Mai Chau Valley Walk
(5 days)
Hanoi – Mai Chau Valley – Village Homestays
Highlights
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Easy two day trek through lush Mai Chau valley
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Homestays with Thai families
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Hanoi sightseeing tour
Overview
This adventure is ideal for families and travellers who are looking for an easy trek combined with home stays in local villages. Starting in Hanoi, your guide introduces you to the sights of the capital with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and a cyclo ride through narrow streets of the Old Quarter. From Hanoi, travel 135km to Mai Chau, a mountainous area inhabited by Thai and H’mong ethnic communities. Here you trek for two days through peaceful villages and verdant landscape learning about the culture and traditions still practiced by the valley’s inhabitants.
Itinerary at a glance
| Day 1 | Arrive Hanoi and check into hotel. The rest of the day is free. |
| Day 2 | Hanoi sightseeing + museum tour. |
| Day 3 | Drive to Mai Chau, lunch in Pom Coong Village before starting an easy hike to Xo Village inhabited by the Thai community. |
| Day 4 | Walk picturesque scenery passing terraced rice paddies and lush valleys to reach Van village to overnight in a local Thai house. |
| Day 5 | Morning walk to Van Mai village, stop for lunch then transfer back to Hanoi arriving around 5pm. |
Prices
Price Per Person |
Twin Share |
3 to 4 people |
$505 |
2 people |
$620 |
Single supplement |
$140 |
Validity |
31 March 2009 |
Prices are in Australian dollars based upon the number of people travelling together. Price is land content only + subject to currency fluctuations. See Booking Conditions for more details. Prices beyond 31/03/09 available on request. Price reduces as your travel group size increases. Call 1300 43 10 69 for other prices and travel options.
Includes
- Hotel accommodation based on twin share. If a single room is required a single supplement will apply.
- Village homestays
- Airport transfer upon arrival to Hanoi to your hotel
- Return transfers to Mai Chau
- English speaking guide for trekking
- One bottle of water per day for trekking
- Entrance + sightseeing fees
- Donation for teaching materials to hill tribe school
- Equipment as listed in 'Trip notes'
Meals
- 4 Breakfasts
- 3 Lunches
- 2 Dinners
Excludes
- Airfares and departure taxes
- Travel insurance
- Visa, passport or vaccination costs
- Other meals not specified in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, bar charges, tips, optional activities
Trip notes
Hotel + homestays
In Hanoi you stay in a centrally located and comfortable hotel with private facilities. Standard hotels have a three star rating. For an additional cost you can upgrade to a 4 or 5 star hotel. It is possible to leave some luggage in a secure storage room while you are trekking in Mai Chau.
Homestays in villages are simple in terms of bedding and amenities. You are provided with a mattress, pillow, sleeping bag and mosquito net and sleep on the floor like the locals. Accommodation and amenities may be shared with the host family. Toilets are usually western-style.
Food
A local cook accompanies your trekking tour. All meals, indicated in the detailed itinerary, are included in the price. When you are trekking, the emphasis is on healthy and nutritious fresh local produce, for example; Vietnamese spring rolls, eggs, chicken and pork, rice and noodles. Please advise us if you have any special dietary requirements.
Local guides
English speaking guides support your sightseeing and trekking activities. These guides love their job and are on hand to ensure you have a great trip. They have extensive experience in guiding outdoor tours in Vietnam and have internationally recognized first aid qualifications. If you feel your guide and support crew provided you with excellent service, a tip at the end of the tour would be truly appreciated… a little bit goes a long way in Vietnam.
The trekking day
A typical trekking day starts at around 8.30am. We aim to reach the next overnight stop between 4.30pm and 5.00pm – because of the easy terrain travelled on this trip; we may get to our destination a little earlier. During the trek you have short breaks for rests, snacks and there’s plenty of opportunity for photographs.
What to bring
Pack lightly for the trek, no more than 10kg as you carry your own pack. Remember, you are only going for two nights! Use your day pack and travel wallet to carry your personal items and important documents. We recommend using a sturdy day pack with good back support and a waterproof cover.
Your luggage should include: trekking boots or walking shoes, thongs or comfortable slip-on shoes for night time, light weight long pants & shorts, shirt & t-shirt, warm clothes for at night, raincoat, hat, sunglasses, sun block, insect repellent, flashlight, essential toiletries, water bottle, camera, spare batteries, pen & paper, original passport, barley sugar/lollies for sustenance, zip lock bags, toilet paper and personal medication. (Optional: light weight sleeping bag.)
Equipment provided
Sleeping bag, silk inner sheet, first-aid kit, walking pole and gaiters (on request).
Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reason, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village or for any other factor that may impact client safety.
Your group + share accommodation
Prices are based upon twin share accommodation. A single traveller pays the single supplement price for sole use of a room. If you are travelling in a group of three and are happy to share a triple room and a triple room is available, you will not be charged the single supplement price. For groups of five or seven people, the single traveller pays the single supplement price if a triple room is not available or you do not want to share. The number of single rooms and triple rooms available may be limited – so book early to avoidHandy travel tips + traveling responsibly
For more information on how you can participate in sustainable tourism go to Handy Travel Tips. To help plan your trip go to Vietnam Visa + Travel Guide .
Please email us for further information or call 1300 43 10 69 for other travel options and personalised itineraries.
