Yen Nguyen, a 25-year-old woman from Bac Giang province, recently enjoyed a two-day, one-night trip to Mai Chau in Hoa Binh province in mid-June. Although she had passed through the area several times, this was her first time staying overnight.

From Hanoi, Yen and her friends traveled by car to Mai Chau, a journey of about three hours. The route, noted for its beautiful scenery and ease of travel, even includes options for drop-offs at desired locations.

“Mai Chau welcomed us with warm sunshine after days of rain. Riding an electric cart over a suspension bridge and through ripe rice fields, I could smell the fragrant rice. It was so gentle and peaceful,” Yen exclaimed upon arriving at the green, fresh area, about 140km from Hanoi.

To immerse themselves in nature, Yen and her friends chose to stay at a secluded resort in Xam Khoe village, surrounded by terraced fields and mountains, about 15km from Mai Chau’s center. An electric cart ride over a suspension bridge is required to reach the resort.

The resort, perched on a hill and away from residential areas, features architecture inspired by Thai stilt houses, with roofs made of palm leaves and walls plastered with earth, making it cool in summer and warm in winter. The interiors are made of eco-friendly materials.

Guests can enjoy warm mineral pools, participate in making and tasting traditional cakes like banh oc and banh gai, and engage in seasonal activities such as learning to weave palm hats.

Yen also took time to savor the unique cuisine of the Thai ethnic people. She was particularly impressed by the local specialties, including a platter with purple sticky rice, grilled chicken, salads, and boiled vegetables served with chẩm chéo (a traditional Thai dipping sauce).

“The dish I enjoyed most was chicken steamed in bamboo tubes. The chicken was tender and sweet, perfect with rice,” Yen shared.

Yen found Mai Chau to be an ideal healing destination due to its beautiful scenery, cool weather, and numerous activities that immerse visitors in nature, such as cycling and strolling to enjoy the views.

During her stay, Yen also explored local markets early in the morning, engaged in water activities like waterfall visits and rafting, and took part in trekking and photo ops at Hon Da Do (also known as Heart Rock).

“Visiting the local markets was one of my favorite experiences in Mai Chau. Each day features a different market, such as Mai Hich on Wednesdays, Sam Khoe on Thursdays, Bao La on Fridays, and Co Luong on Saturdays. The markets usually start bustling around 6-7 AM,” Yen said.

Local specialties Yen encountered at the markets included silkworms and mountain snails. The total cost of the trip was approximately 2.2 million VND (about $92) per person, including 600,000 VND for round-trip limousine service, 1.5 million VND for accommodation (including one breakfast and two main meals), and 100,000 VND for additional food and drinks.

“The cost is very reasonable for a healing trip or a weekend getaway to relieve stress,” Yen noted.

Best times to visit

Mai Chau is located in western Hoa Binh province, bordering Moc Chau (Son La) and Pu Luong (Thanh Hoa), and is about 140km from Hanoi. Each season brings a unique charm to Mai Chau. From February to April, visitors can enjoy the blooming ban flowers and warm, pleasant weather. May and June are the rice planting season, while July is the water pouring season.

From August to October is considered the best time to visit Mai Chau, as the area enters its most beautiful season. Visitors in late October can admire the golden rice fields during harvest season. From November to January, the hills are adorned with blooming plum and apricot flowers.

Travelers from Hanoi can reach Mai Chau by car or motorbike to enjoy the scenic route. Alternatively, buses from Yen Nghia and My Dinh bus stations can take visitors to Tong Dau junction, from where a short motorbike ride will bring them to Mai Chau town center.