The Mai Chau Homestay Experience is unlike any other! Set amongst lush rice paddies, the Vietnam Backpackers’ traditional stilt house offers unrestricted views from your comfy bed over theĀ amazing landscape of northern Vietnam.
This trip also takes in gorgeous Pu Luong, a nature reserve made up of primarily tropical forests, local ethnic villages and layers of rice paddy terraces.
Enjoy activities such as trekking, cycling and bamboo rafting as you make new friends.
Spend three incredible days surrounded by undiscovered beauty in the village of Mai Chau and its surrounding areas. Enjoy local life and culture in the comforts of an authentic homestay amidst lush rice paddies. This rural countryside adventure is sure to give you a glimpse into the heart of the Vietnamese way of life that makes the country so special.
Day 1: Hanoi to Mai Chau
Meet at Vietnam Backpackers Downtown Hostel in Hanoi at 7.30 am.
Depart the hustle and bustle of Hanoi in the morning and head for the unspoiled splendour of Mai Chau Valley.
Take in the panoramic views before arriving at your authentic homestay and feasting on a home-prepared lunch with your new family.
Spend the afternoon exploring the charm and local culture of the nearby villages on a guided bicycle ride.
Indulge in a relaxing evening, absorbing rural Vietnam life at the homestay, rich with entertainment and another delicious meal prepared by our lovely homestay host Ms. Tan.
Lunch and dinner included. Vegetarian options are available.
Day 2: Trek and Homestay
Load up on breakfast before stopping by a Bamboo factory, and making your way nearby to embark on an awesome trek, through rich forestry, countless rice fields, and beautiful villages.
Mingle with people from the local Thai minority tribes and make conversation with children who will be ready to greet you with high fives and smiles!
Grab lunch and stretch your legs before finishing your trek to your homestay for the evening.
Crack open a few beverages and chill out while enjoying the peace and quiet of your remote surroundings.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Vegetarian options are available.
Day 3: Mai Chau to Hanoi
Enjoy a lovely breakfast, before cooling off and floating along the river on bamboo rafts to round out your final day in the rural countryside.
Refuel with lunch, and freshen up before we head back to Hanoi, arriving just in time for our nightly activities and/or onward travel.
Breakfast and lunch included. Vegetarian options are available.
What’s Included?
2 nights accommodation at the homestay.
All meals as indicated.
Comfortable transport to and from Mai Chau from Hanoi.
All activities as per itinerary.
Bicycles.
Motorbikes.
Awesome local guides.
Entrance fees.
What’s Not Included?
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Personal expenses.
Travel Insurance
TripAdvisor
Refund Policy
In order to book this experience, you will need to pay a deposit online via South East Asia Backpacker.
This deposit is fully refundable if you wish to cancel up until 72 hours before the start of the activity. PLEASE NOTE: This policy refers to the payment made to South East Asia Backpacker at the time of booking. All subsequent payments to the operator of your chosen activity fall under their own refund policy
For cancellations made fewer than 72 hours before the start of the activity there is no refund available.
You can request a change of date at any time.
Date changes are entirely down to the availability of the operator and nothing to do with South East Asia Backpacker.Ā
If your date change is not agreed upon, as long as it is more than 72 hours before the start date you originally made your booking for, your deposit can be refunded in full if you wish to cancel.
The remaining payment for the experience is payable directly to the operator.
The operator can request the remaining payment via an online payment link OR upon arrival at the destination.
The refund of the second payment, which goes directly to the operator, is based on the terms and conditions of the operator, over which South East Asia Backpacker have no control.
Hi, I’m Nikki and I started South East Asia Backpacker in 2008 after my own first solo backpacking trip! My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone, a place for travellers to share their experiences from the road. After backpacking and writing about Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region!Ā
Today, there is so much choice, but there are a lot of poor-quality tours and companies that offer mediocre experiences with little care for the environment. I wanted to create a selection of the best tours and activities to help backpackers avoid scams and dodgy tour companies.
Today, I run this website with my partner, Dave, from Spain, where we live with our energetic two-year-old daughter, Evie. All of the bookable activities that you will find on this website have been vetted by a member of our team and we have a friendly relationship with the operator. There are real humans behind South East Asia Backpacker and we are passionate about sustainable travel and development in Southeast Asia.
