Tucked away in the Hoa Binh province of Northern Vietnam, Mai Chau is a breathtakingly scenic valley where rice fields stretch at the foot of misty mountains, and locals live in bamboo stilt houses surrounded by swaying palms. Women in traditional conical hats work in the fields, and buffalo wander lazily through the paddies – it’s Vietnam at its most peaceful.

Most visitors come here to relax and unwind – and that’s exactly what my husband and I have done there. We have visited twice (so far) and in this post, I’d like to share my recommendations about what to do and see in Mai Chau.

Updated October 2025

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How to Get to Mai Chau from Hanoi

We took a bus from Hanoi, which took around four hours and cost roughly €10 per person (one way). We booked online with 12Go Asia a few days in advance. It worked really well because we could choose where we wanted to be picked up in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and where we were staying in Mai Chau, so we could be dropped off outside our accommodation. You’ll receive your confirmation via email and can show it directly on your phone (no printing required!).

As it is quite a long drive from Hanoi, I recommend staying for one or two nights in Mai Chau. You can book a 2-day/1-night tour from Hanoi (which includes meals, round trip transportation and shared accommodation), or orgaising your journey independently like we did. If you’re short of time, you can also visit Mai Chau from Hanoi as a day trip. Here are some well-rated tours to consider:

• From Hanoi: Private/Group tour to Mai Chau Valley Full Day
• From Hanoi: Mai Chau Valley Day Trip with Cycling
• From Hanoi: Full-Day Mai Chau (Group or Private Tour)

Where to Stay in Mai Chau

The first time we visited, we stayed at Truong Huy Homestay. The room was simple but charming – a wooden cabin built from bamboo, but equipped with all the essentials: a comfy double bed, bedside table, en suite bathroom, WiFi and air-conditioning. The owner was friendly and approachable, and the homestay had a warm, welcoming atmosphere – perfect for sociable travellers or those travelling alone.

The second time we visited, we stayed at Hill House Mai Chau. Although it was only a short walk from our previous place, it felt much more secluded. We heard forest sounds all around us – chickens, cows, birds – and slept really well thanks to high-quality bedding and firm mattresses (a welcome change from the rock-hard ones we’ve encountered elsewhere in Vietnam!). I spent hours on the communal terrace, reading and simply enjoying the peace and quiet. While it didn’t have the same sociable vibe, it was ideal for couples, families or anyone seeking solitude.

If you’re looking for something more luxurious, check out Mai Chau Ecolodge. Perched on a private hill overlooking the lush rice fields , this eco-lodge is constructed in the style of Thai stilt-houses using renewable materials and powered by green energy, offering a eco-friendly, tranquil retreat in nature.

What to Do in Mai Chau

Most of our time in Mai Chau has been spent wandering through the rice fields and admiring the scenery. It is one of the most photogenic places I have been. Along with the towering mountains and the rice paddies, you can see a wide variety of animals, including a crazy number of butterflies (much larger than butterflies back home!), cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, cows, and lizards.

There is a wonderful variety of plants and flowers in Mai Chau, creating a tropical feel. We walked everywhere but it is also possible to rent bikes and motorbikes from homestays to travel faster and further.

Browse the Stalls in Poom Coong Village and Lac Village

Visit the charming villages Poom Coong village and Lac village, where local Thai women sell beautifully handwoven scarves, bags, and blankets. Mai Chau is home to many members of the Thai (the third largest ethnic community in Vietnam). Embroidery is a major part of the economy for the women and girls in this community. Once married, they become responsible for making the blankets and bedding to use at home, and sell in the village. When you buy a scarf or blanket here, you’re supporting a centuries-old tradition of craftsmanship.

Sample Rice Wine at Jungle Brews

If you drink alcohol, I strongly recommend a visit to Jungle Brews, a wonderful family-run rice wine business that’s been perfecting their craft for four generations! My husband and I visited spontaneously and the owner, Dat, welcomed us in for an impromptu tour of his small production facility. He explained every step of the distilling process and showed us the beautiful ceramic pots used to ferment the wine.

The tour is completely free, but it’s definitely worth supporting this passionate local business. Each bottle costs around 150,000₫, and you can taste as many as you like before choosing your favourite. Dat’s family has been brewing rice wine for decades, and he’s taken things a step further by experimenting with locally-grown fruits to create over ten delicious flavours. My favourites were the mulberry and passion fruit wines – absolutely delicious! 

Explore the Stunning Nature Spots

• Chiều Cave – The iconic climb in Mai Chau! Over a thousand stone steps leading up to the cave entrance and then further to a vantage point over the rice fields and villages. The effort is rewarded with panoramic views and a dramatic cave interior.
• Gò Lào Waterfall – About 15 km (or more depending on your starting point) from Mai Chau town, this waterfall plunges ~20-30m amid lush forest and rock faces. You will need to rent a vehicle or hire a private driver for this.
• Thung Khe Pass (White Stone Pass) – Located along Highway 6 between Mai Chau and Tan Lac, this pass sits around 1,000 m above sea level and offers sweeping views of the valley below, limestone slopes, and misty skies.

Where to Eat in Mai Chau

It’s very common to have your meals at your homestay, where dinners typically cost around 140,000–150,000 VND per person. However, if you’d like a change of scenery, you’ll also find plenty of great restaurants in Mai Chau town centre.

Our best meals have been at Chef Trương’s restaurant (the homestay’s restaurant). We’ve eaten there at lunchtime (the chicken and lemongrass, and tofu and tomato sauce are delicious) and dinner. For dinner, we enjoyed a feast of pork belly in sweet sticky sauce, spring rolls, omelette, salads, and rice wine, all for around 300,000 VND.

Our meal at Green Homestay Mai Chau was hearty and filling, but not as flavourful as meals we have had elsewhere. However I definitely recommend visiting Green Homestay for a drink; they have a wide range of smoothies, juices, coffee and alcoholic beverages with great views over the rice paddies.

When to Visit Mai Chau

The best time to visit Mai Chau is from March to May or September to November, when the weather is dry and the rice terraces are lush and green. We visited in the autumn both times and the colours were so vibrant, it felt like the valley was in technicolour!

If you visit Mai Chau, try to visit during the week if possible. A lot of Vietnamese people head to Mai Chau at the weekend to celebrate weddings, host parties and sing karaoke (yes, really!). Pay attention to accommodation reviews; we deliberately avoided any mentioning excessive noise, parties or karaoke. I have read online that these parties and events need to stop making noise by 10pm, but that rule doesn’t seem set in stone so to be sure, try to visit on a weekday and don’t stay anywhere close to a karaoke venue.

All in all, Mai Chau was a beautiful and peaceful escape from Hanoi’s chaos. Whether you come for a weekend getaway, a scenic stopover, or a few lazy days surrounded by nature, it’s hard not to fall in love with this valley.

If you’ve been to Mai Chau, what was your favourite part of your visit?

Planning a trip to Vietnam? Check out my 3-Day Hanoi Itinerary and Ultimate 3 Weeks Vietnam Itinerary: From North to South (which includes Mai Châu).

You can read my other Vietnamese blog posts here.

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow