The green mountain scenery, rice fields in the valley and distinctive cultures.

Mai Chau (Mai Châu) and its surroundings is located in Hoa Binh province, about 135 kilometers West of Hanoi. It lies only 150 m above sea level. Mai Chau attracts many visitors each year. Mai Chau district has about 50,000 inhabitants, including seven ethnic minority groups – the White Thai, Hmong, Dzao..

Almost all local people offer accommodation in wooden stilt houses.

Whites and Black Thai people are the biggest ethnic groups of this region, their origins and ancestors are from Thailand. They build big houses with their characteristic architecture, putting the houses on stilts which provides protection against rising water and dangerous animals.These houses can be your accommodation. You can also watch local farmers and how they work in the rice fields.

The best option for accommodation in Mai Chau is a village house.

It is not a problem finding somewhere to stay in Mai Chau, a variety of places can be found in the Lac and Poom Coong villages, and there are a lot of set-up homestay facilities. Most real or genuine homestay can be found in the Van village. Almost every homestay has a big room and you will sleep with other people, say with 8-10 other guests. Some families can offer a separate double room.

Almost all the homestays in Mai Chau are adapted for travelers and tourists.

The city also has some middle of the road hotels. In Mai Chau there is also a 4-star Mai Chau Ecolodge, on a beautiful spot in the rice fields, for the more demanding of luxury. Mai Chau is a very big valley in the lowlands, and the best time to visit is from October to April, because other months can be very hot. Agoda and Booking offer some hotels and homestay in the villages.

Pu Luong Nature reserve is a good picturesque place for treks.

On the edge of the Mai Chau town is a ready made starting point at Pu Luong Nature reserve. This huge reserve is ideal for trekking and exploring the life of ethnic minority people. There is plenty of opportunity to use some of the homestay accommodation. The reserve is the home to several protected and endangered animal species – for example leopards and bears.

Ethnic villages, rivers, mountains and valleys are big attractions in Pu Luong.

The reserve is ideal for bird watching. It’s a huge wooded area with small villages and residents of the Thai ethnic group. It is best recommended to go there with a guide, but you can go by yourself under your own steam. You can go easily without a guide to the area around the reservation. Some trails start at the town of Mai Chau itself. 

You won’t get bored here – biking, trekking or walking in the paddy fields.

Mai Chau offers a lot of activities, eg. a tour to the ethnic villages where you will see the farmers at their daily work in the fields. You can rent a push-bike or motorcycle to ride around the neighborhood, visit the Chieu cave, the Thai ethnic museum, trekking in Pu Luong Nature reserve, or a scenic sightseeing tour around the Hoa Binh lake.

Take a trip to Moc Chau town – a of tea plantations.n area

You can also do a 1 day trip into the town of tea plantations and fruit trees – Moc Chau. Moc Chau town and its surroundings are located approximately 40 km from Mai Chau, and with a motorcycle it is not a problem to get there. In this area you will see large tea plantations. Moc Chau is also known as a growing area for plums, apricots and other fruits. You will see blooming trees and flowers especially in the spring time.

Many villages of different ethnic minority people are around the city.

Many villages in Mai Chau are located within 3 km from the city and they are very easily accessible – you can rent a bike or you can walk. If you want to go further and visit a market, Pa Co sunday market is a good option. It is about 20 km from Mai Chau on the road to Moc Chau town. A lot of minority people, mainly Hmongs go there to sell or buy almost anything.

In the villages you can watch the popular dance of Thai residents – Xoe.

In the villages near the town of Mai Chau, you have the opportunity to watch a popular dance Xoe celebrated by the Thai minority people. Xoe dance has a long history,originating around the year 1000 AD. It began with boys and girls from different villages dancing, holding hands and forming circles. This dance is the traditional activity of northwest Vietnam and it takes place at many festivals. The dance can also be used to welcome visitors and tourists who come to this area. This dance has evolved to another 36 varients and has became a symbol of solidarity among the ethnic groups in the northwestern region.