Mai Chau, Hoa Binh

Mai Chau is a small town about 140 south west of Hanoi. A beautiful rice field valley surrounded by mountains on both sides, with the Pu Luong nature reserve just 50km away. It is well known for its peaceful vibe with homestays nestled in the rice fields with small villages dotted around the area. October is the most popular month to visit as the rice fields turn a stunning golden colour, the rainy season has usually just ended and the summer heat has gone.

Getting to Mai Chau with a motorbike

Mai Chau is about 3.5 – 4 hours from Hanoi, ornha 140km away. This is the direct route, but there is a slightly longer but much quieter route following the Red River west to near Ba Vi, then the Da River south to Hoa Binh city. It is a common first stop for a larger route through the north of Vietnam. 

To the east is Ninh Binh, also 140km away. The road here is direct and easy to navigate if following the QL12B. But the more southern road heading through Pu Luong might add 30km to the total but makes a much more scenic route. 

To head further north or northwest from Mai Chau you pass Moc Chau just 65km away. From here you can head to Ta Xua or Son La, both of which are reachable from Mai Chau in a day. 

It is also common to head south towards Phong Nha from here, but with more time a stop first in Pu Luong is highly recommended. 

Where to Stay

Mai Chau is well-known for homestays located right in the rice fields. Creating a beautiful morning view and a peaceful feel. They are very affordable with options for all budgets. 

More recently, the larger and more luxury resorts started to make an appearance, offering a more luxury and comfortable experience. 

To make the most out of your stay in Mai Chau try and ensure that whichever option you go for, you are in the rice fields or small villages and away from the main road through the town. 

Mai Chau Viewpoint and Flagpole

On the road to the north of Mai Chau is a viewpoint which is flying the Vietnam flag. It gives a view down the valley into the town, a stunning view, and a great first impression of the area. 

If you are coming from Hanoi then you will drive past the viewpoint. If not, then a short detour will take you there. 

Further up this road heading east is Thung Khe pass. A lovely section of road with great views to the south whilst hugging the mountain side to the north. 

Rice Fields

The rice field views are what makes Mai Chau famous and what you will see in all the pictures. The perfect time of year to see these are in October for the golden harvest where they will turn yellow or in May to June where they are a luscious green. 

With small paths cutting through the rice fields you can either cycle or if you are here with your motorbike then ride through them. A great photo or go pro shot. 

Go Lao Waterfall

Just north out of town is the Go Lao waterfall, a small natural waterfall just over 10km away. Whilst you could stop here on the way to Moc Chau you can also visit as a day trip combining it with a visit to the lake and a ride around the area enjoying the lake view before joining in the main road near the Thung Khe pass. 

Parking at the top near the road, taking the stairs down to the waterfall you can swim and relax in the pool at the bottom.

Hoa Binh Lake

This is the largest artificial lake in Vietnam, caused by the hydroelectric dam at Hoa Binh. Most of the infrastructure for the lake is actually on the northern and eastern shores but there are a few homestays in the south near Mai Chau if you are looking for an alternative location to sleep. 

It is possible to go out into the lake with a boat which is most easily arranged through your homestay, either by the lake or in Mai Chau town. 

If you are not looking to swim or take a boat, then just riding the road to the south of the lake starting near Go Lao waterfall is well worth it.

Chieu Cave

There is a large cave just a few km from the centre of town. The inside is well lit and has good pathways to make navigating the cave easy. 

Reaching the cave itself is much more challenging though as there is 1200 steps and during rain these can become very slippery.

There is a small entrance fee for the entering the cave. 

Pu Luong

Just 50km heading south from Mai Chau is Pu Luong nature reserve. A beautiful area which should be much more well known. If you are visiting Mai Chau, you need to make sure you have the time to see Pu Luong. It is close enough that this could be a day trip, but Pu Luong deserves to be a trip and stay of its own. 

Rice fields, mountains, waterfalls, bamboo rafts and waterwheels mean Pu Luong should not be missed. 

Summary

Mai Chau is quite well known for a relaxing stay amongst tourists and for the right reasons as it is a beautiful place to visit. Just out of the town there is so much more as well that it is important to leave the town and explore the surrounding area. 

With the high end resorts and budget homestays you can find the right accommodation. The rice fields, waterfalls, nature reserve and lake nearby mean you can easily spend more than 1 night here. 

Related Routes

If you are sticking to the north then you can find routes here.

For those heading between HCMC and Hanoi then Mai Chau can also be included with the routes here.