Mai Chau, located in the Northwest Vietnam, deserves to become an excellent tourist destination due to its majestic lyrical natural beauty, mild temperate air, and unique culinary culture. We believe that if you choose this province as your next travel destination, you will have unique and intriguing experiences. Here’s a nice travel guide for you.
How far is Mai Chau from Hanoi?
It is a mountainous district in Hoa Binh province, northwest of Son La, and near to Moc Chau in Son La and Pu Luong in Thanh Hoa. It is located in the west of Hanoi, some 140 kilometers from the capital’s center, or nearly three hours by automobile.
Mai Chau is a mountainous district in Hoa Binh province
The journey to get there is not challenging, it is relatively flat and secure. With a pleasant atmosphere and gorgeous nature, the view on both sides of the road is lovely and poetic. As a result, travelers frequently select this destination as a weekend and holiday location to discover and enjoy.
What is the most beautiful season to travel to Mai Chau?
Not only does it inherit the Northwest’s untouched and serene mountain beauty, but it is also blessed by nature with a climate that has its own characteristics of the cool, temperate alpine tropics. People must be moved. Because it is a valley, the four seasons provide a pleasant and comfortable sensation to any visitor.
It glows with bright forest flowers in the spring, and the temperature is pleasant. Summer in here is not as hot as it is in other northern provinces, but there is a lot of humidity and rain in July. If you visit in the autumn, you will enjoy the cool weather. Calm and calm. In winter, it is relatively cold, with temperatures averaging around 16*C.
Because of these weather patterns, in order to enjoy a complete trip with family and friends, you need travel to Mai Chau at the most beautiful and acceptable time, which is as follows:
October to February
This is the dry season, so the air is calm and pleasant, with no fear of facing the rainy season of the north. When visiting here during this season, you will see the peach blossom season, with plum blooms blooming white and pure throughout the sky.
October to February
March and April
It may be claimed that now is the most beautiful season to visit, which is popular with tourists. The weather is very lovely at this time of year since the ban flowers are in full bloom. Furthermore, there are numerous ethnic minority celebrations, thus it is very busy and crowded. You can visit here to learn about the distinctive local culture.
March and April
Instructions on how to go when traveling to Mai Chau
The journey to the destination is likewise pretty straightforward. Self-sufficient travel by motorcycle or automobile is perfect for fully experiencing the natural landscapes along the way. There are two routes to Mai Chau from the center of Hanoi, which are as follows:
Motorbike
From Hanoi, take the Nguyen Trai (Ha Dong) exit and follow the signs to Quang Trung – Ba La – Chuc Son – Xuan Mai – Luong Son – Ky Son – Hoa Binh – Cao Phong – Tan Lac – Thung Khe pass. After passing across Thung Khe Pass, continue on road 15 for another 6 kilometers to Mai Chau.
Car
Follow Thang Long – Hoa Lac Boulevard, turn left onto Xuan Mai, and continue straight along Highway 6 to Mai Chau. Pay close attention to traffic laws on major routes because this stretch has numerous traffic police stations, assuring a safe journey.
Coach
Furthermore, there are several buses from Hanoi to Mai Chau that provide good service at a low cost. Tickets to Mai Chau (Hoa Binh) can be purchased at the My Dinh or Giap Bat bus terminals. A tiny note: If you get off at Tong Dau intersection, you must take a motorbike taxi to the valley of this province, which is roughly 5 kilometers distant.
You have a variety of time frames to choose from when visiting Mai Chau. Bus fares typically range from 90,000 to 150,000 VND per person, depending on the firm and type of vehicle.
5 places to check-in when traveling to Mai Chau
Despite the fact that it does not have many tourist attractions, it receives a large number of visitors each year. Because the natural environment is so impressive and poetic, heaven, earth, rivers, and mountains merge into one, moving anybody who visits.
Thung Khe Pass (White Stone Pass)
This is the pass that every traveler should see at least once in his life. Thung Khe Pass, located on the way to Mai Chau, is a perfect spot to see the valley from above, which looks like a lovely natural picture with large green fields and bold stilt buildings in the Northwest highlands.
Thung Khe pass
Mai Chau flagpole
When you want to leave a lasting impression here, check out the flagpole. From the flagpole, which is still placed on the Thung Khe pass route going to Mai Chau, you can see the entire valley with white clouds snaking around the gorgeous mountaintop. You will undoubtedly take great photographs of the poetic natural environment here.
