Lodging in Mai Chau

Home-stays are a special experience in Mai Chau, but for those wanting more, then a new lodge has recently opened up.

Located around 135km south-west of Ha Noi in the northern province of Hoa Binh, Mai Chau is famous for its beautiful, lush valley where history, culture and nature are harmoniously melted together. With the recent opening of Mai Chau Lodge, now when you stay in Mai Chau you have the option of a place to sleep instead of home-stay.

The slogan of Mai Chau lodge: “Live in the Culture, stay in comfort” means that the needs of all guests in the 16 deluxe rooms and one junior suite, will all be met.

Rooms offer a choice of mountain or lake views, all with Western style bedding, en-suite bathrooms with shower, hair dryer, satellite TV, telephone, tea and coffee making facilities, climate control unit and internet access. There is also a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna & steam room available.

From the large windows of my room, I can see the pretty fields and the cold, imposing mountain ranges from that promise a lovely adventure to get away from the cares of the modern world. “Such a view, so different from my room in Hanoi”, I said to myself, as I looked forward to a romantic picnic under a big tree the next day.

We arrived late, but still had the chance to enjoy the performance by local troupe of ethnic minority Muong and Thai people. It is so relaxing to watch the exotic dances featuring the flower, land-scape and daily agriculture cultivating activities and sweet dating songs in the fresh mountain air.

Another strong point of Mai Chau lodge is the food. The restaurant is located in a spacious wooden stilt house, typical living quarters of the local people who live on the second floor and use the first floor as place to keep livestock such as buffalo, cows or poultry. The restaurant has a panoramic overlooking the lake, and green fields broken up by the villages and mountain.

Guests who go trekking for hours in the forest work up a big appetite, but are usually sated by the one meal included in the room package. The fresh, tasty dishes on offer include local vegetable, ingredients and flavors such as green bean, black mushroom, fish and chicken cooked in Muong or Thai ethnic minority style. And to my surprise, for a change, the Western dishes are also tasty.

During your stay in Mai Chau, a journey to discover the interesting surroundings and ethnic minority tribes is something you can not miss. Mai Chau lodge offers bicycle and tour guides, but if you prefer a relaxing walk then Lac and Pong Kong villages or Mo Luong cave are another option.

“We are planning to offer catering service and organize a party at the big cave in front of Mai Chau Lodge which leads to a lake. Very soon we will also have additional tours and spectacular landscapes such as to the peaceful river around 30km from here” said Josef Knonller, the friendly Austrian Manager.

Vietnam Discovery, photo by Peter Garnhum under a Creative Commons license.

Spread the Word

del.icio.us Digg Reddit Netscape StumbleUpon