Avana Retreat

Mai Chau, Vietnam

Forest
Wellness
Waterside
Foodies
Rural

A reforested hillside of stilt villas above the Mai Chau valley

Avana Retreat sits on a 15 hectare hillside above Vietnam's Mai Chau valley, a four hour drive west of Hanoi. When building began in 2018, only two hectares of the site were forested. Nearly 12,000 trees have gone in since, and a 2025 survey recorded 151 species here, around three quarters of all those known in the wider Mai Chau area. Thirty six bungalows, suites and pool villas stand on stilts along the slope, hand built by Thai, Hmong and Muong craftsmen using rammed earth walls, rattan ceilings and palm thatch roofs.

A waterfall runs through the grounds, a three tier Cloud Pool looks out over the terraced rice fields, and the Hidden Spring Lagoon fills with cool stream water in summer. Days can be spent learning batik from a Hmong artisan at the stilt house museum, walking 4.5km to the Friday morning market at Bao La, or eating from the organic garden planted in 2023. Around 90 percent of the team come from the surrounding villages.

Sustainability

Climate & conservation

Nearly 12,000 trees planted since 2019, reforestation of the 15 hectare site was completed in 2025
151 species recorded on site in 2025, about 74 percent of all species known in the wider Mai Chau area
Water purified and bottled on site, with refillable glass bottles in place of single-use plastic
Electric buggies used for all transport around the retreat

Community & culture

Around 90 percent of staff are local, from the Thai, Hmong and Muong villages around the retreat
Villas hand built by local craftsmen using rammed earth, rattan and palm thatch techniques
Stilt house museum and batik workshops led by Hmong artisans, keeping the crafts in daily use

Commercial

Mechanical room keys used instead of plastic key cards
Hospitality training given on site to staff recruited from the surrounding villages

Sustainable Development Goals

Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)
Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
Life on Land (SDG 15)

In brief

Price bracket: ££
Type of property: Eco-resort
No. of rooms: Boutique (11-50 rooms)
Max guests per room: Up to 2 adults and 2 children per suite or bungalow, and up to 4 adults and 4 children in the two bedroom villas
Facilities: Pool, Restaurant, Bar, Spa, Kids club
Activities: Hiking, Cycling, Cultural visit, Yoga
Setting: Rural · Mountains

Best time to visit

September to November brings golden terraced rice fields at harvest time and comfortable temperatures.

Kids

Family-friendly, with a kids club by the Green Chili Restaurant, duck and fish ponds, a heated four season pool with life jackets, connecting two bedroom bungalows and a stilt house museum. Children under 8 are not allowed in the Hidden Spring Lagoon water, and ages 8 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Accessibility

Built into a steep hillside, with guests moved between areas by electric buggy along narrow lantern-lit paths. Terrain is likely to be difficult for wheelchair users and no formal accessibility statement is published.

Mai Chau, Vietnam

Panh Village, Bao La Commune, Phu Tho, Vietnam

££pp / night Visit website

Guide price · £ <£100 · ££ £100–300 · £££ £300–800 · ££££ £800+ pp / night