Are you looking for?
• An inclusive, convenient, and flexible tour package far from the hustle and bustle of
• It is a destination with unspoiled nature, genuine hill tribe culture, hospitable people, and tasty gastronomy.
• A trip full of exciting travel activities and unique experiences, crafted and organized by a professional tour operator
• A journey, 100% operated by local people with direct benefits to the local community.

Welcome to Mai Chau valley
Distance from Hanoi: 140 km, 3 hours driveF
• Average temperature: 13°C – 29°C
• Population: 63,000 (in 2019)
• Culture: Thai, Muong, and H’mong ethnic
• Best time for visiting:
Feb – Jun: Season of water
March – Sep: Green season
Oct – Nov: Golden season

Pà căn mà o!
My name is Tan Ha and I am from the White Thai ethnic group in Vietnam. As a DCT Responsible Travel ambassador, I look forward to hosting you while you visit the Mai Chau Valley. Despite being less than 3 hours away from Hanoi, Mai Chau offers an entirely different landscape with rolling rice fields, small villages of traditional stilt houses, and untouched nature with abundant lakes, waterfalls, and forests. It is also home to over 63,000 inhabitants and over seven ethnic minority groups, such as the White Thai that I am from.Mai Chau can be seen as a miniature version of the vastNorthwest of Vietnam.

The Mai Chau experience will bring you a stunning view of what the Northwest of Vietnam has to offer, such as hidden H’mong villages in Hang Kia, a colorful weekend market at Pa Co, a majestic waterfall in Moc Chau, and the rich flora and fauna of Pu Luong Nature Reserve. It will also provide unique homestay experiences, including culinary experiences from local H’mong or Thai homestay hosts.

The DCT Responsible Travel tours provide experiences off the beaten track. They are 100% operated by locals like myself, and the profits go towards promoting the local economy and culture and protecting the environment. These tours also support indigenous women as they provide a platform for us to contribute to the economy meaningfully.
I look forward to hosting you in Mai Chau alongside the other DCT-Responsible Travel ambassadors.

TOUR PACKAGES

Small size group tour. Guaranteed daily departure.
Mai Chau offers a most splendid vista of the valley, surrounded by the lush green forests, fields, and stilt houses of the White Thai ethnic group. This is a quiet piece of countryside to stroll and cycle through and be wrapped in the warm and lovely hospitality of the Thai people.

Why should you join ?
• Relaxing rural landscape
• Friendship, warmth and hospitality of Thai local host family
• Easy and fun cycling through the gorgeous valley

What to bring ?
• Sun & rain gear (including sunscreen and brimmed hat)
• Warm clothes in winter (mid-November to early March)
• Insect repellent
• Walking shoes/sandals
• Cycling shoes/sandals
• Swimsuits
• Toiletries, towel, and flashlight
• Original passport

Including
• Meals as specified in the program Travel in an air-
• conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
• The service of an English-speaking local guide in Mai Chau
• Dyeing workshop
• Bicycle (simple ones, without gear shift and suspension) Water, tea, and
• local fruits
• All entrance fees

Excluding
• Hotel in Hanoi
• Beverages, guide gratuities, and personal expenses
• Camera fees (if any)
• Surcharge in peak season (New Year)
• Insurance, VAT and other taxes

PROGRAM : HA NOI – MAI CHAU – HA NOI

7:00-7:30. Departing from the DCT Responsible Travel office (17 Cau Go), we’ll leave the city behind and pass through a craggy, mountainous landscape to Mai Chau Valley. The road climbs to almost 800 meters before dropping steeply down into the valley, passing through picturesque rocky outcrops and with views of rice fields hidden in the deep valleys below. We arrive at Mai Chau around 10:30-11:00, where we will be welcomed by our hosts and enter a world of new customs and traditions.

11:00. Following a tour briefing, we will cycle to Na Phon village through the rice fields along narrow lanes until we reach a weaving workshop. We will learn the White Thai traditional weaving, dyeing, and embroidery techniques and experience a hands-on natural dyeing workshop hosted by a Thai lady. The products you make are yours to take with you, along with fond memories of time spent with beautiful people.

*We support two local weaving workshops in Mai Chau; one is the workshop of Mrs. Xuyen, an artisan who, until now, has been weaving ancient details of White Thai. The other is the Hoa Ban Social Protecting Center, created in 2008 to support disadvantaged and disabled women while maintaining the traditional handicraft customs of the White Thai ethnic group in Mai Chau, Vietnam. Both workshops are for promoting sustainable textile fabrics and products with high quality, environmental, and social values.

