15 Best Things to Do in Nong Khiaw, Laos (2024)
April 28, 2024
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Located amidst the majesty of northern Vietnam’s lush mountains and rice terraces lies Mai Chau, a serene valley that offers a tranquil retreat from the fast pace of urban life. This picturesque spot is approximately a four-hour drive from the bustling city of Hanoi, but it feels worlds apart with its peaceful ambiance and slower pace of life. In this post, I’ll review my stay at Little Mai Chau Homestay!
Mai Chau, Vietnam
Mai Chau is a cute valley offering a chance to immerse yourself in a great mix of cultural heritage and natural beauty. The valley is inhabited by the Thai ethnic group, known for their stilt houses, colorful textiles, and warm hospitality.
The community’s traditional dance and folk music, often performed during evenings, is only one of the many ways to experience the cultural depth of this region.
The landscape of Mai Chau is a palette of green, ranging from the fresh hues of new rice shoots to the deep shades of tropical forests. As the mist lifts in the early morning, the village comes to life, with locals tending to their fields, artisans weaving their crafts, and the aromas of traditional dishes wafting through the air.
For the active soul, Mai Chau offers an array of outdoor adventures, from cycling through rice paddies and along winding paths to hiking up the surrounding highlands that offer breathtaking views. For those seeking a more slow travel experience, the calmness of the valley is a perfect backdrop for reflection and relaxation.
→ Also read: Everything you need to know about a Trang An boat tour near Tam Coc.
Little Mai Chau Homestay offers anything you would expect from a good homestay. The place is designed to give guests a comfortable, authentic experience that reflects the lifestyle of the indigenous community.
The accommodation features traditional stilt house architecture, with bamboo construction and thatched roofs, albeit with some modern comforts to cater to travelers.
Little Mai Chau is not located in the main hubs of Lac or Pom Coong village but lies further afield in the rice fields in a serene spot.
Little Mai Chau is managed by a local woman named Huong and her sister-in-law. They have lived in Mai Chau for four generations and know the area by heart.
That they go out of their way to help their guests is an understatement, they literally go above and beyond and this is only of the things that makes this homestay stand out from all the other ones I have stayed at in Vietnam.
Huong emphasizes that, when you stay at little Mai Chau, you need to feel like you are a par of the family, and that is exactly how they treat you. It’s truly a home away from home!
The valley itself is situated between two mountain ranges, which provide a natural barrier and contribute to its secluded and idyllic character. The landscape is a picturesque mix of terraced rice fields, green hills, and scattered settlements.
Little Mai Chau is located away from the Lac tourist village in a calm and silent spot amidst the rice fields. It is impossible to reach by car, which contributes to the calmness of the place.
Don’t worry if you have heavy luggage. Little Mai Chau owns a golf cart and they can pick you up at the main road if needed.
→ Also read: A complete guide to Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve.
At the time of my visit in January 2023, Little Mai Chau offered four beautiful private cabins and two dorm rooms. However, after doing some research I see that they have been working hard the past year. They built a few more cabins and even a pool!
Here are the various accommodation options at Little Mai Chau!
Above the communal spaces of Little Mai Chau Homestay, you can find two cozy dorms. The price for staying at these cozy dorms is great, costing only 4$/€ per person.
The beds are comfy and come with extra blankets in the center season.
During my stay, I slept in one of the cabins overlooking the rice fields. They come with a double bed and a private bathroom and are decorated with local handicrafts.
Towels and even a hairdryer are provided and, since we were visiting in the middle of the winter, Huong put a big fluffy blanket on our bed.
What makes the cabins great is that they all have a little private porch with outdoor seating overlooking the rice fields. It’s a true joy to wake up in the morning and nestle yourself on your porch, watching the sunrise and the local Thai working on their fields.
I stayed in a regular double room but, if I would ever return, I would opt to stay in one of the fancier double rooms. Why? Because they come with a larger window and because of that, you can watch the rice fields and the mountains straight from your bed.
I think it’s really worth it to pay a few euros or dollars more to have that experience and the room is also slightly bigger than the regular double room. They are referred to as the “deluxe bungalows” on booking.com.
A new addition to Little Mai Chau Homestay are the newly built family rooms. They can accommodate two to four people and come with mountain views, mosquito nets, and a private bathroom.
Did I already say that breakfast is included in the price? It is! Complimentary breakfast is free of charge for every rooms type.
As just mentioned, breakfast is included in the price at Little Mai Chau and is pretty good, compared to most places I stayed at in Vietnam. You can have a pick between eggs any style or pancakes and they come with tea or coffee and fresh fruit.
The breakfast is great but what you really don’t want to miss out in Little Mai Chau are the communal dinners. Depending on the number of guests, Huong puts a few tables together on which she serves a delicious buffet-style meal.
Each person gets a little bowl and you get the split the dishes she puts on the table with other travelers staying at the homestay. At the time of my visit, dishes included tofu in tomato sauce, pumpkin mash, banana blossom salad, fresh greens, la lot (meat or tofu in betel leaves), cabbage salad, and even fresh baked fries on our last day.
This is such an amazing way to get to know the other people staying at Little Mai Chau and Huong succeeds in her aim to create a connection between her guests. We felt like one big happy family.
Also, don’t worry if you are a vegetarian or a vegan in Vietnam. Huong knows really well how to cater for plant-based travelers.
