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Mai Chau
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Getting into Mai Chau
Most visitors come from Hanoi
- BusOur pick 3h120,000₫ – 300,000₫ ≈ $5–12 Departures from My Dinh or Yen Nghia bus stations, with door-to-door pickup available within the city.
Mai Chau
Phú Thọ · A green valley of Thai stilt-house villages, rice fields and easy bike rides.Places to visit
White Thai village of stilt houses with brocade looms beneath them; wander the lanes and out into the fields.
Good to know: Very busy with Hanoi visitors at weekends and holidays.
Map ↗Rent a bike at your homestay and ride flat concrete lanes through rice fields linking Ban Lac, Pom Coong, Ban Van and…
Good to know: Summer midday sun is fierce; go early morning or late afternoon.
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Rent a bike at your homestay and ride flat concrete lanes through rice fields linking Ban Lac, Pom Coong, Ban Van and Na Phon.
Thai village next to Ban Lac with stilt houses right on the fields, quieter than its neighbour.
Map ↗A stop on Highway 6 just before the descent, with a panorama over Mai Chau and stalls selling grilled corn and…
Good to know: Thick fog in winter; park only in the lay-bys, heavy truck traffic.
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A stop on Highway 6 just before the descent, with a panorama over Mai Chau and stalls selling grilled corn and bamboo-tube rice.
Hmong highland villages with wooden houses and plum orchards; plum and mustard blossom January–March.
Good to know: About 25 km of mountain road from Mai Chau; very cold in winter.
Map ↗Boats from Thung Nai pier cross the reservoir among limestone peaks, stopping at Tien Pagoda and Thac Bo Cave.
Good to know: Boats are priced per trip, so agree the fare first; cheaper in a group.
Map ↗ Find out more →Show 4 more
Long-standing Thai weaving village; watch the looms and buy handmade scarves and bags at the houses.
Map ↗Hmong Sunday market selling brocade, livestock and thang co stew, full of colourful dress.
Good to know: Sunday mornings only; arrive before 9am.
Map ↗Mountain cave behind town reached by about 1,200 steps, with a view down over the valley.
Good to know: Steep steps, slippery after rain; bring water.
Map ↗Village troupes perform Thai xoe and bamboo dances with shared rice wine, usually booked through homestays.
Good to know: Shows often need a big enough group; ask your homestay ahead.
Map ↗Where to eat
Hmong Sunday market selling brocade, livestock and thang co stew, full of colourful dress.
Good to know: Sunday mornings only; arrive before 9am.
Map ↗Good to know before you go
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?
It depends on your passport. Some nationalities can enter visa-free for a set number of days; everyone else can apply online for an e-visa, valid for up to 90 days. The list of visa-free countries changes, so check the official e-visa portal before you book. Apply only on the official government site: look-alike agency sites charge extra fees.
Official e-visa portal: https://evisa.gov.vn
What documents do I need at the airport when I arrive?
Your passport (valid for at least 6 months from entry, with blank pages), your printed or on-phone e-visa if you need one, and your onward or return ticket in case the officer asks. Keep your hotel address handy too.
Official e-visa portal: https://evisa.gov.vn
Should I bring cash or use cards in Vietnam?
Both. Hotels, malls, chain cafés and many restaurants take cards, but street food, markets, small shops and local buses are cash only. ATMs are everywhere in cities; each withdrawal usually carries a fee from the local bank, so take out larger amounts less often.
How do I avoid mixing up Vietnamese banknotes?
Prices have many zeros, and some notes look alike: the 20,000 and 500,000 notes are both blue. Count the zeros before handing money over, keep large and small notes in separate pockets, and read the amount aloud when paying.
Make it a longer trip
Travellers often combine these with Mai Chau.
