Mai Chau (Hoa Binh) is known as an immaculate valley of tranquil minority villages, ranges of magnificent mountains, stunning waterfalls and hospitable people. It is a perfect tourist destination to escape from hustling and bustling urban areas, immerse into absolutely different world of picturesque and idyllic natural landscape, and revitalize the soul in pristine spaces with extensive evergreen rice fields. Just a three-hour drive from Hanoi, Mai Chau is always in the top tourist attractions in Northern Vietnam. Followings are the list of top 10 best things to do in Mai Chau. 

1. Walks or bike rides

Mai Chau opens a picture of pristine valley with charming natural beauty, and vast rice terraces, surrounded by gorgeous mountains.  The valley is often even and flat with narrow paths connecting small villages of numerous ethnic minorities, blending with pleasant environment. The traffic density here is sparse, which is so safe and convenient for travelling.  The peaceful atmosphere, laid-back life style, warmth and hospitability of the local make a perfect space for tourists to have walks or bike rides. While walking or riding a bike, tourists probably find themselves get lost in the pure scent and mild air of green rice terraces, the charming and towering mountains, gentle hills, dreamlike waterfalls and traditional stilt-house villages. A walk or bike ride gives visitors close to nature, the peace of mind, take nice photos, actively and leisurely interact with the friendly local, feel the austere beauty of inhabitants’ hospitability and friendliness. 

2. Treks in ethnic villages

Spending a day trekking through green forests and over stunning mountains is also the wonderful idea for tourists to Mai Chau. By trekking in ethnic villages, visitors not only have chances to contemplate charming natural landscapes but they also observe the peaceful daily life of the local. It will be common if tourists see the farmers plowing with their buffalos, the local transplanting or harvesting their crop, or all people enjoying their traditional songs and dances. For long trekking trip of adventure, tourists have wonderful and memorable time to explore the outstanding features of the regions, the unique cultural beauty of the local, their personalities, traditions and customs. For those who are energetic and love natural beauty, trekking helps them entertain, refresh their mind, recharge the energy and broaden the horizon about Vietnam’s ethnic minorities and their extraordinary culture.

3. Visit its natural caves

If you are a big fan of cave exploration, Mai Chau offers tourists some wonderful choices for your adventurous trip. The two most famous and largest caves that visitors must visit once are Mo Luong Cave and Chieu Cave. It is fact that the majority of caves in Mai Chau come from limestone bottoms of karst. Nearby Highway 15 looking towards area of the Lac village is the Mo Luong cave which became the special hiding area of Vietnamese soldiers in the war against French colonization. Mo Luong cave contains four main parts with stunning stalagmite and stalactite. Another fabulous cave in Mai Chau is Chieu cave, which is close to Mo Luong cave. The cave is located in the high mountain slope and its name literately means “Afternoon” because till afternoon, the cave looks so awesome, mysterious and splendid. Indeed, Chieu cave is perfect choice for those who enjoy adventure and exploration because visitors must conquer about 1250 steps to the mountain. It can be said that visiting caves in Mai Chau is adventurous but cool, interesting and worth experience.

4. Visit the local market of Pa Co

Just around 40 kilometers North of Mai Chau, Pa Co market is a typical market of local tribes in Mai Chau valley. It is the special meeting place of three local ethnic, Hang Kia, Pa Co and Long Luong to exchange their local goods. On every Sundays, the local residents of Hmong, Muong and Thai on their beautiful traditional dress commune to the market to buy and purchase their hand-made or self-grown products, from early foggy morning to dark throughout the valley.  Despite taking place once a week, the market is always noisy and busy, like a festival. There is diversity of products sold here, range from livestock, agricultural products and tools, fabrics, to furniture, electronic appliances, and cosmetic, which will certainly make tourist stunned and overwhelmed.  Po Co market is not only a place for the local to exchange their products, but it is also a meeting site for exchanging cultural values of people in the highlands.

