Rolling rice paddies so far as the attention can see. The music of chickens clucking. Stilt houses encompassed by forest-covered mountains. Simple and fresh plates of food. These are the basic impressions Mai Chau gives you. Operating out of reach from Hanoi, Mai Chau is a breath of fresh air, and a great option if you’re searching for a calm destination rich in nature and culture. Allow me to share seven top things to do in Mai Chau.
Wake naturally
Mornings are best 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 out for a drink stall where you can savour a ca phe phin (Vietnamese coffee) looking out on the rice fields as butterflies drift by.
Understand ethnic textiles
A lot more Mai Chau, don’t miss the chance to shop beautiful fabrics woven with the White Thai people. Local shops may even have looms out front, which you could watch the locals weaving, or give it a shot yourself. On an ethical splurge, take a look at Hoa Ban+ shop in Lac village, a social enterprise that offers vocational training to women from your White Thai minority.
Pedal through the valley
Among the best approaches to experience Mai Chau is actually cycling. You'll be able to tripped all on your own or engage a guide to assist you to explore the countless trails through the valley. Helpful information could also expose you to a White Thai household. Take a seat in their long stilt houses, to sip tea, nibble on lychees and find out 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 struggling to cycle, you can still explore the valley with electric carts.
Taste farm-fresh dishes
Mai Chau’s cuisine will be as fresh because it comes. Start your meals with com lam (bamboo-tube grilled rice). Remove 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 few 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 certainly are a special a part of every holiday to Mai Chau. The White Thai musicians are skilled at using natural materials to craft instruments that create mesmerizing rhythms. After dinner, relax and get ready to observe a White Thai performance. These shows feature live folk music and dancers entirely ethnic dress.
Sleep within 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 be easily found in Lac Village and Poom Co?ng village. These houses usually have as well as simple accommodation, with shared bathrooms and open-air sleeping quarters. Mai Chau also boasts four-star hotels along with beautiful lodges with views from the rice fields.
Explore the great outdoors
The countryside surrounding Mai Chau is designed for nature lovers. You might like to enroll in a morning of kayaking about 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 package deals for outdoor activities beforehand using your local travel agency.
Getting to Mai Chau
Right onto your pathway to Mai Chau from Hanoi takes a couple of hours. You are able to arrange an individual transfer by car, join a shuttle van, 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 in the harvest season from September to November.
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