We are committed to helping travellers at every stage of the journey and understand that plans can change which is why we offer a full discount on the deposit up to 48 hours before the start of your trip, no questions asked. We offer advice on flights, visas, itineraries, hostels, backpacks, packing and more!
If you have any questions about our business or any of the tours that we provide, feel free to contact me on Whatsapp.
FAQs
Where do I meet for the trip?
The trip departs from Vietnam Backpackers’ Hostel Downtown, Hanoi at 7.30 am. You must re-confirm your place on the trip the night before departure at the Travel Desk.
Address: Vietnam Backpackers Downtown Hostel ā (9 Pho Ma May Street, Hoan Kiem District)Ā ā 6.30Ā am āĀ Google map here.
What should I bring?
Your passport, comfortable shoes/trainers, swim-stuff, towel, sunscreen, toiletries, raincoat, warm clothes for the cooler months (Nov ā March), mosquito repellent, camera, some spending money and a flashlight. Also, bring your appetite and a sense of humour!
How much luggage shouldĀ I take?
Your vehicle has limited space so please keep your luggage to a maximum of 15kgs in a backpack or soft overnight bag and include a small day pack to hand carry for easy access to camera, sunscreen, water etc. You can leave a larger bag at the hostel if you need to.
What will I eat?
Being in the Vietnamese countryside, it can be difficult to find places to eat that will please everyone, however, our emphasis is on fresh food wherever possible. If you are vegetarian or do not eat seafood we can cater for you, but if you have very specific dietary needs you may need to provide your own food, please discuss this at time of booking.
How fit do I have to be to take part in the activities?
This is an active trip so a reasonable level of fitness and swimming ability is needed. If you enjoy trekking through countryside, swimming in beautiful jungle rivers or being in pristine national parks and directly experiencing the great outdoors, then this trip is perfect for you!
Note: Activities vary in duration and grade depending on the availability.
Do I have to participate in every activity?
Part of the enjoyment of our tours is bonding with a group of like-minded adventurers so we make them active and hands on. Full involvement is normally one of the highlights of the trip but no one will force you to do something you donāt want to do.
What happens if the weather is too bad?
In circumstances beyond the control of Vietnam Backpacker’s Hostels and the associated tour operators, such as weather conditions, mechanical failure and/or restrictions placed by the National Park Authorities, we reserve the right to alter the route or itinerary of any of its tours and arrange alternative carriers to those advertised if necessary. NoĀ refunds will be given in these circumstances, or in the event of any delay, curtailment or alteration of the trip. We cannot guarantee pick-up or drop-off times are always the same and are not liable for passenger failure to connect with other services or any associated costs incurred.
LIABILITY FROM VIETNAM BACKPACKERS’ HOSTEL: Passengers should note that adventure travel involves a higher than normal risk. Whilst we make every effort to safeguard our clients and their belongings, we cannot be held responsible for personal injury or loss due to events, which are beyond our control.
1 review for Mai Chau Valley Group Tour | 2 or 3 Days | from HANOI, VIETNAM
Rated 5 out of 5
Hanne –
I started the 3 day tour without many expectations, not really knowing what to expect. It turned out to be a very nice experience! Mai Chau is a lovely place with such nice scenery. The tour was arranged very well, the people at the homestay and our guide were super friendly and the food was good! The activities are diverse (cycling, trekking, biking) so there’s something in there for everyone. Would definitely recommend the tour, a nice getaway from the hectic Hanoi and something different than what everyone does.
Hi, I’m Nikki and I started South East Asia Backpacker in 2008 after my own first solo backpacking trip! My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone, a place for travellers to share their experiences from the road. After backpacking and writing about Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region!Ā 
Hanne –
I started the 3 day tour without many expectations, not really knowing what to expect. It turned out to be a very nice experience! Mai Chau is a lovely place with such nice scenery. The tour was arranged very well, the people at the homestay and our guide were super friendly and the food was good! The activities are diverse (cycling, trekking, biking) so there’s something in there for everyone. Would definitely recommend the tour, a nice getaway from the hectic Hanoi and something different than what everyone does.