How to get from Hanoi to Mai Chau?

Mai Chau is about 140km from Hanoi and it is a mountainous district in Hoa Binh province. Bordering with Moc Chau in Son La, Pu Luong in Thanh Hoa. Surrounded by the majestic mountain ranges all year around with cloud cover. Mai Chau valley has a dry, cool and fresh climate. Mai Chau is the destination for thousands of domestic and foreign tourists each year to come to immerse and discover the nature and life of Thai minority people. This is an ideal choice for a short trip in the north.

To go to Mai Chau, tourists could choose from one of this following transportations:

This is the detail information:

1/ Hanoi to Mai Chau by local bus

This is the mean of transportation for local people. It is low cost however, it is not suitable for tourists. Local buses depart from My Dinh bus station, Yen Nghia bus station.

• Price: 80.000 – 100.000 VND/pax
• Travel time: 3.5 – 4 hours
• Time schedule: 7.00 AM – 15.00 ( Every 40 minutes)
• Advantages: Low cost.
• Disadvantages:
  - Passengers have to take taxi to bus station to get to Mai Chau. And From Mai Chau to hotel or home stay.
  - In case of bus broken, you may miss your travel plan.
  - Could not communicate with driver to get off the right place, If not, you may lose the way.
  - Not many tourist choose the local bus

>>>Reference to book the bus: vexere.com
or directly bus companies at bus station such as: Chinh Minh, Lien Thanh, Manh Kien

2/ Hanoi to Mai Chau by high quality bus

These are the kind of limousine buses with 9 seats. The furniture is high quality with leather seats, easy to control to match your comfort. Included Wifi, USB ports, bottle of water, blankets.

• Price: 150.000 – 220.000 VND/pax
• Travel time: 3.5 hours
• Time schedule: from 7.30 AM to 17.30 ( Every 3 hours)
• Advantages: clean and nice buses, No stop on the way to take more passengers, the routes are guaranteed.
• Disadvantage: Not proactive in time and still have to take taxi to the pick up point.

>>>Reference to book the high quality bus: vexere.com
or directly with the bus companies:

Manh Kien Limousine
Price:150.000 -170.000VND/pax
Tel: 035 479 1111
Departure time: 7.30, 10.00, 15.30, 17.30
Pick up point:
Thang Long Big C Super market’ gate-222 Tran Duy Hung Str
Royal Urban city’ gate 72 A Nguyen Trai str
For 7.30 AM bus, could pick up at Hanoi opera house
Drop off point: Lac village – Mai Chau.

Anh Dung Limousine
Price: 150.000 -170.000VND/pax
Tel: 096335 33 38
Departure time: 8.00AM, 16.30
Pick up point:
Thang Long Big C Super market’ gate-222 Tran Duy Hung Str
Royal Urban city’ gate 72 A Nguyen Trai str
Drop off point:
Mai Chau Lodge

3/ Hanoi to Mai Chau by taxi

This is an easy means of transportation but not a good choice for a mountainous roads, the vehicle is not suitable, the driver does not have much experience in this road. Addition, the cost is high than the private car. Or even much higher if you get the wrong taxi. Not many tourists choose this kind of transfer.

4/ Hanoi to Mai Chau by motorbike

With 140km from  Hanoi to Mai Chau, many young people are interested in riding motorbike. 4 hours riding is the time passing through the beautiful mountain roads and passes to Mai Chau. Visit the golden rice fields along the roads. The beauty of Mai Chau appears after a long road riding that will make your trip much more memorable and meaningful.

• Motorbike rental: 12 – 15 USD/day. Not included the gasoline
• Travel route: Hanoi center – Thang Long highway – Hoa Lac highway – National Road No 6 – Tong Dau T junction – National Road no 15 – Mai Chau.
• Travel time: 4 hours
• Advantages: Proactive in time, low cost, could stop anywhere on the way for photos and enjoy the beautiful landscapes
• Disadvantages: The road is not really too far or difficult as some routes in the Northwest. However, this will be a long hard trip for amateur in this mountainous area. If rains, it will be dangerous.

>>>Motorbike for rent in Hanoi:

Flamingo Travel:
Add: 66 Dao Duy Tu str, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Tel: +84 243 926 0938
Web: flamigotravel.com.vn

Motogo
Add: 1 Trang Tien str, Hoan Kiem,  Hanoi
Tel: 0966 456 969
Web: Motogo.vn

5/ Hanoi to Mai Chau by private car

For a travelling distance in 4 hours,  private car is the best choice. Especially, for families with kids or with many people in a group.

• Travel time: 3 – 3.5 hours
• Price: 1.500.000 VND/day ( SUV – sedan car)
• Advantages:  Proactive in time, safe, and your travel routes are guaranteed, private space, no wasting time for waiting.
• Disadvantages: High cost than other public transportations.

>>> Reference to book the private car from Hanoi to Mai Chau