Mai Chau & Pu Luong

In the mountains in the northern province of Son La you will find Mai Châu in the district of Moc Chau. The journey to Mai Chau will take you around 4 hours from Hanoi. The valley in which Mai Chai sits is dotted with many Thai villages in between a patchwork of rice fields. It is a different world full of tranquility and breathtaking nature. The traffic is little and most of the sounds you hear are from the birds and river streams. With a guide, you can explore the area by bicycle or by foot and you can observe the lifestyle of the mountain tribes. Cycle through the bright green tea plantations, which can be found on every hill.

Pù Luông Nature Reserve is located some 40km from Mai Chau in the Quan Hóa and Bá Thước districts of Thanh Hóa Province and lies in a valley between two mountain ridges. The scenery is beautiful and the general public less knows the area but it is definitely worth visiting. You’ll find a great biodiversity here, associated to Cuc Phuong National Park close by and trekking through this area will guarantee you a limited amount of tourist. It’s off the beaten track here as you trek through forests and large, often terraced rice fields. You’ll find the friendliest people here that will gladly invite to their home, the local culture is rich and authentic. It is a great alternative for Sapa in some periods of the year.