Top 10 best things to do in Mai Chau valley, Northern Vietnam

Check out the top things to do in Mai Chau, Vietnam

This article is everything you need to know about the best things to do in Mai Chau valley provided by  a local guide from Hanoi Eco Tour. 

Mai Chau is a great place to come and recharge your soul in beautiful nature, only 3 hours drive from Hanoi and less touristy than Sapa. That’s why it is getting popular among top attractions in Northern Vietnam. On the other hand, it is much less touristy than Sapa and there are some of the off-the-beaten-path destinations in the area

Mai Chau travel maps

See an amazing list of the top 10 things to do in Mai Chau, Vietnam

1.Take a panorama picture of Mai Chau Valley at the flag pole

A panoramic view of Mai Chau valley from the flag pole

On the way from Hanoi to Mai Chau, there are several roadside markets along Thung Khe pass where locals sell lots of stuff such as boiled egg, Com Lam (sticky rice wrapped by banana leaves with a bamboo tube), fresh vegetables, BBQ pork skewer and so on.

After a few more kilometers, drive is the flag pole of Mai Chau. It is a common stopover for travelers to Mai Chau on a private car or motorbike ride, where you see an awesome view of the whole Mai Chau valley with tons of great photo shootings. It is a cool check-in spot and a must for the Mai Chau area. I have to say breathtaking. 

I advise taking a photo if you can because you never know what the weather is like tomorrow. It might be misty and foggy. Parking at the stopover and follow a small pathway to get to a platform for taking photos. 

2.Check out a local market in Mai Chau area

Local market in mai Chau

Your visit to Mai Chau won’t be completed without a visit to local markets. There is a variety of things to buy in the Mai Chau area such as handicraft products, the traditional dress of Thai ethnic woman called “Xua Com”- a colorful jacket, scarves, bags, cross-bow. Please be aware that some of the products aren’t of high quality because it’s cheap. 

If you are checking out the market on Sunday which is the market day for the one in Mai Chau town, you can see lots of stuff and many ethnic people from different regions in Mai Chau to meet and exchange the stuff

On the other hand, you can also see colorful markets with fresh vegetables, meats, fish, clothing, and many more. There are weird stuff like silkworms, eels, cicadas or crickets if you travel in the summertime. 

3.Conquer the Afternoon cave with over 1000 steps

Conquering Afternoon cave – 1200 steps

There are quite a few limestone caves in Mai Chau but Hang Chieu (afternoon cave ) is worth a visit for those who like adventure travel. Honestly, it is tiring but cool experience after climbing 1200 steeped steps 

The best time to visit the cave is in the morning before it gets too hot or late afternoon when you may get the sunset. Chieu literately means “Afternoon” because the caves look awesome in the afternoon light. The stalagmites and stalactites aren’t as impressive as most of limestone caves in Halong Bay but it looks like a mysterious land. 

4.Joining farming works with locals

Watering vegetables in Mai Chau. One of the farming works

It sounds like something a bit strange for some of travelers but cools for those who like hands-on experience and interact with locals. Mai Chau is a great place for both rice and vegetable farming, depending on the season. You can help with preparing the soil, rawking, sowing and watering.

You can also take part in This guided farming tour in Mai Chau. I also recommend this experience for a family with kids. It is fun, educational and meaningful, providing a better understanding of the hardship of Vietnamese farmers. 

How can you do it? 

The planting rice season begins in Feb or July and for vegetables are from October to December. You can join with the farmers along the way of walking or cycling around. 

5.Taking a cooking class and feast on your DIY lunch

Learn how to make deep fried spring roll in a cooking class in Mai Chau

Mai Chau cuisines are totally different from what you have eaten in Hanoi. If you are a foodie, taking a cooking class in Mai Chau is the best way to learn, enjoy and experience the best food in Mai Chau valley. There are sample dishes for you to choose from: Com Lam (Sticky rice in bamboo tube), BBQ pork skewer, steamed fish wrapped by banana leaves, Bamboo shoots with stir-fried forest bee

Where to take a cooking class

Mai Chau Eco Lodge

Ume Mai Chau Eco Homestay

Mai Chau home 

6.Having fun with bamboo rafting on a local stream

Bamboo rafting in lac 2 village, Mai Chau

Getting to Lac 2 village and ask Ume Mai Chau Eco Homestay who will show you the next-door house which hosts bamboo rafting. Per person, the rate is $5 USD and you take a raft on your own.

You can float along the local stream nearby. It is actually a good thing to do for school trips, group of friends or company trips with team building activities. Make sure that you bring along a waterproof bag or a waterproof camera. There is a bamboo paddle for getting around. 

7.Sleep on a bamboo floor a Thai homestay in Lac 2 village

A homestay in Mai Chau for B and B

Sleeping arrangements are simple but comfortable. A mattress is laid out on the bamboo floor and a mosquito net hung from the ceiling. Leave the wooden windows open at night for a cool breeze off the rice paddies and lovely views at dawn.

Bathrooms are clean with hot running water. In the summertime, it might be a bit noisy at night in the stilt houses: the humming of cicadas, the heavy rains hitting the rooftops, the throbbing chorus of frogs in the fields, the morning cockerel calls, dogs barking and but it is quiet during the wintertime

Lac 2 village is near Lac bridge, a few hundred meters from the busy Lac 1 village. I recommend staying overnight in Lac 2 village. There is lots of campfires organized by the Vietnamese group at the weekend (Saturday and Sunday night).