13:30. Returning to our Homestay, we will enjoy a lunch of Mai Chau specialties delicately prepared by your host family. In the afternoon, we’ll hop on bicycles again and start cycling. Our local guide will suggest suitable cycling routes depending on the weather and your wishes. Many beautiful cycling trails in Mai Chau Valley take you through quaint villages and rice and cropping fields. Along the way, you can stop anytime to catch beautiful moments of nature or talk to a friendly villager.

16:00. We’ll go back to our homestay and have tea before saying goodbye to your host, then head back to Hanoi.

19:30. Arrival in Hanoi. End of the trip

Note: If you are not keen to cycling, transfer by electronic car is available with a surcharge

Small size group tour. Guaranteed daily departure.

Away from tourist crowds and popular paths, this trip, designed for nature lovers, will bring you closer to nature and the idyllic life of the Mai Chau people with many experiences such as cycling through tiny village roads, visiting handicraft workshops, and especially an easy riding to hidden Tat Nang waterfall and Phu Mau wild hot spring on the edge of Hoa Binh and Son La provinces frontier, then ending up with a peaceful afternoon by the dreamy Hoa Binh lake.

Why should you join ?
• Easy and fun cycling through the gorgeous valley Amazing
• motorbike trip to hidden Tat Nang waterfall
• Soaring in Phu Mau natural hot spring
• Staying in our homestay with a great view of Na Phon rice field
• Friendship, warmth, and hospitality of Thai

What to bring ?
• Sun & rain gear (sunscreen and brimmed hat)
• Warm clothes in winter (mid-November to early March)
• Insect repellent
• Walking and cycling shoes/sandals
• Swimsuits
• Dry bag for your digital devices
• Toiletries, towel and flashlight
• Original passport

Including
• Meals as specified in the program
• Accommodation as mentioned in the program
• The service of English speaking local guide in Mai Chau Travel in an
• appropriate air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
• Bicycle (simple ones, without gear shift and suspension)
• Dyeing workshop
• Motor-taxi with experienced rider
• Activities as mentioned in the tour program
• Water, tea and local fruits
• All entrance fees

Excluding
• Hotel in Hanoi
• Beverages, guide gratuities, and personal expenses
• Camera fees (if any)
• Insurance
• VAT and other taxes
• Surcharge in the peak season (Christmas, New Years & Lunar New Year)

Day 1. Hanoi – Mai Chau

7:00-7:30. Departing from the DCT Responsible Travel office (17 Cau Go), we’ll leave the city behind and pass through a craggy, mountainous landscape to Mai Chau Valley. We arrive at Mai Chau around 10:30-11:00, where we will be welcomed by our hosts and enter a world of new customs and traditions.

11:00. Following a tour briefing, we will cycle to Na Phon village through the rice fields along narrow lanes until we reach a weaving workshop. We will learn the White Thai traditional weaving, dyeing, and embroidery techniques and experience a hands-on natural dyeing workshop hosted by a Thai lady. The products you make are yours to take with you, along with fond memories of time spent with beautiful people.

13:30. Returning to our homestay, we will enjoy a lunch of Mai Chau specialties delicately prepared by your host family. In the afternoon, we’ll hop on bicycles and start cycling. Many beautiful cycling trails in Mai Chau Valley take you through quaint villages and rice and cropping fields. Along the way, you can stop anytime to catch beautiful moments of nature or talk to a friendly villager.

16:00. Back at our homestay, there is enough time for you to chill out in the reading corner or to walk around Na Phon village. In the evening enjoy a BBQ dinner prepared by your hosts with their amazing cuisine skills before going to bed in the peaceful atmosphere of the village.

Day 2. Mai Chau, waterfall & hot spring – Hanoi (B, L)

Starting with an early breakfast at 6:30, we get on a motorbike behind our experienced riders to Tat Nang waterfall (depending on the group size, we will arrange a car or motorbike/easy rider for you). Hidden behind the terraced paddy fields, Tạt Nàng Waterfall flows all year round. It is a source of water for the paddy fields and a place for reflection.

Stop for a tea break here and swim. Or you can skip swimming until we reach Phụ Mẫu hot spring, where you can soak and rejuvenate your body in these natural hot springs.
Noon. Lunch at our friend’s Thai family in Chieng Xuan village. After lunch, we will head back to Mai Chau. On the way, stop at Hoà Bình Lake, formed during the construction of the Hoa Binh hydropower plant; the lake is called Halong Bay On The Mountain thanks to its stunning views of the “jade reservoir.”

15:00. Upon arrival, back at Mai Chau, there is time to have tea before saying goodbye to your host, heading back to Hanoi, and arriving at around 19:30. End of the trip.

19:30. End of the trip.

Small size group tour. Guaranteed daily departure.

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is all about nature and deeply rooted ethnic cultures. This trip offers many natural sceneries: jungle, terraced rice fields, forested limestone mountains, rivers, cascades, and natural pools. It is beautiful, and the local hospitality of Thai people is recognized throughout the country.

