Mai Chau Vietnam Tourism (2024) Travel Guide Top Places

Q: What is the best time to visit Mai chau?

February - April: Set between the extreme winter chill and the summer wave of heat, the months of February to April offers the ideal weather to visit Mai Chau. Temperatures range from 18 degrees to 25 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is low as it is just the onset of the rainy season. This time of the year is when the flowers bloom, and the slopes and plains are filled with a colourful blossom which is a visual treat. Read More

Mai Chau Travel Packages

Compare quotes from upto 3 travel agents for free

6 Days / 5 Nights

Vietnam Itinerary 6 Days: Best of Northern Vietnam

Hanoi(3N) → Mai Chau(1N) → Nam Cat Island(1N)

$ 722

14% off

$614/person

6 Days / 5 Nights

Best Romantic Getaway to Vietnam

Hanoi(3N) → Mai Chau(1N) → Nam Cat Island(1N)

$ 361

16% off

$301/person

View All Packages For Mai Chau

"Rich Cultural experience in picturesque surroundings"

Mai Chau Tourism

The perfect location to cut yourself off from the world, Mai Chau is a quaint sleepy town that is not very well known and subsequently does not have as many tourists. If you want to drop off from the earth and land in a richly cultural land, in the midst of nature, then Mai Chau is the place for you.

Nestled in a valley, away from the world is a town - Mai Chau. The first view of the town can be observed from the Thung Khe Pass. One of the best viewpoints, the Thung Khe pass also offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills, which make for some great photographs. For the adventurer in you, the Mo Luong cave offers you the opportunity to explore the limestone stalactites. A visit to Pu Luong nature Reserve sets you right into the midst of nature and for tourists who are passionate about wildlife and nature, a visit here will help you gain more knowledge and learn about the indigenous wildlife. The local white Thai villages offer you a lot of knowledge about the culture of the region and not only give you an opportunity to stay in an actual stilt Thai homestay but also the locals encourage you to participate in their local celebrations like music and dance. Mai Chau is the perfect location for tourists who want some peace and quiet.

1. Thung Khe Pass

Thung Khe pass is the best location to observe the panoramic view of Mai Chau.

Mo Luong Cave is a limestone cave filled with mysterious stalactites.

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is blessed with rich forest, limestone panoramas, magnificent rice terraces and breathtaking scenery.

Lac and Pom Coong Village offers you a glimpse into local life.

More on Mai Chau Travel

Biking Trip across Mai Chau

For the athletically inclined, a cycling trip across the hills and valleys of Mai Chau is the best way to enjoy the spectacular natural beauty. This trip offers a great opportunity to see the two area of outstanding nature beauty; the Northwest highlands of Mai Chau and the limestone caves. Biking is a great way to see this fascinating and visually stunning part of Vietnam, offering both physical activity and the unique opportunity to observe a way of life that has changed little over the centuries. As you ride in Mai Chau you encounter Muong and White Thai minorities and are guests in their traditional stilt houses allowing you to see firsthand how these minority peoples live. The trip includes homestay, food costs and even a boating trip in a local stream. It costs VND 16,000,000 onward and reduces as the number of people registering increases.

Shopping in Mai Chau

Mai Chau is overflowing with shops selling textiles and paintings. The market has a wide variety of local traders sitting at looms and weaving scarves. Thai people make clothing for themselves out of multi-coloured brocade fabrics. They also make many interesting types of souvenirs sold at local markets including wallets, bags, embroidered pictures, hats and so forth in various types and colours. Mai Chau is a great place to buy souvenirs.

Nightlife in Mai Chau

Mai Chau is a rural area and practically has no nightlife. The Mai Chau Sunset Bar is open till 11:00 PM and you can relax there, sipping a drink. Sometimes, in the evenings, the locals have traditional dances and music, but apart from that, Mai Chau goes to bed early.

History of Mai Chau

Mai Chau played a significant role during the liberation of Vietnam from the French. The French army had the advantage of high ground over the Vietnamese army, called the Viet Minh. The Viet Minh used the caves of Mai Chau to shelter troops, weapons and resources during the final war against the French. The locals of Mai Chau also aided the Viet Minh in their struggle against the French. Later, Mai Chau was declared as a part of Northern Vietnam.

Language of Mai Chau

The White Thai is the most populous people in Mai Chau and so the Tay language is fairly common. Mai Chau is quite rural and so English is not understood very well.

Mai Chau Customs

White Thai people are very common in Mai Chau. Long Tong is a festival Thai people celebrate during the Lunar New Year and Tam Khau Mau during Rice Harvest Season.

Religion of Mai Chau

White Thai people are very common in Mai Chau and they practice Then, an indigenous religion that preaches the worship of tutelary gods, ancestors and nature spirits.

Nang Ha Festival of the White Thai people

In the Thai people's belief, mother Moon and her 12 fairies-daughters, 'Nang Hai', take care of the life and crops of people on earth. Therefore, every first lunar month, they host the festival to invite the mother Moon and her daughters down to earth and pray for happiness, favourable weather conditions and bumper crops. To prepare for the festival, elders in the village pick a woman who has a happy family and is good at singing to play as Mother Moon. Fourteen ladies are also selected to play the fairies. Offerings during the festival include a pig, a chicken, and a tray of five-coloured glutinous rice. A tent is set up in the village and is decorated with flowers and leaves, serving as a venue to stage the festival, which will be held once every 12 nights. Every night features a journey of the fairies to invite each of the 12 'Nang Hai' to join in with the celebration. During the rituals, participants dance and sing songs featuring their aspirations and wishes. This festival is one of the most important festival of the white Thailand is celebrated with great pomp.

