You will travel from Hanoi to Mai Chau in the morning, passing along charming little roads. Along the way, the road will progressively gain elevation, putting you in the middle of a mountainous region with a medium altitude. A local family will welcome you to Mai Chau with a lunch prepared in a traditional Thai stilt house. It will be an honor to talk to them about ideas and gain more insight into their everyday lives. Once you have settled into your accommodations, you are free to explore the retreat.

You can spend the day at your leisure or take advantage of the complimentary 30-minute foot massage that is included in the room rate.

Complimentary activities on site include: 

• Stilt House Museum: home to small collections of ethnic groups in Mai Chau. A 30-minute museum tour with a guide every afternoon gives a better understanding of the culture. Come in the evenings during the winter to roast corn by the fire and sip traditional tea with other visitors.
• Local Workshop: Make bamboo crafts and learn to weave on traditional looms in hands-on lessons with local artisans.
• Tribal Dance: It involves not only dance performance but traditional ethnic music, costumes, and attributes as well.
• Outdoor Cinema: One of the most popular seasonal activities, open-air cinema, is finally here as the summer sun bathes Avana in a dreamy glow.

Optional (additional cost): A 60-minute signature massage at Orchid Spa; book and pay upon arrival at the lodge. A combination of individually chosen essential oils, medium to firm pressure, acupressure points, and the stimulation of circulation. The restorative advantage of warm Vietnamese herbal packs is added to this treatment to soothe tired muscles and inflamed joints, increase flexibility, and restore energy to your body.

You can choose any outdoor, indoor, or relaxation activity during your stay. To find out more about the things to do while visiting Avana Retreat, click this link. Optional activities and excursions offered will vary in length and price. Please discuss options and preferences with your Adventure Life Trip Planner.

After breakfast, you can spend the day at your leisure or take advantage of the complimentary activities at the resort.

Complimentary activities on site include: 

• Stilt House Museum: home to small collections of ethnic groups in Mai Chau. A 30-minute museum tour with a guide every afternoon gives a better understanding of the culture. Come in the evenings during the winter to roast corn by the fire and sip traditional tea with other visitors.
• Local Workshop: Make bamboo crafts and learn to weave on traditional looms in hands-on lessons with local artisans.
• Tribal Dance: It involves not only dance performance but traditional ethnic music, costumes, and attributes as well.
• Outdoor Cinema: One of the most popular seasonal activities, open-air cinema, is finally here as the summer sun bathes Avana in a dreamy glow.

Avana Retreat provides optional excursions and activities with varying costs and durations. Click here for more optional activities, and please discuss options and preferences with your Adventure Life Trip Planner.

Optional excursions and activities:

• Half-day Nature Walk
• Full-day Hiking: A View from the Top (Picnic Lunch Included)
• Full-day Hiking: Hike to Hmong Village (picnic lunch included)
• Full-day kayak getaway (lunch is included) 

After breakfast, spend some leisure time in the morning before your trip back to Hanoi, where you will arrive in the late afternoon. During your free time, you can choose optional activities and excursions while waiting for your transfer.

Optional excursions and activities on departure day:

Morning Jeep tour in the countryside: You will start your jeep tour from Avana Retreat and leave the area via the backroads, passing through areas of natural wonder as well as the local village. During the 1.5-hour Jeep tour, you will see a lot of beautiful rice fields and rice terraces, cross some small rivers and bridges, and witness the beauty of the countryside. You will have a lot of opportunities to learn about the culture and the region, and you will be able to stop for pictures.

• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Notes: 3 people per Jeep

Cooking Class with the Chef (Includes Lunch): Uncover the tasteful secrets of local cuisine with a cooking class at the resort. You will start the experience on a ride with the chef to visit a local garden, learn about the local vegetables, and hand-pick the ones needed for the cooking session. Then, travel back to Avana Retreat and try crafting a delicious meal. The chef will reveal his cooking techniques and the ingredients behind each dish. Finish with a tasting session of the food prepared in class. 

• Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes, from 08:00 to 13:30