Vietnam’s Rural Retreat In Mai Chau Valley

Our amazing experience doing a traditional homestay in Mai Chau.

Toiled farmlands amidst the mountains inspires the classic image of the rural township of Mai Chau. A place where the blaring horns of nearby Hanoi are exchanged for the sounds of livestock quietly rummaging through crops directly below your stilt house’s window.

Where a simpler style of life welcomes visitors, surrounded by a tranquil setting. A place where the freshness in the air tingles your senses of taste and smell as you cruise through the highlands by bicycle.

Check out our new guide to help you Travel To Vietnam.

The bucolic Mai Chau in the Hoa Binh province is home to 7 ethnic minority groups, ‘White Thai’, ‘H’Mong’, ’Zao’, ’Muong’, ’Tay’, ’Hoa’, and ‘Viet’.

Agriculture is the primary industry and it is featured prominently in the topography of the region. Alongside the rolling hills and lush vegetation, the farmlands make up the most enchanting scenery.

With the vibrant Hoa Binh Lake close by, it is an area that is deservedly increasing in popularity, but still devoid of the vast numbers of Western tourists that other destinations in Vietnam receive.

After our incredible (and slightly debaucherous) Halong Bay experience with Vietnam Backpacker Hostels, we were longing for relaxation and recuperation.

We headed off on their three day, two night Mai Chau Valley tour and found it to be the perfect retreat from the hectic city of Hanoi.

We cycled through the pastures and small villages, and rode scooters to the tops of mountains. Our accommodation was a well-equipped homestay where the food provided was perhaps the best we have come across in the country.

Every day was full of exciting adventure and astonishing vistas.

We were thankful to get to enjoy the wonders of Mai Chau and have put together this photo essay of some of the things we encountered during our time there.

Mai Chau Valley Photo Essay