Itinerary: 3 days, 2 nights
Transportation: Car
Departure from: Ha Noi
Destination: Lac village, Pa Co village, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province
Mai Chau is a mountainous district, located at Hoa Binh province, the gateway of Northwest Vietnam, 140kms away from Hanoi. There are 7 ethnic groups, in which 53.7% is White Thai people, who live along the Mun stream of 32 km long. This is a famous place described in "Tay Tien" poem of the poet Quang Dung: "Mai Chau - my season of fragrant sticky rice".
Lac village of Thai ethnic group has created the identity with the values of the origin, preserved tradition, all the beautiful features. The village has simple, rustic pavilions which represent local culture, habits of daily life or festivities of traditional original beauty.
DAY 01: HANOI – LAC VILLAGE (Lunch and dinner included)
8:00
Car and guide pick up in Hanoi and start the journey.
Stop at the top of Thung Khe Pass for shooting the majestic scenery of the Northwestern mountains as well as visiting the local market to see the products and life stock sold there.
12:00
Arrive in Hoa Ban Homestay (Lac Village number 2 - Mai Chau - Hoa Binh) to get accomodation and experience lunch with traditional dishes of Thai ethnic group.
Afternoon:
Bike tour around Thai villages in Mai Chau Valley to learn about the culture of local people.
Visit a traditional brocade weaving workshop and learn about textile production in Mai Chau.
Attend a training lesson of dyeing natural fabrics with the workers at the textile factory.
Go back to homestay. Together with the owner of the homestay prepare typical Thai dinner (you will learn how to cook local rice and traditional barbecue).
19:00
Traditional dinner with music and dances of the Thai ethnic group.
Opportunity to dance/sing with the Thai men and women in the stalls.
Try the authentic wine (Ruou can) to feel warm affection at Mai Chau people.
Overnight at Hoa Ban (private space, hot shower, free wifi)
Day 2: LAC VILLAGE – PA CO (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
07:00
Welcome the new day and have breakfast at Hoa Ban Homestay.
Check out and continue the journey to visit a fair (held only on Sundays) in Pa Co village - about 40 km from Mai Chau town. Pa Co market still preserves the tradition of ethnic markets in the northwestern region where the Hmong people sell their authentic products such as woven cloths which have been dyed natural indigo, hoes, knives, Hmong dresses full of colors, hand embroidery pieces of all sizes and farm products. If you visit the market in the right season, you will have opportunity to enjoy fresh plum or peach that are picked from early morning.
Buy souvenirs and go deep in the village to check in at the local homestay. After visiting and exploring the homestay area you will enjoy a traditional Hmong lunch.
Afternoon:
Discover the beauty of the Hmong ethnic group. Wear traditional dresses and visit the a garden, a peach garden, a plum garden or visit the ancient tea trees that have existed in the village for more than 300 years.
Try to blow in the leaves (a traditional musical instrument) with a young man of Hmong village.
18:30
Traditional dinner of H'mong ethnic group in a warm atmosphere. Enjoy a cup of corn wine or dance and play a flute with the local people here.
Overnight at Homestay (private space, hot shower, free wifi)
Day 03: PA CO - HANOI (Breakfast included)
07:00
Teapot and breakfast at Homestay.
Learn about the traditional handicraft of drawing beeswax and dyeing indigo with local people and learn more about their traditional culture.
09:30
Say goodbye to the owner of Homestay and go back to Hanoi. End of the program.
Service includes:
- Transportation
- Local guide (English speaking)
- Free drinks and cold towels
- Bicycle service in Lac village
- 1 night stay at Hoa Ban homestay (private space, free wifi, hot shower)
- 1 night stay at Pa Co village (private space, free wifi, hot shower)
- Meals as per program (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Visit tickets according to the journey
- Cultural exchange programs, wine (ruou can)
Service does not include:
- Personal expenses such as drinks, shopping
- Tips for local guide and driver
- Other services not mentioned in the program
- Costs of ethnic clothing rent
