Mai Châu is a charming valley. Trevelers are advised to make a stopover to take a walk in surrounding villages, enjoy the quiet of countryside. The highlights of the valley are its wild nature and the colorfulness of its ethnic minorities: Thai, Hmong, Muong, Dzao... The panoramas are also breathtaking.
Once in Mai Châu, you should have a visit on foot or by bike through Thai or Muong villages, while crossing rice fields, lakes and hamlets. These villages are an opportunity to discover the cultural richness and diversity of local ethnic minorities. The hamlets of Ban Lac, Pom Coong, Ban Van, Cha Long, Ban Buoc, Mai Hich are typical of Thai community. Their houses are built on 1.5m high stilts of solid wood and covered with palm leaf roofs. In some houses, women still weave colored brocade. Don’t miss on tasting regional specialties, including famous ruou cân (rice alcohol, preserved in a jar, and drink with bamboo straws) and grilled freshwater fish with condiments.
If spending a night in a hotel or resort does not match your style, you can stay at a local family’s home at a good price. Many local people are enthusiastic of welcoming foreigners and cooking for them. Unforgettable moments and lots of laughs guaranteed! But no matter where you stay, you will enjoy unique outdoor shows of folklor dancing and singing. On summer mornings, enjoy breathtaking sunrises, calm atmosphere of this little paradise. From your room, you will be able to contemplate the beauty of peaceful villages, lush rice paddies and romantic hills and lakes.
Aside from early birds and roosters singing, Mai Châu is especially quiet in the morning, very different from early buzzing Hanoi. Here it seems like a different world.
Lush rice fields from February to October
Hikes on green mountain sides
Thai traditional dances
Typical cuisine and succulent specialties
Homestays
Don’t forget to take two or three hours for an easy walk on paved roads winding through green rice paddies and orchards. Villages to visit: Ban Lac, Pom Coong, Chieng Chau et Ban Nhot.
Most travelers prefer this means of transportation to explore this picturesque valley. The 3m wide paved roads will take them to hamlets of one of Tonkin’s terrestrial paradises.
The region of Mai Chau offers several hikes through green rice paddies or under the shade of its tropical forests. The winding roads on the mountainside will greet travelers with wilderness, local life discovery and warm welcomes of the villagers.
Mai Chau has more and more hotels but what really attracts travelers is something else: homestays! Stilt houses made of solid wood, the Thai villages authenticity, warm welcomes and a family atmosphere. Spend a night at the homestay, it will soon be part of your most unforgettable experiences.
Once in Mai Chau, do not miss on tasting Thai cuisine and its typical dishes: steamed fish, sticky rice cooked in bamboo and maybe for the most adventurous, some varieties of insects. Thai cuisine is well known for its spices and its variety of ingredients.
After dinner, join in a traditional Thai folk dances show. Villagers not only demonstrate Thai dances but also Hmong, Dzao et Muong ones. Visitors and locals, hand in hand, dance together, sharing simple but interesting moments. At the end of show, have a sip of fermented rice alcohol which is enjoyed collectively with bamboo straws.
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