Mai Chau Trekking

Mai Chau Trekking – Mai Chau is located in Hoa Binh province, approximately 135 km from Hanoi and 60 km from Hoa Binh.

Mai Chau valley is surrounded by Thai villages scatting on the hill sides. Travelers come to Mai Chau for spending a night in a local stilt house, and to experience the real life of the Thai people.

Lac village and Poom Coong village were the two first villages offering accommodation, homestay service. There are now dozen of villages that are equipped with good facilities for lodging tourists.

Booking a guided tour is highly recommended, especially when you do a multi-day hike. You will follow off the beaten path trails, walking through paddy fields, from one village to another. A local guide is necessary.

Where to go hiking in Mai Chau?

The most popular package is the overnight trip to Mai Chau. The trip starts from Hanoi, offers almost two half day for walking around Lac and Poom Coong village. This is an easy walk that can fit both adults and children.

At Lotussia Travel we highly recommend you taking a 3 day trekking tour that offers the chance to visit some remote Thai villages, and to experience the slow life. Some of these villages are Ban Buoc, Cun Pheo, Hang Kia…are inhabited by the Thai and H’mong people.

Those who are interested in more challenging trek can take the 4,5,6 or 7 days tour that starts from Hang Kia, taking you through Mai Chau valley up to Pu Luong Nature Reserve or Cuc Phuong National Park. Please check out our sample itineraries for more details.

Best time to go trekking in Mai Chau?

The climate of Mai Chau is tropical monsoon like the other places in northern Vietnam. The average annual temperature is 18°C with a maximum of 29°C in July and a minimum of 16°C in January.

The best weather extends from late September to early May with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C.

It can be quite cold during winter from November to the end of February. From June to September, it is hot with stronger breezes and higher humidity. The temperatures are warmer in this time, varying between 28°C and 38°C.

Late September, October, early November, February, March, April, and early May are the best months to hike in Mai Chau. In December, January and sometimes February, the weather can get pretty chilly. However, the stilt houses have no shortage of fluffy blankets to keep you warm at night; staying cool in the summer, however, is more of an issue. The stilt houses usually have fans but even then so they can get uncomfortably hot between June and September. In addition, these months are the rainiest, which makes outdoor exploring more problematic.

There is a market on Sundays which brings together different minority groups from the surrounding area, but given the higher numbers of weekend tourists this is not necessarily a reason to time your visit for a Sunday.

Mai Chau hiking tours