I’m not sure if they also offer lunch but most of the time, you will be away doing activities during the day. a great place for lunch in Lac town in Lop Cafe. They offer fried rice and noodle dishes and even pizza Hawai if you crave Western-style food.
Here are some more services you can enjoy at Little Mai Chau Homestay!
At the time of my visit, there were a few free bicycles on offer for guests at Little Mai Chau Homestay. They offer a great way to explore the rice fields in the valley.
Do note that the bicycles don’t have any gears. It is not recommended to use them if you want to locations further afield like the Goc Lao waterfall. It’s too hard to conquer the mountains without gears.
To explore locations outside of the valley, you will need a motorbike. Little Mai Chau Homestay offers motor bike hire for 150.000 VND per day.
As we wanted to visit a few locations further afield together with a mother and her son who were also staying at the homestay, we decided to rent a car for the day with a private driver.
It was a great decision as we were able to visit Go Lao waterfall, Hoa Binh Lake, Nang waterfall, and the local hot springs up in the mountains. The cost for the car and the driver was 850.000 VND at the time of my visit.
You can put together your own itinerary like we did, but, if you rather want activities to be arranged for you, this is also a possibility. You can ask Huong to hire a private driver for you that takes you to the main highlights around Mai Chau or she can arrange a weaving workshop for you upon request.
As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure you can ask her anything, and she will be able to arrange it! An excursion to Pu Luong for instance, is something that I can highly recommend.
There are plenty more services that you can enjoy at Little Mau Chau. Here is a list of things you can expect:
Here are the websites I personally use whenever I travel to Vietnam:
Booking.com: For the best cheap guesthouses, homestays or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For unique immersive homestays in the cities as well as in the Vietnamese countryside
12GO and Bookaway: The best transport websites for long-distance buses and train travel in Vietnam
GRAB: for taxi rides in cities and nearby attractions
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Vietnam
Eatwith: Dine with locals inside their home for an immersive foodie experience
Withlocals: Experience cities in Vietnam with local people that show you around. This is a good idea if you want to stray off the beaten path!
Viator and Get Your Guide: For (vegan) food tours, street food tours, and tours in general
Get your Visa for Vietnam online through the Evisa website
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is without a doubt Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Get access to mobile data straight away when entering the country with a Vietnam E-sim or an Asialink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries.
If you are wondering what you can do in and around Mai Chau, here are some key highlights that I experienced during my stay at Little Mai Chau. For a more extensive list, please read my complete Travel guide to Mai Chau.
As a conscious traveler, cycling around the rice fields in Mai Chau is one of the most delightful and immersive ways to experience the region’s tranquil beauty. It is suitable for a wide range of fitness levels since the valley floor, where the rice fields are predominantly located, is relatively flat, making it an easy and enjoyable ride even for those who aren’t accustomed to cycling.
The cycling routes take you through a patchwork of rice fields, often bordered by jagged mountains and dotted with rustic villages. It’s not uncommon to see farmers at work in the fields, water buffaloes grazing, or children playing by the paths.
Guided cycling tours are on offer in Mai Chau during which local guides can tell stories and provide explanations that enrich the journey.
Chieu Cave (Hang Chiều in Vietnamese), which translates to “Afternoon Cave,” is one of the natural highlights in the Mai Chau area. It is situated on a high limestone cliff and is accessible by a steep climb of exactly 1,000 steps. The effort to ascend to the cave is rewarded with not only the beauty within but also panoramic views of the Mai Chau valley.
Chieu Cave, Mai Chau
The climb to the cave is a physically demanding task and may not be suitable for everyone. As a traveler, you should be in decent physical condition and wear appropriate footwear.
It’s also advisable to carry water and rest as needed during the ascent.
Goc Lao Waterfall, located in the vicinity of Mai Chau, is a lesser-known gem that is lovely to visit if you are looking for off-the-beaten-path experiences in Vietnam.
While it may not be as widely recognized as some other tourist spots, it provides a beautiful and tranquil setting to enjoy and have a dip in the river.
There is a small pool at the base of the waterfall that is suitable for swimming. In addition, you can also climb the rocks a little further down the river to find a few more lovely swimming spots.
There are no facilities on site so if you plan to stay for a while it’s best to bring snacks and water for a picnic.
Hoa Binh Lake is located 15 kilometers north of Mai Chau and is the largest man-made lake in Vietnam. It is an up-and-coming ecotourism destination and the water is suitable for all kinds of water activities like kayaking, supping or canoeing.
As a traveler, you can also take a boat cruise along the lake (your accommodation can help you arrange this) or drive to this location to soak in the best views.
A hidden gem I stumbled upon while exploring this region was this cute little hot spring. It is located 25 kilometers from Lac village and you will need to rent a scooter or a taxi to get there. Getting here with a mountain bike is also possible but will require a certain level of fitness.
The entrance fee is VND 20 000 to enjoy the shared pools that have a nice temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius. There are snacks for sale at the entrance and upon request, they can also arrange warm meals.
The hot springs are operated by a local cooperative so your travel money goes straight into the local community.
There you go! I hope you enjoyed my review of Little Mai Chau Homestay. Hopefully, it inspired you to book a stay in this lovely area in northern Vietnam.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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