Rolling rice paddies as far as the attention are able to see. The noise of chickens clucking. Stilt houses surrounded by forest-covered mountains. Simple and easy fresh plates of food. These are the basic impressions Mai Chau provides you with. Located within close range from Hanoi, Mai Chau is a breath of clean air, and a great choice if you’re looking for a calm destination full of nature and culture. Here are seven top activities in Mai Chau.
Awaken naturally
Mornings are best for peaceful walks through Mai Chau. With small hamlets dotting the valley, winding paths and quiet gardens, it’s easy to explore all on your own. Look out for any drink stall which you could savour a ca phe phin (Vietnamese coffee) searching to the rice fields as butterflies drift by.
Learn about ethnic textiles
Much more Mai Chau, don’t miss the opportunity to shop beautiful fabrics woven through the White Thai people. Local shops will even have looms out front, where one can watch the locals weaving, or give it a go yourself. For an ethical splurge, look at Hoa Ban+ shop in Lac village, a social enterprise that offers vocational training to women through the White Thai minority.
Pedal through the valley
One of the best solutions to experience Mai Chau is as simple as cycling. You'll be able to set off all on your own or work with a help guide to allow you to explore the various trails with the valley. Tips can also expose you to a White Thai household. Have a seat inside their long stilt houses, to sip tea, nibble on lychees to see a little more about rural life.
TIP: Your hotel can assist you book a cycling tour, you can also find qualified guides at Mai Chau Lodge. If you’re not able to cycle, you could 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 meals with com lam (bamboo-tube grilled rice). Peel from the lemon the bamboo cover and dip the rice in minced peanuts for a delicious treat. Ga d?i (grilled native chicken), th?t l?n xien nu?ng (pork skewers) and stir-fried greens are a couple of favourite Mai Chau dishes. If you’re feeling adventurous, try ve s?u chien, a neighborhood delicacy of stuffed and fried cicadas.
Enjoy ethnic dance and music
Traditional performances really are a special part of every visit to Mai Chau. The White Thai musicians are efficient at using natural materials to craft instruments that can cause mesmerizing rhythms. After dinner, relax and settle in to view a White Thai performance. These shows feature live folk music and dancers in full ethnic dress.
Sleep in a stilt house
If you’ve never tried over sleeping a stilt house, you are able to in Mai Chau. Wooden stilt house homestays can easily be found in Lac Village and Poom Co?ng village. These houses usually have clean 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 designed for nature lovers. You could join a morning of kayaking about the Hoa Binh Reservoir, or require 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 also book package offers for outdoor activities upfront with your local travel agent.
Progressing to Mai Chau
Your journey to Mai Chau from Hanoi takes a couple of hours. It is possible to arrange a personal transfer by car, visit a shuttle van, take a bus from My Dinh bus station, or drive there by motorbike.
Local plumber to go to Mai Chau originates from March to May or in the harvest season from September to November.
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