S1 E56 | Journey to Mai Chau – Village Homestay in Vietnam’s Countryside

Leaving behind the chaos of Hanoi’s traffic-filled streets, we began our journey to Mai Chau—a small town in northern Vietnam surrounded by mountains and rice fields. The day started with a crowded public bus ride, backpacks on our shoulders and barely any space to stand. After almost an hour of balancing in the aisle, we finally managed to board a minibus with air-conditioning. The ride cost us VND 90,000 each and took about two hours to reach Mai Chau.

The moment we arrived, the difference was striking. The busy streets of Hanoi gave way to a charming little town decorated with flags in preparation for Independence Day. From here, our host picked us up on a scooter, and for the very first time we rode triple—squeezing onto one bike with both of us and our luggage! It was equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking as we made our way through winding lanes into a quiet village.

Our homestay turned out to be a traditional stilt house set at the edge of vast rice fields. The family lived in one half of the wooden structure, while the other half was reserved for guests. We stayed in the simplest option, a large dorm-style hall with thin mattresses, mosquito nets, and curtains for privacy. There was no door or lock, but since we were the only guests that night, the entire space felt like our private house. The shared bathroom was basic, but the view from our “room” made everything worth it—green fields stretching out to distant mountains.

As the sun set, the scenery transformed into something magical. Golden light spilled across the rice paddies, and the quiet hum of village life replaced the constant honking we had grown used to in Hanoi. Dinner was a delicious spread of tofu with tomato, bamboo shoots, beans, carrots, and lots of rice—simple yet flavorful food cooked fresh by our hosts.

For us, Mai Chau felt like stepping back in time, where life moved at a slower pace and hospitality was warm and genuine. After days of hostel living in Hanoi, it was refreshing to sit back, enjoy the peace, and even plan a little movie night—something we hadn’t done in weeks.

This was just the beginning of our time in Vietnam’s countryside, but already we felt the calm and beauty of Mai Chau settling into us. Watch the full vlog on our YouTube channel to see the journey, the scooter ride, and the views from our stilt house homestay in Mai Chau.