Mai Chau is located in Hoa Binh Province, approximately 135km from
Hanoi and 60km from Hoa Binh Town. From the top of Cun Mountain, one
can admire the superb panorama of Mai Chau surrounded by a green valley
and stilt houses. Many minorities, including the Thai ethnic group,
live in Mai Chau.
Stilt houses border both sides of the roads.
The houses are quite large with palm leaf roofs and polished
bamboo-slat floors. The kitchen is located in the center of the house;
the cooking as well as the making of the colorful tho cam, the material
used by Thai minority to make their clothes, takes place in the
kitchen. The windows are large and decorated with patterns. Each house
also has a pond to breed fish.
The Sunday market brings a lot of
people into town. People from different minorities living in the
mountains come to Mai Chau market to sell their specific products:
honey, bananas, corn, and tho cam made by skilled Thai women. The
Sunday market is also an occasion to enjoy traditional Thai dishes and
to participate in traditional dances.