Rolling rice paddies so far as the eye is able to see. The music of chickens clucking. Stilt houses surrounded by forest-covered mountains. Simple and easy fresh plates of food. These are the impressions Mai Chau will give you. Located within reach from Hanoi, Mai Chau is often a breath of clean air, plus a great choice if you’re looking for a calm destination rich in nature and culture. Here are seven top things to do in Mai Chau.
Wake up naturally
Mornings are best for peaceful walks through Mai Chau. With small hamlets dotting the valley, winding paths and quiet gardens, it’s simple to explore all on your own. Be on the lookout for a drink stall to savour a ca phe phin (Vietnamese coffee) looking out onto the rice fields as butterflies drift by.
Learn about ethnic textiles
Much more Mai Chau, don’t miss the ability to shop beautiful fabrics woven through the White Thai people. Local shops can even have looms out front, to watch the locals weaving, or give it a go 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 the White Thai minority.
Pedal from the valley
One of the best methods to experience Mai Chau is actually cycling. You'll be able to set off by yourself or engage a guide to assist you to explore the countless trails through the valley. Tips may also tell you about a White Thai household. Take a moment in their long stilt houses, where one can sip tea, nibble on lychees and discover much more about rural life.
TIP: Your hotel will help you book a cycling tour, additionally, you can 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 will be as fresh mainly because it comes. Start your meal with com lam (bamboo-tube grilled rice). Peel off 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 few 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 can be a special portion of every visit to Mai Chau. The White Thai musicians are proficient at using natural materials to craft instruments that induce mesmerizing rhythms. After dinner, relax and get ready to look at a White Thai performance. These shows feature live folk music and dancers completely ethnic dress.
Sleep in the stilt house
If you’ve never tried over sleeping a stilt house, you'll be able to in Mai Chau. Wooden stilt house homestays may be easily seen in Lac Village and Poom Co?ng village. These houses normally have clean and simple accommodation, with shared bathrooms and open-air sleeping quarters. Mai Chau also boasts four-star hotels and also beautiful lodges with views of the rice fields.
Explore the great outdoors
The countryside surrounding Mai Chau is good for nature lovers. You could enroll in a morning of kayaking on the Hoa Binh Reservoir, or please 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 can also book package offers for outdoor activities in advance together with your local travel agency.
Getting to Mai Chau
Your journey to Mai Chau from Hanoi takes three hours. You'll be able to arrange an individual transfer by car, join a shuttle van, require a bus from My Dinh bus station, or drive there by motorbike.
Local plumber to go to Mai Chau is from March to May or in the harvest season from September to November.
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