Rolling rice paddies as much as a person's eye is able to see. The music of chickens clucking. Stilt houses surrounded by forest-covered mountains. Basic and fresh plates of food. These are the impressions Mai Chau will give you. Situated in reach from Hanoi, Mai Chau can be a breath of fresh air, along with a great choice if you’re trying to find a calm destination abundant in nature and culture. Listed below are seven top activities to do in Mai Chau.
Wake as the name indicated
Mornings are fantastic for peaceful walks through Mai Chau. With small hamlets dotting the valley, winding paths and quiet gardens, it’s easy to explore yourself. Look out to get a drink stall to savour a ca phe phin (Vietnamese coffee) watching out on the rice fields as butterflies drift by.
Discover ethnic textiles
Much more Mai Chau, don’t miss the opportunity shop beautiful fabrics woven by the White Thai people. Local shops may even have looms out front, to watch the locals weaving, or give it a shot yourself. To have an ethical splurge, take a look at Hoa Ban+ shop in Lac village, a social enterprise which gives vocational training to women through the White Thai minority.
Pedal through the valley
One of the best ways to experience Mai Chau is as simple as cycling. You can trigger all on your own or work with a help guide to allow you to explore the many trails over the valley. Helpful tips could also tell you about a White Thai household. Take a moment of their long stilt houses, to sip tea, nibble on lychees and discover more details on rural life.
TIP: Your hotel can help you book a cycling tour, additionally, you can find qualified guides at Mai Chau Lodge. If you’re unable to cycle, you'll probably still explore the valley with electric carts.
Taste farm-fresh dishes
Mai Chau’s cuisine can be as fresh mainly because it comes. Start your meal with com lam (bamboo-tube grilled rice). Remove the bamboo cover and dip the rice in minced peanuts for any delicious treat. Ga d?i (grilled native chicken), th?t l?n xien nu?ng (pork skewers) and stir-fried greens are a handful of favourite Mai Chau dishes. If you’re feeling adventurous, try ve s?u chien, a nearby delicacy of stuffed and fried cicadas.
Enjoy ethnic dance and music
Traditional performances certainly are a special section of every trip to Mai Chau. The White Thai musicians are proficient at using natural materials to craft instruments that induce mesmerizing rhythms. After dinner, relax and get ready to view a White Thai performance. These shows feature live folk music and dancers completely ethnic dress.
Sleep within a stilt house
If you’ve never tried sleeping in a stilt house, you are able to in Mai Chau. Wooden stilt house homestays could be within Lac Village and Poom Co?ng village. These houses usually have neat and simple accommodation, with shared bathrooms and open-air sleeping quarters. Mai Chau also boasts four-star hotels in addition to beautiful lodges with views of the rice fields.
Explore the outdoors
The countryside surrounding Mai Chau is ideal for nature lovers. You should enroll in a morning of kayaking around the Hoa Binh Reservoir, or have a full-day trekking tour in neighbouring Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Many hotels and homestays in Mai Chau offer tours to caves and waterfalls nearby. You can even book package deals for outdoor activities in advance along with your tour operator.
Addressing Mai Chau
Your journey to Mai Chau from Hanoi takes a couple of hours. You can arrange an exclusive transfer by car, jump on a shuttle van, please take a bus from My Dinh bus station, or drive there by motorbike.
The best time to visit Mai Chau originates from March to May or through the harvest season from September to November.
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