mai chau

We pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The drive to Mai Chau takes around 3-4 hours, heading southwest through Hoa Binh Province.

Thung Khe Pass. We stop at the top of the pass for panoramic views of the valley below. Local vendors sell corn and sugarcane - a welcome snack after the winding mountain road.

Lunch at a local restaurant in the valley. Traditional White Thai cuisine with sticky rice, grilled meats and bamboo shoot dishes.

Cycling through the rice paddies on the flat loop between Ban Lac and Pom Coong. The valley floor is perfectly flat and safe - no busy roads to worry about.

We walk through Pom Coong Village, visiting local weavers and seeing the traditional stilt houses up close.

Chieu Cave. We climb the 1,200 steps up the hillside right next to Ban Lac for a panoramic view of the valley. The cave has stalactites and stalagmites inside, but the view from the top is the real highlight.

Check in to our homestay in Ban Lac Village. Time to relax or explore the village before dinner.

Home-cooked White Thai dinner at the homestay, followed by a traditional dance performance.

Breakfast at the homestay with fresh tea and coffee.

We visit a local family to see traditional spirit paper making. The Dao people here make giấy dó from the bark of the dó tree - rough textured paper used for burning during ancestor worship ceremonies. We see the full process from bark pounding to drying on bamboo frames.

We drive up the steep mountain road to the Hmong highlands. The scenery changes dramatically as we climb - from lush valley to misty mountain peaks. First stop is Hang Kia Village.

Batik workshop in the highlands. We learn the traditional Hmong wax-resist dyeing technique - drawing patterns with hot beeswax onto hemp cloth before dipping in natural indigo dye. We also see examples of paj ntaub embroidery and learn about the symbolic meanings behind the geometric patterns.

Lunch in the highlands. Local Hmong food - quite different from the Thai cuisine of the valley below.

Pa Co Village. We explore the village and if it’s a Sunday, we visit the famous morning market where Hmong families from surrounding villages come to trade produce, livestock and traditional textiles.

Back down to the valley for our second night at the homestay. Time to relax and take in the evening light over the rice paddies.

Dinner at the homestay. A chance to try different dishes from last night.

Final breakfast at the homestay.

We trek to Go Lao Waterfall, a hidden gem tucked away in the jungle. The trail takes around 30-45 minutes through dense forest alongside a stream. The waterfall cascades into a natural pool - perfect for a swim if the weather is warm.

A final walk through Ban Lac Village to visit the weavers and pick up any last handmade souvenirs - brocade scarves, bags and textiles.

Farewell lunch in the valley before the drive back to Hanoi.

We drop you back at your hotel in Hanoi. Three days well spent in one of northern Vietnam’s most beautiful and peaceful corners.