Discovering Northwest Vietnam: Mai Chau
When most people travel to Vietnam, they visit the usual places: Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City. When they want to see rice paddies they go to Sapa or beaches they go to Phu Quoc or Nha Trang. But for a destination that hasn’t been fully exploited by tourists, that is tranquil, holds natural beauty, has ethnic villages and adventures in the outdoors, we recommend Mai Chau.
Set in an idyllic valley, surrounded by hills, rice paddies and tiny Thai Villages, Mai Chau is an easy three hour car ride from Hanoi (approx. 160 km) Upon arriving, we enjoyed the clean mountain air and the kindness of the locals.
The highlight of our trip was staying at the Mai Chau Ecolodge. We brought our 4 young children to this family-friendly eco lodge for 2 nights and we can’t wait to return again in the future.
For starters, with 19 bungalows, the Lodge is neither too big nor too small, but just right. All of the bungalows are built in traditional stilt house style and are grouped as two bungalows, each with a private garden and outdoor shower. Although the two bungalows are not connected, they are perfect for families with multiple children or families traveling in groups. We stayed in a triple room, which meant a super comfy king size bed and a queen size “cot” that was added for the children. The kids especially loved the large wooden bathtub and the outdoor shower.
Within the Lodge, there’s a large swimming pool, with incredible mountain and rice paddy views in the background. Just next to the pool is the restaurant where we enjoyed both Vietnamese and Western cooking (as well as a delicious breakfast buffet included in our stay).
We also got to enjoy a traditional dance show, taking place nightly, that the older twins loved (they also go to take part in it).
The Lodge has various activities for those seeking leisure and adventure. We opted for a half day bike tour, which was perfect for our young family. Our bikes had baby seats on them and our tour guide made it fun and interesting for the whole family. We road through rice patties and had tea and snacks at a local Thai Ethnic home, comprised of 3 generations.
We also spent a half day at the Pa Co village, 1 hour from Mai Chau, where we met with Hmong women that we’re working with for our bag company, Rafi Nova.
Being away from the noise and buzz of Saigon and Hanoi, was so refreshing and relaxing. Mai Chau still has the authenticity that many places in Vietnam lack, due to the overrun of tourists. The Eco Lodge is the perfect place to unwind and explore all the natural beauty that Mai Chau has to offer. The Lodge was a perfect place to bring our children so they could be immersed in culture, nature and beauty. We are already planning our stay for next year!