5. Boat cruise on the Ma River

Reaching to Mai Chau, taking a boat cruise on Ma River is one of the most awesome experiences on a day full of sunshine that must not be missed. From Mai Chau Town, continue travelling further 12 kilometers to Ma River, tourist can observe many long-tailed boats or bamboo rafts used for a boat cruise up and downstream the river. Floating on the water, contemplating landmarks on the riverbanks and panoramic view of Mai Chau valley, tourist will immerse themselves in peace, natural beauty of picturesque landscapes, and fully enjoy the delicious dishes from all regions. Additionally, boat cruise is a unique type of tourism which enables visitors to eliminate all fatigue, anxiety, noise and dust of the mainland. A boat cruise gives tourists a quiet and confortable space to feel the gentle sound of the water, the whisper of the wind so it brings you the feeling of relaxation and enjoyment by the high-qualified services and convenient entertainment facilities on boat.

6. Visit the local handcraft

Coming to Mai Chau, visitors cannot waste opportunities to visit the local handcraft and shop intricate fabrics woven by skilled weavers. The local handicraft is incredibly amazing, stunning, unique and high-qualified product, which will certainly make visitor surprised.  Each local shop has a loom in front, so tourists can observe the local weaving, or comfortably try themselves. Mai Chau is a home for many ethnic groups and each of them has their own traditional clothes, colorful traits, stylish and fashionable patterns with secret methods embodied. Because of a wide range of products, each handicraft manifests the diversity in cultural values of local tribes. Therefore, tourists not only buy the local handicrafts as souvenirs but they can understand the extraordinary cultural beauty of Vietnamese ethnic groups in mountainous areas.

7. Drink alcohol in a terracotta vase with long reed straws

Another interesting must-do activity in Mai Chau valley is drinking wine alcohol in a terracotta vase with long reed straws, which brings unique cultural features of ethnic groups. It is believed that visitors have not gad real experience in Vietnam’s Northern mountainous region if they have not ever tried a sip of rice wine made by the native.  Drinking rice wine in a terracotta vase with long reed straws is considered a symbolic delicacy and a typical cultural trait of ethnic minorities. The wine in a terracotta vase tastes so special, easy to drink and has attractive flavor. This special kind of wine is made from several types of herbs and mainly fermented sticky rice. Let’s imagine you sip in the wine through long reed straws in the cold night and have a chat with local people. The rice wine will warm you up and make you completely enjoy the taste of this mountainous area.

8. Attend in the traditional dances and songs of the Thais ethnic minorities

In the village of Thais group, participation in the traditional show of dancing and singing is one of the most exciting and fantastic recreational activities at night. Tourist will have a really wonderful and enjoyable time to contemplate performances in the warm and friendly atmosphere. By attending the traditional dances and songs, visitors partially feel the alluring beauty of the local’s daily life, their unique culture and impressive traditions of Vietnam’s ethnic groups.  Not only tourists can widen their knowledge, but they also immerse themselves in daily lives in this mountainous region, which makes their trip unforgettable and meaningful. 

9. Sleep at homestay

Instead of staying in luxurious hotels, spending night in a homestay of a local ethnic minority is breathtaking experience in Mai Chau valley. The houses here are traditionally built on stilts and some of which are now used as homestay for tourists. Especially, tourists will have good and comfortable sleep on the bamboo or timber floors with a mattress. Life here is peaceful, and virgin, which brings a warm space for tourists to enjoy the natural beauty, feel slow pace of life and deep themselves into the local culture.  Although the homestay of the local is not as expensive and sumptuous as five-star hotel, it has been much upgraded with modern facilities and comfortable beds with private bathrooms, which certainly give visitors a unique experience.

10. Tasting of rice cooked in the bamboo pipe, colored sticky rice, and bee nymph sauted with bamboo

Tasting authentic local foods in Mai Chau valley is one of the most memorable experiences for everyone coming here. It is considered a big mistake if visitors miss the chances of tasting local delicacy. While homestay with the local families, it will be much wonderful if you experience rice cooked in the bamboo pipe, and colored sticky rice which are home-cooked with fresh and healthy local ingredients in traditional ways. The bamboo rice and colored sticky rice is outstanding cuisine of Mai Chau valley with vast rice fields. This special kind of food is made by pressing rice with mixture of peanuts, salt and other ingredients in bamboo pipes, and cooking on direct heat. Furthermore, bee nymph sauted with bamboo is a unique dish that only exists in some regions in Vietnam. All these kinds of food are beneficial for the health as it brings the quintessence of immense evergreen rice terraces, charming landscapes, the hospitability and friendliness of the local. 

=> Excursion to Mai Chau