Had the opportunity to stay in Vietnam, Hanoi to be précise, for nine months from 2007 to 2008. During that time, I was fortunate enough to
have a colleague to show me and my fellow friends some of the sightseeing locales
near the capital. The first of such visits
was to Mai Chau district in Hoa Binh province.
The district is about 135 km to the west of Ha Noi and about 65 km from Hoa Binh city.
Sights along the way to Mai Chau:
Are we there yet?
New Year 2008
Mai Chau is nestled in a valley in the mountainous
region of north western Vietnam where many ethnic groups inhabit. The main group in Mau Chau consists of
the ‘Thai people’ - White and Black Thais and they speak a dialect similar to
the Thai language. The Thai ethnic group in
Mai Chau live in stilt houses made out of bamboo and timber, which serve as a "refuge" from flooding and also served as a shelter for their live stocks. Although our group was on a day trip to Mai
Chau, the more adventurous could opt for a homestay at the village, sans amenities like modern toilets. Conditions, however, appeared to have improved
as more companies seized the opportunity to provide better accommodations to cater
to the growing tourist interests in Mai Chau.
First sighting of Mai Chau from lookout point in the egress to the town
Group photo at lookout point
While waiting for lunch, we explored the village. Apart from cultivating rice, the villagers also supplement their earning by selling handicrafts.
Apart from the wooden stilt houses, the surrounding scenery gives a sense of peace and tranquillity.
After exploring around the village, we returned to our host, who also offers homestay services.
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