Mai Chau Lodge

Eating

Breakfast is included in the price of the rooms, which is fortunate as there are no other places to eat in the area! Meals are served in the alluring open-air dining room with views over a lily pond to the distant hills.

Breakfast consists of a buffet selection of breads, pastries, fruits, cereals, yoghurts and table service for either a traditional Western breakfast or Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup.

Lunch and dinner (extra cost) follow pretty much the same formula: a soup and salad followed by a collection of meat and veggie dishes prepared Vietnamese style. This is generally topped off by a fruit-themed dessert. Our meal included a banana flower salad, pumpkin soup, chicken stewed in lotus seeds and an ask-for-seconds mango mousse. The food is plentiful and really tasty, but the flavours could start to get a bit repetitive by your third night. A break in the routine is a Saturday evening barbecue featuring grilled sausages and meats and well-prepared, full-of-variety salads. You can also request cooking lessons.

After a hard day's exploration, laze in the sun with a cold drink at the Veranda Bar. There's a snack menu if you're feeling a peckish, along with a wine cellar and a small selection of cocktails to sample. There's a daily Happy Hour from 5-7pm with 50% discount on cocktails, beers, soft drinks, fresh juices and glass of house wine.

Most nights, White Thai dancers take over the attached patio space and put on a charming exhibition of traditional dances. Join in the last dance if you want and you’ll get to sip some local rice wine (along with all other participants) from your very own long straw stuck in an earthenware jug. A full bar is available, as is a surprisingly diverse selection of wines at fairly reasonable prices considering where you are.

If you have a room with a balcony, a romantic dinner can be arranged there.