Why should you join ?
• It is a fantastic landscape with endless mountains, fertile valleys, and pristine jungle
• Remarkable trekking to remote and wondrous ethnic villages
• Amazing motorbike trip to hidden Tat Nang waterfall
• Soaring in Phu Mau natural hot spring
• Staying in our homestay with a great view of Na Phon rice field
• Friendship, warmth, and hospitality of Thai people

What to bring ?
• Sun & rain gear (including sunscreen and brimmed hat)
• Warm clothes in winter (mid-November to early March)
• Insect repellent
• Trekking & cycling shoes/sandals
• Swimsuits
• Dry bag for your digital devices
• Toiletries, towel, and flashlight
• Original passport

Including
• Meals as specified in the program
• Accommodation as mentioned in the program
• The service of English speaking guide from Mai Chau Travel in
• an air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
• Dyeing workshop
• Bicycle (simple ones, without gear shift and suspension),
Motor-taxi with an experienced rider
• Activities as mentioned in the tour program
• Water, tea, and local fruits
• All entrance fees

Excluding
• Hotel in Hanoi
• Beverages, guide gratuities, and personal expenses
• Camera fees (if any)
• Insurance
• VAT and other taxes
• Surcharge in peak season (Christmas, New Year &Lunar New Year)

Day 1. Hanoi – Mai Chau

7:00-7:30. Departing from the DCT Responsible Travel office (17 Cau Go), we’ll leave the city behind and pass through a craggy, mountainous landscape to Mai Chau Valley. We arrive at Mai Chau around 10:3011:00, where we will be welcomed by our hosts and enter a world of new customs and traditions.

11:00. Tour briefing before cycling to Na Phon village through the rice fields. Following a tour briefing, we will cycle to Na Phon village through the rice fields, along narrow lanes, until we reach a weaving workshop. We will learn the White Thai traditional weaving, dyeing, and embroidery techniques there and experience a hands-on natural dyeing workshop hosted by a Thai lady. The products you make are yours to take with you, along with fond memories of time spent with beautiful people.

*We support two local weaving workshops in Mai Chau; one is the workshop of Mrs. Xuyen, an artisan who, until now, has been weaving ancient details of White Thai. The other is the Hoa Ban Social Protecting Center, created in 2008 to support disadvantaged and disabled women while maintaining the traditional handicraft customs of the White Thai ethnic group in Mai Chau, Vietnam. Both workshops are for promoting sustainable textile fabrics and products with high quality, environmental, and social values.

13:30. Returning to our homestay, we will enjoy a lunch of Mai Chau specialties delicately prepared by your host family.
In the afternoon, we’ll hop on bicycles and start cycling. Many beautiful cycling trails in Mai Chau Valley take you through quaint villages and rice and cropping fields. You can stop anytime to catch beautiful nature scenes or talk to a friendly villager.

16:00. Back at our homestay, there is enough time for you to chill out in the reading corner or to walk around Na Phon village.
In the evening, enjoy a BBQ dinner prepared by your hosts with their exceptional culinary skills before going to bed in the peaceful atmosphere of the village.

Note: If you are not keen to cycling, transfer by electronic car is available with a surcharge

Day 2. Mai Chau – Pu Luong National Reserve, from valley to jungle (B, L, D)

7:30. We leave our hosts after breakfast and drive East for about 50 km before entering the Pu Luong nature reserve (depending on the group size, we will arrange a car or motorbike/ easy rider for you). You’ll then stop at Bang village for 2 hours, trekking on a single trail through Thai villages and rice terrace to Kho Muong village, with the opportunity to take a break at local houses en route.

11:30. Visit Kho Muong village and visit Kho Muong cave, then return to the village for lunch with a local family.

After a delicious lunch, we will say goodbye to the Kho Muong people, walk out of the village, and then head to Cham Stream. When reaching the stream, try an unforgettable bamboo rafting experience, and if the weather is not too cool, jump in the fresh stream water.
After swimming, have a hot tea and fruit, then return to Mai Chau. On the way back, we will stop at the waterwheel to see the skillful technique of Thai people in using water power to irrigate fields.
18:30. Arrive at Mai Chau and relax after an active day before dinner. Dinner and overnight at our homestay.
Note:
Transfer to Pu Luong by private car is available with a surcharge Trekking and hiking options to the top of Pu Luong Mountain could be organized if you are keen.

Day 3. Mai Chau – Van Ho, hot spring and waterfall – Hanoi

Start with an early breakfast; we then get on a motorbike behind our experienced riders to Tat Nang waterfall (depending on the group size, we will arrange a car or motorbike/easy rider for you). Hidden behind the terraced paddy fields, Tạt Nàng Waterfall flows all year round. It is a source of water for the paddy fields and a place for reflection.

