Mai Chau has seven ethnic groups living together including Muong, Thai, Mong, Dao, Tay, Kinh and Hoa. Each group has its own traditional culture that has created the diversity in the Northwest region. Not only is Mai Chau famous for its beautiful scenery, typical products and souvenirs, and the friendliness of the people, but Mai Chau is also attractive with a rich culinary culture. Especially, there are many potential tourist spots in Hang Kia, Pa Co, Noong Luong communes, primeval forests, old forests. For a long time, when it comes to tourism in Mai Chau and Hoa Binh, we usually only mention the village Van, Lac village, Pom Coong, few people know that the two communes of Hang Kia and Pa Co are also potential tourist destinations with beautiful, unspoiled nature and unique cultural features of the Mong people here is kept almost intact. 

Hang Kia in plum blossom season

From the center of Mai Chau district, traveling about 30 km across a mountain about 1,200 m high above sea level, tourists will reach Pa Co commune, go about 10 km more to Hang Kia commune. Hang Kia - Pa Co used to be a "pan of fire" for drug transit, but now life here has returned to peace. Looking down from above, shrinking into view is the green color of the mountains and forests, looming the roofs of the Mong people in the smoky space. The landscape here always inspires photographers. From the small zigzag road with steep, narrow bends to the tea hills, stone fences, the yellow canola flowers embrace the space in front of each porch. Going deep into the village, from time to time, we see Mong women who are diligently embroidering, and children laughing and joking around. Even the piles of firewood piled up in the middle of each local family’s yard, the thin smoke rising from the roof of the kitchen are enough to make visitors leave the noisy worries behind to enjoy a different sense of peace.

Coming to Hang Kia - Pa Co, besides the road to explore the village, visitors can set foot on destinations that still have pristine beauty such as tea hill, plum garden in Ta Xong A, Ta Xo area or A Lang valley, etc. Along the roads connecting the hamlets and villages, high points in the mountains should not be missed, which is an ideal place to "hunt clouds". That is the Heaven Gate area, the Pa Khom area to Thung Mai or on Sam Tha Mountain, you can see Pu Luong peak (Thanh Hoa) and Pha Luong peak (Son La). In addition, attracting visitors' desire to explore and experience are also typical cultural and traditional occupations of the Mong ethnic group here such as brocade weaving, indigo dyeing, beeswax painting. In addition, it is impossible not to mention the attractiveness of highland cuisine with many mountain-style products such as: corn wine, Thang Co soup, sticky cake, Men Men (corn flour), local vegetables, local chicken, Mong pig, forest bamboo shoots are cooked with unique spices mixed in the smell of Mac Khen (local seasoning).

The way to Hang Kia - Pa Co

Climate of Hang Kia and Pa Co is divided into two main seasons, namely the rainy season and the dry season, the average temperature in the year is 18.5 degree centigrade, the air is fresh and cool all year round. Along with beautiful nature, unique ethnic culture, Hang Kia - Pa Co contains a lot of potential to develop community tourism, attracting domestic and international tourists to explore and experience.