Best Time to Visit Mai Chau

Nearby Places

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

Places To Visit

How to Reach Mai Chau

How to Reach Overview

Mai Chau is fairly remote and due to its proximity to Hanoi, does not have its own airport or railway station. However, Mai Chau has great bus connectivity. You may also choose to rent a car or a motorbike and enjoy the scenery on the Mai Chau road.

How to reach Mai Chau by flight

The closest airport is the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, located 139 km fromChau chau. From the airport, you can reach Mai Chau by bus or by road.

How to reach Mai Chau by road

Hanoi is located 139 kilometres away and Hoa Binh is located 66 kilometres away from Mai Chau. Cabs are easiest to rent from Hanoi and cost about VND 300,000 - VND 1,200,000, based on size. If you already have a car, a trip via Hoa Binh is an exciting idea.

How to reach Mai Chau by train

The closest railway station is at Hanoi. You can reach Mai Chau from Hanoi either by bus or by road.

How to reach Mai Chau by bus

Mai Chau has great bus connectivity. There are frequent buses to Mai Chau from Hanoi. The journey takes about 4 hours and costs VND 80,000. There are also buses from Hoa Binh that drop you off 2 km away from the city centre. A motorbike taxi to the centre costs VND 20,000. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Son la which will drop you off at Tong Dau junction, 5 km from the city. You can reach the city by Xe Om (VND 50,000)

Local transport in Mai Chau

If you’re staying in Mai Chau town or one of the villages you can easily get around on foot. But if you want to travel further afield it's easy to rent a bike in the villages for VND 20,000 per hour - negotiable for longer rental periods. Mai Chau also has its own taxi company which can be contacted for taxi services. pick up the number from your hotel reception.

Browse Package Collections

Mai Chau Photos

Mai Chau Valley - Beautiful SIghtseeing Place

Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Opened in 1999

Thung Khe Pass - To Enjoy Picturesque Scenery

+ 9
photos

FAQs on Mai Chau

What is not so good about Mai chau?

Underdeveloped, Not many facilities

What are the places near Mai chau?

The top places near to Mai chau are Hanoi which is 93 km from Mai chau, Halong bay which is located 227 km from Mai chau, Sapa which is located 219 km from Mai chau, Hoa binh which is located 31 km from Mai chau, Hoi an which is located 640 km from Mai chau

What is the best way to reach Mai chau?

What is the local food in Mai chau?

Mai Chau, being a largely remote area, does not have a lot of fancy food. The local food is largely made from the items grown locally. Some local delicacies include Xoi Nep Thuong (Steamed sticky rice with grilled meat) and sticky rice served inside bamboo shoots. Com Lam - salty sticky rice stuffed in bamboo is also well known. Ruou Can is the local rice wine. it is made from locally grown sticky rice, fermented in a pot and made so that multiple people sip on it at a time. Locally grown sugarcane and sugarcane juice is a must-have. Mai Chau ecolodge, Mai Chau Food and Mai Chau Sunrise Village Bar and restaurant are some places to eat.
Read More

What is the best time to visit Mai chau?

February - April: Set between the extreme winter chill and the summer wave of heat, the months of February to April offers the ideal weather to visit Mai Chau. Temperatures range from 18 degrees to 25 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is low as it is just the onset of the rainy season. This time of the year is when the flowers bloom, and the slopes and plains are filled with a colourful blossom which is a visual treat.
Read More

What is famous about Mai chau?

Not many tourists, Spectacular Scenery

Have a Question on Mai Chau?

Ask a question from the travellers who have
experience.

Mai Chau Reviews

Your rating

Mai Chau

Mai Chau Travel Essentials

Mai Chau Travel Packages

Vietnam Itinerary 6 Days: Best of Northern Vietnam

Best Romantic Getaway to Vietnam

"Rich Cultural experience in picturesque surroundings"

Mai Chau Tourism

Things to do in Mai Chau

1. Thung Khe Pass

2. Mo Luong Cave

3. Pu Luong Nature Reserve

4. Lac and Pom Coong Village

Top Hotels In Mai Chau

More on Mai Chau Travel

Biking Trip across Mai Chau

Shopping in Mai Chau

Nightlife in Mai Chau

History of Mai Chau

Language of Mai Chau

Mai Chau Customs

Religion of Mai Chau

Nang Ha Festival of the White Thai people

Best Time to Visit Mai Chau

Nearby Places

How to Reach Mai Chau

How to Reach Overview

How to reach Mai Chau by flight

How to reach Mai Chau by road

How to reach Mai Chau by train

How to reach Mai Chau by bus

Local transport in Mai Chau

Browse Package Collections

Nearby Destinations for Packages

Top Listed Packages

Mai Chau Photos

FAQs on Mai Chau

What is not so good about Mai chau?

What are the places near Mai chau?

What is the best way to reach Mai chau?

What is the local food in Mai chau?

What is the best time to visit Mai chau?

What is famous about Mai chau?

Have a Question on Mai Chau?

Mai Chau Reviews

Similar Places