Mai Chau Tours
3-hour drive from Hanoi, nestled between towering windy cliffs lush green paddy fields, Mai Chau displays its ultimate charm of a typical Northern countryside province. The ride from Hanoi to Mai Chau is pleasant, passing nice landscape. The small town of Mai Chau is unappealing and fill with concreate houses and Hotels in building style. But got off the road, you will find many Thai villages nested away from the busy road, near the rolling hills and covered under the green. Best to spend 1 or 2 night in Mai Chau, at traditional stilt houses amongst the endless rice terraces. The destination has long been home to Thai families, one of the friendliest minority groups in Vietnam, where they would guide visitors to best handicraft shops, authentic Vietnamese culinary as well as local hosted activities like cooking class, mountain trekking or cloth-weaving workshop. If you are falling for soft adventurous, plus, nature elements such as biking, hiking and relaxationMai Chau would definitely score the essentials. If you are more about hard trek, off the grid and real authentic culture encounter, you can go further in the area to Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
Why Mai Chau:
– 135km from Hanoi but a World away
– Culture diverse, rich and characteristic cuisine
Best time to visit:
– February – May for blossoms and green terraces
– September – October for golden rice paddy fields
Things to do:
– Cycle to visit beautiful ethnic villages such as Na Tang, Cha Long, Tong Dau, Van Villages
– Stay at one of Thai hosted houses or homestays and try the home-cook dishes
– Treking to Ban Buoc, Cun Pheo, Hang Kia
Where to stay:
– Mai Chau Ecolodge (luxury bungalow style)
– Mai Chau Lodge
– Sol Bungalow
How to get there:
– From Hanoi, you can buy public bus ticket to get to Mai Chau from My Dinh Bus Station
– Rent a car with a local tour company
– If you travel with Sens Asia, you always have your private car and driver cover for this trip