But it is only happens up to 10.00pm. Staying in Lac 2 village is much quieter than Lac 1 village. One of the homestay I recommend is Ume Mai Chau Eco homestay whose owner is also a local guide for trekking in the area and great hospitality with a warm smile. Having an authentic meal with a local family and enjoy a cup of rice liquor is a memorable experience. 

There are lots of hardworking locals in the village with a traditional way of living.  They earn their living by providing tourist services and rice farming with lots of work on their rice field. If you are a photographer, there will be a great photo shoot of the house on stilt surrounded by lush green paddy fields. 
The great quality of soil allows local people to grow various food such as bananas, bamboo shoots, sweet potatoes, water spinach, etc. On the other hand, there is lots of animals raises in the area such as ducks, chickens, pigs, water buffaloes, cows, goats; which plays an important role in their lives.  It may encounter people tending water buffalo for eating the grass. A village is a perfect place for recharging your soul. 

8.Go on a walking or cycling tour around the Mai Chau area

Cycling around mai Chau area

Mai Chau valley is a great place for trekking and riding around the area. My suggested trekking or biking trail is to starts from Lac 2 village > Na Phon > Nhot > Na Thia > Pom Coong.

It takes around 2 hours to get around by bike and 3 hours by walking. Otherwise, ask your accommodation staff where you are staying for advice on the best routes. If you don’t know how to get around, take a guided tour. You can easily arrange it by your accommodation. 

Bike rental service is available in lots of places. The cost is from $3 to $5 USD for half-day and full day. 

9.Watch traditional Thai dance and drink Can wine in the evening.

Check with your accommodation in Mai Chau if the show is available. As far as I know Mai Chau Eco Lodge, Sol Bungalow and some others offer a free show for visitors staying in their accommodation. I really like the last performance of dancing with bamboo poles amongst the artisans and drink traditional Can wine with a bamboo straw, which is fun.

If the show isn’t available, check with your accommodation and ask for their help to find a place to see the show with extra fee of a few American dollars. It is a great cultural activity in which you can learn more about the cultures of many minority ethnic groups in Vietnam such as Thai, Muong, Hmong. A private show valued at $45 USD includes the performance and a jar of “Can” wine. 

10.Taking a boat ride in Hoa Binh lake

A relaxing boat ride in Hoa Binh lake

This is a cool thing to do in Mai Chau when it comes to a day full of sunshine. 20 kilometres with half an hour drive from Mai Chau to get to Hoa Binh lake. Take a private boat trip from 1.5 hours to 2-hour values at $20 per trip.

A relaxing trip along the cave to see lots of limestone islets and rustic beauty of hill tribe villages, enjoy a swim and jump off the boat with clean water. I do recommend doing it from April to October. If you are touring from November to April. It’s sometimes foggy so check the weather forecast before arranging the trip. The full-day taxi to the lake costs around $40 USD, arranged with your accommodation’s staff.  

Read more : Pu Luong private day tour with a local guide

Things to do around Mai Chau

Check out Paco Sunday market and Xa Linh village

Just 20 miles away from Mai Chau, the Paco market is worth visiting on Sundays when Hmong ethnic group meet to change their stuff. Locals choose a day to meet because the market is far away from home. There is an array of things that you can look for from colorful dress of the Hmong woman to different type of fresh vegetables and fruits. 

On the other hand, feast on Hmong cuisines with water-mouthing dishes. There is a village called Xa Linh, which is home to Hmong hill trible which is worth checking out. Meet the locals and learn more about local living by visiting a Hmong family living in the village. I suggest to bring some candies or gifts to give them to the kids in the village

Read more : Paco day tour from Mai Chau

Day trip to Pu Luong nature reserve 

Pu Luong nature reserve is the right choice for an off-the-tourist trail day trip from Mai Chau. You have a short time, love the wonderful landscape, Pu Luong is just right for you. 

Joining a guided tour, you will trek from village to villages along the buffalo trails, which is only known by locals. If time permits, ask your guide to take you see the waterwheel machines, which is a featured thing to see in Pu Luong 

Independent travellers can travel on a motorbike ride so you can stop as much as you can to take awesome photos of terraced paddy fields, meets the locals and more

Top things to see in Pu Luong 

• Hieu village waterfall
• Don village for its amazing terraced rice paddy field
• Kho Muong village 

Read more : Pu Luong day trip from Mai Chau

Private Pu LUong trekking day trip from Mai Chau

Less touristy Pu Luong day tour from Mai Chau

Mai Hich village, Mai Chau

Mich Hich is much less touristy than Mai Chau, just 20-minutes drive from Mai Chau. A bike ride or a walk for 1.5 hours around the village is just enough time to explore the village area. On the other hand, there are homestays for staying overnight. 

Mai Chau travel tips

• Taking a tourist bus from Hanoi is the most convenient way to get to Mai Chau, which costs around $8 to $12 USD
• There is two ATM machines in Mai Chau town, however, if you are staying in the village, we recommend taking cash with you. 
• Having dinner with the local family if you are staying in a homestay because it is a true dining experience, a great time to connect to locals, share a life story like a friend, not a traveller
• Avoid traveling at the weekends, especially in summertime from May to August because there is a lot of domestic travellers going there at the weekend. 
• Bring a simcard with 4G internet connection because there is no tourist map available in some of the homestays and guest houses
• Staying in the village is way better than the town because you could enjoy the rural landscape, feel the tranquil setting, meet locals and more. 

Read more : Mai Chau travel guide

Mai Chau valley photos 

This is the top 10 things to do in Mai Chau Vietnam. This article is well-selected and details everything you need to know about what to do in Mai Chau Vietnam. If you have any ideas, please comment in the box below. Hanoi Eco Tour would love to hear from you