Mai Chau Valley

Located in Hoa Binh province, about 150 kilometers far from Ha Noi, Mai Chau is considered as one of the most beautiful, scenic, cultural mountainous town in Vietnam. It is on an altitude of more than 200 meters above the sea and covers a total area of 520 square kilometers. Many minorities, especially the Thai ethnic group, live in Mai Chau.

Coming here, visitors will be warmly welcomed by the picturesque scenery of Mai Chau lying in a green valley of paddy fields dotted with rows of stilt houses. Green in its appearance with such a vast area of the town is covered by rice paddies, this place is undoubtedly a pleasant, peaceful place where heaven and earth meets and blends together.

Mai Chau is famous for stilt-houses, which were made from palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo-slat floors. Culture and tradition are still well practiced and preserved amid the big wave of modern life coming in from TV, travelers in the last decade. Mai Chau can be a base for some trekking tours to the villages around. Spending one night at one of the stilt houses in Mai Chau, tourists will have a chance to enjoy the folk dances and songs that are accompanied by Gong music, as well as experience the feeling of drinking Can Wine – an important cultural symbol for ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh. Moreover, tourists coming there can enjoy the minority specialty dishes including rice cooked in bamboo and grilled meat.

The Sunday market is also an interesting place to visit in Mai Chau. People from different ethnic groups living in the mountains come to this market to sell their local products, eg: bananas, corn, honey and hand-made embroidery. The Sunday market is also an occasion to enjoy traditional Thai dishes and to participate in traditional dances. Mai Chau valley is undoubtedly true destination for those who loves the nature, culture and the people of minority

This is very green and peaceful valley, that often cover by beautiful cloud in the morning

Local people replanting rice at the begining of the crop

During this time, the velley look like beautiful water clolor painting

Then it can be green in the carpet of rice at the middle of rice crop

And bright in yellow color of rice at the harvest time

We always can see very authentic local house in this place…

…with authentic and interesting corner can be found everywhere

We can enjoy the unique and interesting home stay in the house on stilts of Thai people –

the hill tribe living in this valley from 600 years ago…

…with very friendly and hoapitable host, it will make you feel like home here

You can have great time to enjoy the music and dance perfomance by local young girls from the village

And enjoy the trekkking in great nature during a day

Photographer: Yang Blue

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