July 3rd, 2009 
Sheila Simkin Stoked up by a great buffet breakfast and introduction to Pho, the group set off for Mai Chau. Pho is basically a noodle soup. The Hoa Binh Hotel’s version was a bowl of chicken slices, noodles with chicken broth ladled over and condiments to add. Chilis, lime, extra garlic… It took me a a while to get the hang of it and find out that you do not use a spoon to eat the long noodles. They kept sliding off the spoon. I finally was told to use chopsticks for the noodles and a spoon for the soup. Duh…
The group driver is Mr. Hi for the entire trip (“Hi,” Mr. Hi.) and it would be a 4-1/2 hour drive west towards Hoa Binh province home to many ethnic minority groups. The Dzao, Muong, White Thai (Tay Khao) and Black Thai (known as Thai, Thai Dam, Tai Tay) are just a few of the six minorities in this region. Hoa Binh Province is bordered by Son La in the west (heading there from Mai Chau), Phu Tho and Ha Tay in the north, Ha Nam and Ninh Binh in the east, and Thanh Hoa in the south.
This being the first road day on the trip, everything was interesting, fresh and exciting. A market along the road with people selling mountain crabs…View image, sticky rice, orchids, bromeliads, corn being harvested…View image, water buffalos wallowing in the mud…View image, and the always amazing rice terraces. Some areas had already been harvested while others were in the midst of harvesting.
Another stop for a mediocre lunch until a late arrival in Mai Chau. Mai Chau is surrounded by a green valley with stilt houses on both sides of the roads. There is a weekly Sunday Market in Mai Chau where different minorities come to sell their products. Honey, bananas, corn, and is supposedly an occasion to enjoy traditional Thai dishes and participate in traditional dances. Most markets are mornings only and we arrived too late. Oh well…
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