Mai Chau flagpole
Lac village
Lac Village is another must-see attraction for everyone visiting here. This is its most popular tourist destination and the most busy tourist concentration. Lac village, which bears the cultural identity of the white Thai people, is exceedingly rustic, pastoral, and natural, giving tourists a sense of intimacy and friendship.
Lac village
You can visit Lac village to observe the dreamlike beauty of green rice fields intertwined with indigenous peoples’ traditional stilt dwellings. You can also see handmade brocade products and souvenirs, which can be purchased as gifts.
Pom Coong village
Pom Coong village, not far from Lac village, is a typical Thai ethnic village that is equally stunning when visiting Mai Chau. Pom Coong means “the version of the hills lying on the big drum,” signifying the field in Thai’s village.
Pom Coong village, while not as well-known as Lac village, retains many wild and rustic elements, from the terrain to the Thai people’s tranquil and simple way of life. Not only that, but the community has a distinct culture with vibrant life and events, giving guests unforgettable experiences.
Pom Coong village
Go Lao Waterfall (Go Mu Waterfall)
Go Lao Waterfall (Go Mu Waterfall)
Go Lao waterfall, also known as Go Mu waterfall, is a lovely waterfall located around 15 kilometers from Mai Chau town. The pure and rustic natural environment of the Northwest Alps will undoubtedly fascinate you at this waterfall. Admire the lovely little Muong dwellings, the magnificent and lyrical Ba Khan lake, and even the straight bamboo forests in poetic green.
Trekking in Mai Chau
You can join a trekking excursion with the direction of a local guide if you want to conserve the most intriguing original experiences when discovering Mai Chau tourism.
Visitors who choose to trek can explore rice fields cultivated on gently sloping ground and sprinkled with lumpy black pebbles. Although not as spectacular as the terraced fields of Mu Cang Chai or Hoang Su Phi, you can experience the beauty of solitude and relaxation.
Trekking Mai Chau
Furthermore, caves like Chieu Cave and Mo Luong Cave are worth visiting while trekking in Mai Chau. The experience of climbing 1200 steps to access Chieu Cave will pique the interest of those who enjoy exploring. From above, you will see the surreal beauty of stalactites and savor the panoramic splendor of Mai Chau.
It is important to be directed and guided by locals when trekking Mai Chau because the terrain is also fairly demanding and risky.
Where to stay in Mai Chau?
Accommodation services here are various, ranging from homestays to hotels to resorts, particularly in the two tourist villages of Lac and Pom Coong villages
Delicious food in Mai Chau
The food in this province is broad and rich, but the classic Thai meals with the harmonic combination and interference of the mountains and forests remain the most distinctive. Thai culinary culture is separated into five major components that are served in order on the dining table, each with its own distinct characteristics.
We’d like to expose you to some popular Thai meals that any tourist visiting Mai Chau should try:
- Nuong sticky rice
- Lam rice
- Grilled hill chicken
- Grilled stream fish
- Grilled pork skewers
- Buffalo meat in the kitchen
- Sour marinated meat
- Fried cicada pupae
Notes when traveling to Mai Chau
Because Mai Chau is also in the northwest mountainous region, it is relatively wild and has not developed as many tourism services as other provinces, therefore you should be aware of the following difficulties when visiting Mai Chau, as reported by many tourists:
- Traveling by motorcycle to Mai Chau Valley should be done with caution because the road has numerous twists and turns and is congested with passenger cars and cargo trucks.
- Thai people’s lifestyles and activities are close and simple, but highly strict, thus you must get permission before visiting their home. When entering their home, pay heed to the ancestral altar to avoid turning your back or placing your feet on it.
- It is essential to have enough personal things, particularly medicines for bug repellent, stomachache, headache, and allergies,…
- Prepare nice garments that are easy to move in. Whether visiting Mai Chau in the summer or winter, bring a long-sleeved shirt because the evenings might be cold and misty.
Bottom Line
With its wild and majestic mountainous landscape favored by nature and a calm and pleasant environment, Mai Chau has become a well-known tourist destination in the North for your Vietnam tours. Hopefully, our travel experiences can help you have a nice trip with the most intriguing moments of exploring the Northwest mountains.
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