Rolling rice paddies so far as a person's eye is able to see. The noise of chickens clucking. Stilt houses flanked by forest-covered mountains. Simple and fresh plates of food. These are the basic impressions Mai Chau will provide you with. Operating out of easy reach from Hanoi, Mai Chau can be a breath of clean air, plus a great option if you’re trying to find a calm destination abundant with nature and culture. Allow me to share seven top things you can do in Mai Chau.
Wake up anyway
Mornings are perfect for peaceful walks through Mai Chau. With small hamlets dotting the valley, winding paths and quiet gardens, it’s very easy to explore by yourself. Look to get a drink stall to savour a ca phe phin (Vietnamese coffee) looking out on top of the rice fields as butterflies drift by.
Learn about ethnic textiles
Much more Mai Chau, don’t miss the chance to shop beautiful fabrics woven with the White Thai people. Local shops may also have looms out front, where you can watch the locals weaving, or give it a shot yourself. For an ethical splurge, check out Hoa Ban+ shop in Lac village, a social enterprise that offers vocational training to women from the White Thai minority.
Pedal over the valley
One of the best solutions to experience Mai Chau is by cycling. You'll be able to tripped yourself or engage a help guide to help you explore the many trails over the valley. A guide can also introduce you to a White Thai household. Have a seat of their long stilt houses, where one can sip tea, nibble on lychees and find out more details on rural life.
TIP: Your hotel can help you book a cycling tour, or you can find qualified guides at Mai Chau Lodge. If you’re struggling to cycle, you may still explore the valley with electric carts.
Taste farm-fresh dishes
Mai Chau’s cuisine will be as fresh since it comes. Start your meal with com lam (bamboo-tube grilled rice). Remove the bamboo cover and dip the rice in minced peanuts for the 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 local delicacy of stuffed and fried cicadas.
Enjoy ethnic dance and music
Traditional performances can be a special section of every trip to Mai Chau. The White Thai musicians are proficient at using natural materials to craft instruments that creates mesmerizing rhythms. After dinner, relax and relax to look at a White Thai performance. These shows feature live folk music and dancers entirely ethnic dress.
Sleep in the stilt house
If you’ve never tried sleeping in a stilt house, you are able to in Mai Chau. Wooden stilt house homestays can be easily found in Lac Village and Poom Co?ng village. These houses most often have as well as simple accommodation, with shared bathrooms and open-air sleeping quarters. Mai Chau also boasts four-star hotels as well as beautiful lodges with views from the rice fields.
Explore the outside
The countryside surrounding Mai Chau is perfect for nature lovers. You should enroll in a morning of kayaking around the Hoa Binh Reservoir, or take 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 may also book packages for outdoor activities ahead of time using your travel company.
Dealing with Mai Chau
Your way to Mai Chau from Hanoi takes around three hours. You'll be able to arrange an individual transfer by car, visit a shuttle van, please take a bus from My Dinh bus station, or drive there by motorbike.
The optimum time to see Mai Chau is from March to May or during the harvest season from September to November.
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