Stop for a tea break here and swim. Or you can skip swimming until we reach Phụ Mẫu hot spring, where you can soak and rejuvenate your body in these natural hot springs. Lunch at our friend’s Thai family in Chieng Xuan village.

After lunch, we will head back to Mai Chau. On the way, stop at Hoa Binh Lake, formed during the construction of the Hoa Binh hydropower plant; the lake is called Halong Bay on the mountain, thanks to its stunning views of the jade reservoir.

Arrive at Mai Chau at around 15:30. Time for a shower for refreshment (if you wish) and a short break with some snacks before hopping on the car back to Hanoi. The estimated arrival time is about 19:00 – end of our services.

Note: You can extend your trip by staying longer at Mai Chau to enjoy the peaceful valley or take another adventure with a 1-day extension to Pu Luong National Park.
Contact our team for more details

SERVICE & EXPERIENCE
Option of traditional house-on-stilts
Stay in our exclusive homestay, run by a Thai ethnic family. This is a typical traditional stilt house of Thai ethnic people in Mai Chau, you’ll sleep on the floor in a large communal area.

Sleeping space
The sleeping corner is set up with a single mattress (thin but adequate), blankets, pillow & mosquito net.

Bathrooms
The 3 shared restrooms are equipped with toilet bowl, hot and cold water shower

Option of private room
If you wish more comfort, we offer two options: a private room in our homestay and a bungalow at Mai Chau Ecolodge. At our homestay, you can choose from two double rooms or a family room, each with en-suite bathrooms and stunning views of rice fields.

Outdoor space
Located in a quiet corner of Mai Chau, our homestay is spacious, with many windows to maximize the view of the surrounding rice fields and the mountains. The garden is designed to give you plenty of relaxing space with bamboo benches, a fireplace, and outdoor seating.

Option of ecolodge bungalow
Mai Chau Ecolodge is one of Mai Chau’s premium accommodation areas,
just a 5-minute walk from our homestay. The bungalows feature field views, eco-friendly design, and complimentary access to the swimming pool.

Superior Bungalow
The 25m² bungalow features a king-sized bed, ethnic décor, bamboo furniture, and a writing desk.

Bathrooms
En suite bathroom with a rainfall showe

People and landscape
Mai Chau and its countryside surroundings are perfect for nature lovers. Rolling rice paddies and rustic stilt houses surrounded by forest-covered mountains fill the landscape in Mai Chau. If you are keen to explore the area, the possibilities are endless. There are options from motorbike-accessible rider excursions to Hang Kia, Pa Co, and Moc Chau or boat trips to Hoa Binh Reservoir. If you are keen on trekking, you can take a full-day tour in the neighboring Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

Travel activities
Various activities for nature lovers and adventure seekers such as cycling, bamboo rafting, trekking and hiking

Travel experiences
Authentic experiences at handicraft workshops hosted by Thai and Hmong people

Our tour guide – your travel mate
You will be accompanied by experienced Thai, Muong, and Hmong guides, each with deep local knowledge, who are extremely friendly and fluent in English.

Transportation
For the join-group tour, we use a 16-seater Ford Transit. For private tours, depending on group size, we use 4WD, 16 seater, or 29 seater with an experienced and professional driver

About us
Xin chào!
DCT stands for “Đi Chậm Thôi, ” meaning Travel Slowly and Deeply in English. As responsible travel tour operators, we work closely with local communities and partner with NGOs and development organizations to bring international travelers unique trips and excursions in Vietnam through sustainable travel experiences and activities.

We have a strong network of local experts, guides, and suppliers that support the design and organization of all types of tours in Vietnam, from classic “must-see” to luxury trips, mini adventures, city breaks, culinary experiences, and even wellness retreats. Our tours are suitable for solo travelers, couples, friends, and families and can be tailored to every need.

What sets DCT Responsible Travel apart is excellent customer service, deep knowledge of Vietnam, and a belief in sustainable tourism. Tourism is about connecting people, and the future of tourism is dependent on traveling responsibly now.

In every destination, we provide our clients with off-the-beaten-track tours 100% operated by locals. By partnering with local communities, the profits go towards promoting the local culture and protecting the environment. DCT Responsible Travel prioritizes working with indigenous women as they provide a platform for us to contribute meaningfully to the local economy.

In Mai Chau, we have partnered with Tan Ha, a White Thai ethnic woman, to renovate her family home into an eco-homestay that will house DCT’s clients who visit Mai Chau. We work alongside Tan Ha, her family, and other local tour guides to launch this Mai Chau tour package. In this project, we aim to empower the local community to build up their offerings in sustainable tourism (accommodation, travel activities, and experiences) and raise awareness towards responsible tourism in this area.

Join us for an incredible trip to the valley of Mai Chau! By booking an experience with us, you support the local community