HOA BINH – With less than 2 million VND/person, you can stay one night in a lakeside resort, go kayaking, visit Go Lao waterfall…
About 150 km from the center of Hanoi, possessing a peaceful setting and many beautiful resorts that have opened to foreign tourists, Mai Chau (Hoa Binh) is an appropriate choice for tourists in the North after the distance. You can make a short weekend trip with the following travel, accommodation, experiences, and dining suggestions.
Road to Mai Chau
From Hanoi, you follow the direction of Thang Long Boulevard, Hoa Lac Highway to Hoa Binh province. At the checkpoint, it is necessary to make a medical declaration and be checked to certify that 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been injected. In case the vaccine has not been given the full dose, it is recommended to prepare an additional negative test paper for nCoV.
Drive straight QL6 through Cao Phong town, Thung Khe pass to Dong Bang junction, turn right and go about 20 km of winding mountain road, you will come to Mai Chau district. The road to here is easy to go, but on cold rainy days, there is a thick fog, obstructing the view.
Staying in Mai Chau
Mai Chau Hideaway is a resort on a peninsula in the heart of Hoa Binh Lake, known as Ha Long Bay on land. From any corner of the resort, you can also see the majestic scenery of the undulating islands, floating on the immense, blue water.
The rows of red peonies along the cobblestone streets are in full bloom, becoming a favorite photo spot for many people. In addition, you can experience kayaking (300,000 VND / time), relax at the infinity pool overlooking Hoa Binh Lake, take a boat to visit the lake, cycle to explore the village…
The resort has 31 rooms with a simple and rustic design. The price is from 1.6 to 3.6 million VND/night during the week, on weekends (Friday-July nights) the price is from 2.2 million VND to 4 million VND/night.
About 9 km away is Bakhan Village Resort. Located on the mountainside of Khan Ha hamlet, the resort overlooks the green valley and Hoa Binh lake. The campus here is covered with green with diverse vegetation, has a rock garden, a natural small stream, bringing a close-to-nature experience.
The infinity pool overlooking the mountain scenery is a favorite area of visitors when coming to the resort. You can participate in cycling tours, mountain climbing or river boating, caving… The resort has 31 rooms divided into 4 room types, located in the rock garden, next to the swimming pool, with valley views. valley, mountain, or garden. Room rates here are from 1.1 million VND/night.
In Mai Chau, there are many other accommodation options such as Mai Chau Ecolodge (Na Chieng, Na Phon) with prices from 1.1 million VND/night or Mai Chau Rustic Home (Mo village) with prices from 800,000 VND/room… These resorts often fill up quickly, especially on weekends, so it’s a good idea to book at least a week before your trip.
Mai Chau does not have many services and tourist facilities, so visitors should enjoy the cuisine right at the restaurant in the resort. Some local specialties are stir-fried buffalo meat with bamboo leaves, salmon with sour bamboo shoots, upland sticky rice, pig man, hill chicken… The average price is 300,000-500,000 VND/person.
Attractions in Mai Chau
The first attraction is Thung Khe Pass or Da Trang Pass, located on National Highway 6, between Tan Lac and Mai Chau. This is a limestone mountain, created by the process of paving the way. This is also a place often covered by clouds, creating a blurry scene like white snow in winter. Visitors should only come here on sunny days, to take beautiful photos and not be dangerous in the process of traffic.
If you want to learn about local culture, you should not miss Lac village, where there are hundreds of stilt houses up to 700 years old. It also has a scene of endless rice fields and homestays on stilts to stay. Lac village is about 3 km from Mai Chau Ecolodge, which can be experienced by bicycle.
November is also the time when the Hang Kia – Pa Co valley is in the season of thick and white clouds.
Go Lao Waterfall or Go Mu Waterfall is not far from Mai Chau Hideaway and Bakhan Village Resort. The waterfall is about 20 m high, the water pours down white, in the lake bed are large rocks. This season bathing in the waterfall is very cold, you can take a walk in the cool air, take pictures with the white water.
Coming to Mai Chau in a large group, you should not miss the visit to Hoa Binh lake bed to Ngoi Hoa bay, Ao Tien, Ba Chua Thac Bo Temple. The marina is located at the end of Suoi Lon village.
Other Notes
In November, Mai Chau gets cold at night, you should bring warm clothes. Rainy days will be difficult to visit the waterfall, take a boat in the lake bed. For those who want to hunt for clouds, they should choose to come to Mai Chau after it rains 1-2 days when the fog is thick, there will be virtual live photos like “broad fairy scene”.
From Mai Chau, you can go to Cao Phong town, about 50 km away, visit orange orchards planted by people, visit Thung Nai eco-tourism site in the heart of Hoa Binh lake.