Mai Chau was the perfect getaway for us after we had spent too long in Hanoi, the extremely busy capital of Vietnam. Mai Chau is a small village town in a lush, green valley, that still has its authentic charm. We met a few travelers while we were here, but it definitely wasn’t as built up or industrialized as other places we visited in Northern Vietnam.

How to get to Mai Chau?

We rode our motorbikes from Hanoi to Mai Chau, which took about 3.5 hours. The roads in the mountains right outside Mai Chau had a lot of construction, and were mostly made of gravel (November 2019) - which led us both to having a few accidents on the way! The easiest way to get to Mai Chau is by bus, which can be booked in BookAway.com or 12GoAsia.

Where to stay in Mai Chau?

We had the pleasure of staying at Mai Chau Lodge, which was the perfect place to unwind after our stressful ride from Hanoi. It’s located on a lily lake, right in the rice paddy fields, and across from Mo Luong Cave. Breakfast was included, and they also offer guided tours of the valley.

Budget: Co’s House Homestay

Where to eat in Mai Chau?

We were lucky enough to have a few of our meals at Mai Chau Lodge, and they did not disappoint! The chef did an amazing job at preparing a special vegetarian dinner for us, catering to all of our dietary requirements, and creating a fusion of Vietnamese-Western cuisine.

Quan 3 Chi Em: This was a tiny, bamboo shack where we had one of our favorite meals in Vietnam. The food is delicious, cooked fresh, but the experience we had there with the owners made us love the place. This restaurant is owned by three sisters (hence the name) and although we couldn’t communicate with them, we didn’t need to because of their warm smiles and kind demeanors.

Best places to take Instagram photos in Mai Chau

Lots of Instagram worthy spots in Mai Chau

A few of our favorite things in Mai Chau:

Cycling tour: We went on a 2 hour cycling tour with Mai Chau Lodge, which visited the surrounding ethnic villages along the rice paddy fields.
Mo Luong Cave: Also known as “Soldier Cave”, this cave expands 500 meters into Pu Kha Mountain, and is made up of four different large caverns. During the Vietnam War, weapons were stored in this cave. Nowadays, the first cavern can be rented out for parties or banquets.
Breakfast by the Lake: One of our favorite mornings at Mai Chau Lodge was when we had a picnic breakfast on the lily lake.