Hoa Binh – Mai Chau
Hoa Binh is a mountainous province located in the northwest region of Vietnam. The name of the province derives from the Sino-Vietnamese name, which means “Peace.” Mai Chau is a rural district of Hoa Binh.
Mai Chau is located in the heart of a beautiful valley, which is a whole other world compared to the hustle and bustle of Hanoi. The modern village is a cluster of houses lacking charm, but as soon as you look out over the rice fields and countryside life, you find yourself in an authentic paradise. The area is very beautiful, and the majority of the population belongs to the White Thai ethnic group, distantly related to tribes living in Thailand, Laos, and China.
Even if the majority of the population no longer wears traditional clothes, Thai women are skilled weavers who ensure that there is always a large quantity of traditional garments, which can be purchased in the center of the village. You will happen to see women weaving while seated at looms in front of their houses, or inside. Much of the local silk resembles that which can be found in Laos. The Thai people of Mai Chau rarely use pushy sales tactics, compared to the H’Mong in Sapa: here negotiations take place in an atmosphere of great courtesy, rather than resulting in endless bargaining.
