Mai Chau Villas

We spent one night in room number 10 at Mai Chau Villas, and the view was amazing. It felt like a little piece of paradise. The room and bed were clean and comfortable, and there was AC, though we didn’t need it. The people were so friendly and kind, and the place feels cared for with love and passion. The food was delicious, with huge portions for two. We weren’t very hungry and couldn’t finish it all, but the cook was awesome. I recommend the phơ bo for breakfast, it was super tasty. They also have a swimming pool and bikes you can take for a ride around the rice fields. It’s a must do!

The paths around this beautiful spot were so lovely, and the staff were incredible, especially He -O at the front desk. Our room, number 5, was spacious, the beds were incredible, and the pool was refreshing. I loved the peace, quiet, and beauty here. What an escape, with butterflies all around and the sound of rushing water. I’d love to go back.

We had a wonderful stay in this beautiful, peaceful place, with a genuine glimpse of rural village life. Most rooms are ground-floor cabins with little decks; a couple of second-floor “executive” rooms have lovely valley views. From ours, we could watch villagers working in the rice paddies and vegetable patches in the morning and evening. The rooms are comfortable, and we were glad we came in March, when it was pleasant, with very few mosquitoes and not too much heat. You can use the one-speed bikes to explore the valley on paved and dirt roads. There are some motor scooters, other bikes, and a few small trucks, but they go slowly. It’s well worth a ride, though the bikes aren’t very comfortable. We were happy just to roam 6-8 miles ourselves instead of doing the bike tour. Staffing is limited, so it helps to plan ahead and ask for what you need. They can arrange lots of tours or a driver to take you anywhere. We took a half-day guided trip to the town street market, lake, floating house restaurant, waterfall, and hot springs. It was really good, and the guide shared a lot of information. Kayaks and SUPs were available to rent at the lake, though we didn’t try them. They looked fun, but were cheap plastic kayaks, nothing fancy. The restaurant is decent for such a remote place. Set meals were huge, more than we could eat, and there are more food choices than the menu shows. The menu listed salads but not other vegetables, yet when we asked about cooked vegetables they offered morning glory, like spinach but better. With limited staff, there isn’t always someone around. They can make a cocktail before “dinnertime” from 7-9, but you need to ask ahead. It also helps to order dinner in advance if you want to eat at a particular time. It was a great, unique experience.

The service was great and the staff were lovely, but this place is quite far from the centre of the action in Mai Chau. Our room was spacious, very clean, and had good facilities, but it felt bland and the views weren’t anything special. The main road was close, and there was quite a bit of kitchen noise from below our room. There are lots of homestays in Mai Chau with amazing views, beautiful decor, and facilities just as good for a fraction of the cost. I left wondering why this place was so expensive.