Minh Thơ Homestay Restaurant — Hotel in Hoà Bình province

We spent two nights at this homestay, and it was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our 20-day journey through Vietnam. Duan and Thao, the delightful couple who manage the homestay, are incredibly warm, kind, and full of joy. We were treated to a mesmerizing display of traditional Thai dance and even participated in a lively bamboo dance with them in the evening. The following day, our hosts graciously took us to witness a Thai-Hmong wedding ceremony, creating a truly unforgettable experience. To add to the enchantment, Duan guided us on a serene bamboo boat rafting excursion in the evening, serenading us with his remarkable singing talents as we floated along. The night concluded with a delightful, authentic local vegetarian meal, shared together like a family, all thanks to Duan, Thao, and their mother.

The homestay itself is impeccably clean, minimalistic, and offers a tranquil atmosphere. In addition to the wonderful stay, Thao went the extra mile to assist us in purchasing local souvenirs and even provided me with the opportunity to try on a Thai traditional dress. If you have a passion for exploring local culture, savoring authentic food, and cherishing heartwarming hosts, I highly recommend this homestay. It's an experience that goes beyond accommodation, offering a genuine immersion into the local way of life. Thank you so much...

I can't even begin to express my gratitude for all the lovely people at Minh Tho Homestay. I was not at all expecting Minh and Tho's immense friendliness and generosity, in addition to a one-of-a-kind travel experience. I arrived on Vietnam's national day, so the homestay was packed with Hanoians, leaving me the only foreigner. Though the language barrier was substantial (come prepared with a phrasebook and/or Google Translate!), I was made to feel welcome and involved in all of the merriment. Since I was traveling alone, they had me eat all my meals with the family. There was karaoke, dancing, and flowing rượu (homemade rice wine/liquor). The food was wonderful and abundant (and I ate my first-ever insect!), and the scenery was beyond spectacular. They provide free bicycles to explore the village and its surroundings, but be sure to pick a newer one, or it won't be easy riding! My only criticism would be that I wish they were more up-front about the cost of the meals. It's totally reasonable—150k for way-more-than-you-can-eat meals—but I didn't come prepared with enough VND and upon checkout had to pay in a combination of USD and VND. All in all, I cannot recommend this place enough—experience of a lifetime. Oh, and make sure to ask about...

We were taking a fabulous walk through the Mai Hich valley, near Mai Chau, and our guide brought us to this lovely, family-run restaurant, which is also a "homestay". ||We were served a feast of delicious, freshly prepared local food, most of which had come from the local Mai Chau market, that morning. The family members serving the food were great fun and treated us to a couple of shots of what I think was homemade "happy water" - rice spirit. ||We were served:|| - Potato soup| - Grilled chicken with coconut | - Pork balls with tomato| - Deep fried crispy fish| - Sautéed green beans with garlic | - Barbecued sweet pork| - Pineapple fritter| - Steamed rice||A wonderful atmosphere, in a gorgeous valley, eating delicious food served by happy, friendly people. What more could we want? ||(Also posted to my food blog on Instagram...