Understand Mai Chau History
Mai Chau is a mountainous district of Hoa Binh province, it is a part of Vietnam territory for a thousand years ago. Mai Chau's history also goes through many up and down periods as its country.
Mai Chau in the first stage of human-kinds
Before the 7th century, Mai Chau was a wildland with the immense pristine forests and wild animals. There was almost no human surviving in this area and no one had known anything about it. It was a nameless destination on the Vietnam map.
In the mid-7th century and early 8th century, there was a Thai tribe from China migrated to Mai Chau and set the very first bricks to mark the appearance of the human in this region. Thai people originated from the south of China, they moved to the south to escape the dominant of the Chinese Han dynasty.
The first settlement of Thai people in Vietnam territory was in Dien Bien Phu, then they spanned into many directions. A part of them moved to the west to Lao and Thailand and a part settled in the south, the northcentral of Vietnam nowadays. They lived and set off their culture and turned Mai Chau into one of the centers of Thai people in the northwest of Vietnam.
Mai Chau valley
Mai Chau under Vietnam feudatory dynasties
Mai Chau officially was a part of Vietnam territory under the Nguyen dynasty after being the autonomous land of Thai landlords for generations. Nguyen Kings divided the northwest of Vietnam into 5 Chau (Chau was the former administrative unit of Vietnam which equals to district nowadays), and Mai Chau belonged to Phu Cho Bo (Phu was the former administrative unit of Vietnam which is higher than Chau but smaller than province) of Muong province. Then, Mai Chau became one of five Chau of Hoa Binh province in 1892. This land was still a remote region that was less reminded of Vietnam.
Thai people
Mai Chau under the French colony
In 1880, the French started to colonize Vietnam and after forcing the Nguyen dynasty to concede the north of Vietnam for the French, they established borders between Vietnam, China, and Laos.
In 1945, the Viet Minh army retrieved Vietnam from Japan and France and set up a new government to fight against the re-invasion of the French force. In 1953, the French general, Navarre, had set up his headquarters in Dien Bien Phu to cope with the Viet Minh army. He picked Dien Bien Phu because of its importance on the way to Laos and Cambodia, which were also under French control, the land he thought that with the simple and raw gears of Viet Minh soldiers, they would never break down the battle.
Mai Chau was used by the Viet Minh army on their way to the final battle at Dien Bien Phu. The locals supported the Viet Minh with night transportation, to hide from the French. Caves in Mai Chau were used to shelter troops and supplies.
After the defeat of the French on May 7, 1954, at Dien Bien Phu, the Northern Vietnamese government-aided Mai Chau. Some Kinh families from the Red Delta moved to Mai Chau to teach the local people the new farming methods, education, and technology.
Mai Chau in the peace period
In October 1980, the Mai Chau district and Da Bac district were combined to Mai Da district. People started to set up a big farm in Mai Da and gathered the local people together to work on the farm. After this time passed, Mai Da split into two as in the past and this was considered the struggling time in all Vietnam.
In recent years, more and more people come and visit Mai Chau and turn it into an attractive destination for tourists, especially those who love to explore and adventure. Mai Chau's government also finds the funds from both government and other financial sources to invest and build up the infrastructure and tourist content in this area as the popular symbol of Vietnamese village which has to suit the traditional culture and natural condition of Mai Chau. Thanks to the significant care of people and its own original beauty, Mai Chau is heading to become the stable development of the Mai Chau tourist attraction.
Homestay in Mai Chau
Based on the unique cultural identity of the ethnic people in Mai Chau, especially Thai people, the tourist company started to frame out the tourist models involving in the life and culture of ethnic people. Thai villages are famous for communal living, they help each other from building houses to eating meals together.
Even the traditional alcohol, ruou can which is a kind of wine in a bottle placed in the mid house and people use the bamboo straws to drink, showing that the share and solidarity are a precious part of Thai people's culture. Thai people also have a lot of famous dances such as xoe, xap dance and it is a part of their cultural life.
This rich cultural identity of Thai people here is a key to develop tourism in Mai Chau in recent years. It helps not only Mai Chau become an attractive destination but also improve the economy of people living in this region. Now they can live well thanks to the care of tourists about Mai Chau. You can book Mai Chau tour 2 days to enjoy Thai people's culture.
Coming to Mai Chau tour 3 days to have a wonderful time in Mai Chau. It will be a memorable moment that remains in your memory forever. If this information is helpful for you and you want to know more about Mai Chau, don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you!
