Last week he was slowly falling in love with Hanoi, now Travel Counsellors Australia’s Managing Director, Fred van Eijk, is taking us into the vast green fields of Mai Chau Valley.
In less than four hours, through a breath taking mountainous route and a calm driver at the wheel, I arrive in the Mai Chau valley. A place that was entirely isolated from tourists until 1993 and is now a tranquil and welcoming change from the frenzied Hanoi. Two days here will make room for plenty of relaxation.
Take the bike or wander on foot through the rice fields, from village to village. Taste the local dishes or let the local friendliness give you a sense of home. For those planning to buy some souvenirs, Mai Chau is a great spot to find authentic gifts, such as a handwoven scarf, whilst supporting the local people. These are primarily White Thai and Black Thai tribes dressed in impressive clothing, with their own language and wooden stilt houses.
The White Thai boast clothing with a vibrant colour palette, mainly pink and white, whilst the Black Thai opt for a palette of brown and black. The Thai people have trickled down knowledge from generation to generation, they are experts when it comes to irrigation and rice fields. Seeing them at work on their very own soil is spectacular.
Your night can be spent in a homestay. Not a room in a local families home but in a space that has been developed for this purpose, much like a dormitory, most of the time above a local shop or restaurant. You can choose between a Vietnamese mattress or a western one, sleep with a mosquito net and drift off into your dreams.
An unique experience, perhaps with some downsides, a few tourists I spoke to found it hard to fall asleep in the warmth and with the constant sounds of insects. Compared to our western world, Vietnam can be an extremely friendly to your budget. When the food is this cheap what else to do than book a nice hotel? Well, that was my excuse.
In Mai Chau I stayed in the Mai Chau EcoLodge; a serene hotel, entirely eco-friendly, without TV’s, a great restaurant, a rejuvenating swimming pool, free bikes, a spa and no more than 19 bungalows with tasteful interiors. It’s not only a place for relaxation, plenty of activities are organised around the hotel and in the evening there is often a dance performance of the traditional Thai Tribe.
Rural Vietnamese life in a charming valley, a unique place in the world that bridges the gap between local life and its visitors. Tourism at its finest.