Mai Chau Valley Retreat

This is my fourth visit to the resort, which pretty much says it all. For me, it's the perfect getaway from our lives in the big city (Hanoi). The resort is in a stunningly beautiful part of the valley, with lots of roads and trails and opportunities for independent travel. The owners are TRULY eco-conscious; almost all produce is grown on site and waste is handled responsibly. And the people are lovely! It's a part of the world I've grown to love and a business I'm happy to support.

The resort was beautiful and artsy, and it was nice to bask in the peaceful environment. My room was large, spacious, and clean. It also smelled amazing when I walked in. I would say my room here was the best I've stayed in so far on my trip. I was not feeling my best when I arrived (no fault of the resort), and I feel like their fresh, home-cooked meals healed me. Their menu is limited; however, everything I ordered tasted amazing. Portions were also generous. The breakfast they provided was excellent and filling. And the tea! They served me tea almost every meal, which I loved. The host took me on a bike ride to the rice fields and showed me the start of the routes. He even offered to take photos of me with my phone, which I thought was very kind. The resort is farther from the town center, and there's not much to do nearby; however, you can arrange a taxi or take the bus. I chose to stay at the resort for my whole stay.

Amazing location, views, and the property was beautifully laid out. The food was very good as well - you just need to order ahead of time. The staff is very nice and enthusiastic.

Don't forget to bring cash and bug spray! The beautiful ponds also make great breeding ground for mosquitos. They only take cash payment! For us, it took hitting the daily atm limit for a couple days in order to have enough.

The Resort is located almost 20k outside of Mai Chau so you have to arrange transportation (motorbike or bus) into town. We really enjoyed the more remote nature of Mai Chau Valley Retreat as it's a beautiful, quiet area. The staff are super helpful and friendly (including the dogs), and the Retreat is super chill with fruit trees growing all over the property. Would absolutely return!

If you don't eat at the accommodation, your food options are pretty limited. The Retreat food was great, but the cost is a bit more, considering the lack of other options in the area. Not a bad thing but something to be aware.