Hanoi to Mai Chau
A private car from Hanoi to Mai Chau covers about 150 km in about 3 to 3.5 hours. It takes you from your Hanoi hotel to your homestay or hotel in the Mai Chau valley. Prices start at 1,500,000 VND (about 58 USD) for the whole car.
Quick facts
| Distance | ~150 km |
|---|---|
| Drive time | ~3–3.5 h |
| Price | From 1,500,000 VND (about 58 USD) for the whole car |
| Pickup | Your hotel door, or any address you send us |
| Included | Car, driver, fuel and tolls. VAT included |
| Booking | One way, whole car. Same price for the way back, or 30% off if you return the same day |
| Cars | 5 to 29 seats |
Choose your car
Included with every car
- Free drinking waterBottled water in the car for the whole trip
- Free change of carA similar car keeps the same price. If you choose a different class, you pay the price of that class
About this route
A green valley of rice fields and stilt houses, close enough to Hanoi for a quiet night or two away.
The road to the valley
- The road heads southwest through Hoa Binh, then climbs over Thung Khe Pass before dropping into the valley.
- The pass has many bends. Tell us if anyone in your group gets car sick.
- Leave Hanoi by about 8:00 to arrive around lunchtime, with the afternoon free in the valley.
A night in Mai Chau
- Many visitors stay in stilt-house homestays in villages such as Lac and Pom Coong, run by local White Thai families.
- The flat lanes between the rice fields are easy to explore by bicycle or on foot.
- Send us the exact name of your homestay. Some village lanes are too narrow for a car, so your driver stops at the nearest point.
Mai Chau by season
| February to April | Rice planting, with water in the fields and mild weather. |
|---|---|
| May to June | Green fields turning gold before the first harvest. It gets hot. |
| July to September | Green again after replanting, with afternoon rain. |
| October to January | Harvest, then dry and cool. Nights in the valley can be cold in winter. |
The pass over Thung Khe can be misty on winter mornings, so a midday arrival is often easier.
What’s included
- Private car and driver, door to door.
- Tolls included in the fixed price.
- Driver name, phone and vehicle plate sent before pickup.
- VAT included: 8% for trips to 31 December 2026, 10% from 1 January 2027. Invoice on request.
Not included: hotels, entrance tickets and your meals.
Good to know
- Prices and payment are in Vietnamese dong (VND). We explain how to pay once your booking is confirmed.
- One fixed price for the whole car. Tolls are included.
- Stops under 30 minutes are free. A stop of 30–60 minutes costs 50,000 VND, then 50,000 VND for each further 30 minutes.
Read our full prices and policies or see how booking works.
Frequently asked questions
About 150 km, about 3 to 3.5 hours by car, including the mountain pass.
One night gives you an afternoon and a morning in the valley. Two nights let you walk or cycle further without rushing.
Yes. Tell us your date and pickup time, and we book the car.
Cycle or walk the lanes between the rice fields, visit White Thai villages such as Lac and Pom Coong, and spend a quiet evening in a stilt-house homestay.
Yes, if you want a quiet valley close to Hanoi. It is greener and slower than Ninh Binh, with no boat trips, and much closer than Sapa.
Ninh Binh is about limestone hills and boat trips. Mai Chau is about rice fields, villages and homestays. Many visitors who have seen Ninh Binh choose Mai Chau for a quieter night.
No. The price covers the car, the driver, fuel and tolls, and tipping is not expected in Vietnam. If you want to thank your driver, that is up to you.
Yes. Tết, the Lunar New Year, falls on 6 February 2027. The road over the pass is busier than usual, and some homestays close for family time, so confirm yours first. Book as early as you can.
Related routes
- Prefer limestone valleys and boats?Hanoi to Ninh Binh
- Want a shorter trip out of Hanoi?Hanoi to Ba Vi
- Looking for higher mountains?Hanoi to Ta Xua
Written by Alotrips, with AI assistant Huyen My. Reviewed by Pham Ngoc Chien, Director, on 9 November 2026.
Updated 9 November 2026. Distances and times are estimates and depend on traffic. Check opening hours and rules with each site before you travel.