Itinerary
Mai Chau is a mountainous region located in Hoa Binh province, approximately 135 km from Hanoi and 65km from Hoa Binh. The Ban Lac People have Thai ancestors that settled in the North-Western area of Vietnam. The tribe White Thai settled in the same area and make up the largest ethnic population of the region. The Mai Chau area is well known for its stilt houses. The type of stilt houses, or pile dwellings, they construct are called Thai stilt houses and are made of bamboo and timber. These houses are elevated 10-12 feet off the ground in order to avoid water damage and shelter animals from the elements.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (L/D)
Day 2: Poong Coong – Pa Co Sunday market – Mai Chau – Hanoi (B/L).
Tour Program
Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (L/D)
This morning we depart Hanoi and head west towards Hoa Binh province, after two hours driving we will stop for refreshments and visit Hoa Binh hydro station built in the 1980s. Leaving Hoa Binh, we drive towards Mai Chau valley, about another two hours away to White Thai village of Poong Coong. Enjoy the stunning views while lunching on tasty local dishes cooked by the White Thai girls of the village.
In the afternoon we walk to the surrounding of Poong Coong village and head down to visit a Thai minority village at Ban Lac to have more experiences on ethnic tribal life. Dinner tonight is at a traditional house of ethnic Thai minority, followed by their traditional music show. Overnight in home stay in Poong Coong village.
Day 2: Poong Coong village – Pa Co market (Sunday market) – Mai Chau – Hanoi (B/L).
After breakfast, we will drive 20 km and head towards Moc Chau to visit the Pa Co Sunday market. There are spectacular views along the way. Arrive in Pa Co market at around 10 AM; we will walk to the surrounding market to see minority people exchange the local products. Keep continues walking around we will visit the plum farms and H’mong houses.
We will back to home stay in Poong Coong village, lunch is served in Thai white’s traditional home stay. After lunch we will have 1 hour to rest then drive back to Hanoi in the afternoon. Trip concludes in your hotel in Hanoi.
Price & Included Features
| Group sizes/people | 2 | 3 – 4 | 5 – 7 | 8 – 12 | 13 – 15 | S.S |
| Cost/person | 159 $ | 126 $ | 95 $ | 77 $ | 69 $ |
Note:
S.S = Single Supplement
Trip price valid until ….
What’s included ?
Accommodations at basic local home stay All meals indicated in the itinerary (2 lunches, 1 Dinners, 1 Breakfast) A/C transfers & transport by private car, van or coaches, with a reasonable supply of drinking water Water during walk Entrance fees & permits Local speaking English tour guide/s (Other languages upon requests) Local cook
Trip Price Excluded:
Meals and beverage not mentioned in the itinerary
Personal expenses
Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
Tips and gratuities
Others not mentioned in the itinerary
Accommodation
Please be advised that the local home stay is not the hotel and the home stay is exactly in the condition how the local people live. The home stay has a squad toilet and no shower. It is very basic. We always try to choose the clean enough home stay to offer our clients. But please do not expect too much at a local home stay. This is a part of experience when you take this trip.
Van Village: Basic White Thai Home stay – House on stilts
Poong Coong Village: Basic White Thai Home stay – House on stilts
About the home stay:
The White Thai’s home stay is very clean and in a better condition. We stay in the house on stilts. The family provides us clean mats (quite hard), mosquito nets, blankets, pillow.
Meals
– If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies) please inform us in advance so that we can provide notice to our cook and local people so that they can server you better.
– We will have a cook (local people) go with us and cook for us until Poong Coong Village. The cook will prepare pick nick lunches and accompany us the whole time in Mai Chau.
– Some meals are prepare and cook by local family
Meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Meal codes are: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.