be struck by the extremely majestic and magnificent natural landscape, with the winding pass road surrounded by green grass. It’s certainly an ideal place to take beautiful photographs.

Thung Nai Port

About 20 km from Hoa Binh city center. The beauty of Thung Nai is made up of the Da River and majestic mountains. Coming to Thung Nai, you can board a small boat and participate in the floating market of Thac Bo, visit the temple of Ba Chua Thac Bo…

Lac village

Speaking of Mai Chau, one must mention Lac village, considered one of the most beautiful in Mai Chau. This place encompasses all the rustic, natural and welcoming characteristics, where the cultural identity of the White Thai people is strongly present. Here you can admire the vast fields, interspersed with villages, and purchase brocade products as souvenirs.

The inhabitants are very kind and love to be photographed in their workshops or in their homes, smiling happily at the camera. It’s an ideal place to immerse yourself in the natural landscape and learn more about the culture of ethnic minorities.

Trekking

Exploring the rice fields is one of the must-do activities in Mai Chau. Although they’re not as majestic as the terraced rice fields of Mu Cang Chai or Hoang Su Phi, Mai Chau’s rice fields possess a unique beauty that will give you splendid photographs. Then you can walk through the more distant villages like Step, Kha, Ban Te and the hamlet of Kha to discover the life of local inhabitants.

Furthermore, you can explore caves like Chieu Cave and Mo Luong Cave. Climbing 1200 steps, you’ll be able to admire the surreal beauty of stalactites and enjoy the panoramic view of Mai Chau from above.

Staying with the White Thai

Spending a day and night in a wooden stilt house with the White Thai is a real invitation to share their daily life and discover their handicrafts. You’ll be captivated by the simple and pleasant atmosphere. The people will welcome you warmly in their homes as if you were part of the family, offering you accommodation and simple but clean meals.

Tasting the specialties of the White Thai

With the White Thai, you’ll have the opportunity to taste ruou can (a fermented rice alcohol that is sipped collectively through bamboo straws). You can also try com Lam, a specialty of ethnic minorities made from glutinous rice pressed into pieces of young bamboo, closed at one end and cut at the other, then roasted over fire until the bark becomes completely charred.

Another specialty is Muong pork (from a breed of small pigs raised freely, with compact and tasty meat), cut into pieces and flavored with spices such as onion, garlic, sesame and chili. Everything is skewered and grilled over embers, spreading a delicious aroma that will immediately make your mouth water.

Where to sleep?

With the inhabitants

If you want to experience authentic life in Mai Chau, staying with a host family is an ideal choice. In Mai Chau villages, such as Lac, Pom Coong, Boc and Mai Hich, you’ll find local homes that will welcome you warmly.

Lac village has about thirty large stilt houses available, offering the best opportunities to spend the night in a traditional Thai house. Each room can accommodate several dozen people, is completely equipped with blankets and pillows and separated from others by curtains. For those traveling in large groups, this option is the most economical.

In hotels

If you want more private space, especially if you’re traveling as a couple or with small children, you can choose to stay in a hotel or in some bungalows. Some hotels are located right next to the main road that connects Mai Chau city to the village.

Budget hotels and hostels

Little Mai Chau HomeStay

Address: Naphon village

Eco Homestay

Address: Lac village, Chieng Chau

Mid-range hotels

Nhong Retreat

Address: Hich 2 village, Mai Hich

Mai Chau Nature Lodge

Address: Naphon village

High-end hotels and resorts

Mai Chau HideAway Resort

Address: Suoi Lon village

Mai Chau Ecolodge

Address: Na Chieng village, Na Phon

Conclusion

If you want to discover a region off the beaten path, beautiful and wild, you must go to Mai Chau. Furthermore, if you want to explore northern Vietnam, consult our article to prepare yourself best: Stay in Northern Vietnam.