Nestled within the mountains of Hoa Binh province, Mai Chau is a small rural town known for its beauty, as well as being a settlement of the ethnic Tai people. Four hours from Hanoi, Mai Chau is a timeless village where rice paddies, Tai-styled creaky wooden stilt homes, and old-fashioned traditions are the norm. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, we were able to get a glimpse into, not only rural life in Vietnam, but also a unique perspective of the history and traditions of the Tai culture (often spelled “Thai”, much to the confusion of Westerners since they bear no connection to the people of Thailand).

A view from high above the main “developed” part of Mai Chau city

Wet rice cultivation has been and is still a major part of life here in Mai Chau, as it is in much of rural Vietnam

A newly-built, relatively “modern” stilt-home, this one built to house two entire families

Jennifer trying out the weaving loom

Typical home of one of the thousands of farmers in Mai Chau

Cockfighting remains a major entertainment venue in the village

A traditional Tai cultural dance performance by the local neighborhood girls

Hoa Binh province is famous for its production of rượu cần, or rice wine sipped from long bamboo stem straws

You won’t find many tourists at the Sunday market in Mai Chau, where nearly the entire village shows up

The journey up to the 1000 Step Cave rewarded us with a great view of the village below