Mai Chau’s proximity to the capital and lush surroundings make it an ideal escape for nature lovers. Here, ethnic minority villages sit among a patchwork of paddy fields surrounded by enticing, jade colored mountains. Spend a night or two immersed in Vietnam’s rural culture, dining on delicious home-cooked cuisine, and learning about the traditions and cultures of the ethnic groups.

The Mai Chau Valley is home to two excellent homestay tourism villages: Lac and Pom Coong. In both villages, White Thai families offer simple accommodation in traditional stilt houses in their idyllic setting of verdant jungle, fantastic limestone outcrops and misty mountain tops.