Thung Khe Pass: The best viewpoint in Mai Chau

Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Natalia

Offering stunning views of mountains, rice fields and villages below, the Thung Khe Pass is undoubtedly one of the top places to visit in Mai Chau. Despite being one of the best viewpoints in Mai Chau, many visitors aren’t aware of its existence and so they end up missing out. Situated on the road to/from Hanoi, the Thung Khe Mountain Pass viewpoint is around a half hour drive from both Lac Village and Pom Coong Village. If you’re lucky you might stop at the viewpoint on your way from Hanoi to Mai Chau, but most likely you’ll need to make your own way there to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Find out all you need to know about the Thung Khe Pass viewpoint in Mai Chau below!

Looking for more inspiration for your trip? Click here to check out an incredible Two Week Vietnam Itinerary!

How to get to the Thung Khe Pass

The Thung Khe Pass is around 18 kilometres from the main villages and homestays in Mai Chau, so walking there isn’t a viable option. Thankfully it’s still easy to get there, either by taxi, bus or scooter/motorbike.

Located on the road between Mai Chau and Hanoi, buses running to Vietnam’s capital city can drop you off directly at the viewpoint. A one-way bus journey from Mai Chau to the Thung Khe Pass, or vice versa, should cost 25,000 VND.

Buses run approximately every 30 minutes, but it’s best to check at your accommodation for more specific and up-to-date timings. It’s also possible to get to the viewpoint if you take a bus heading to Hoa Binh.

The easiest way to get from Mai Chau to the Thung Khe Mountain Pass is to take a taxi. Make sure to either agree a price in advance or check the driver is charging you by the metre before you start your journey.

Expect to pay around 200,000 VND for a one-way taxi ride by the metre. If you opt to take a taxi we recommend taking a bus back to save a bit of money. Alternatively ask your driver to wait, and agree to a price for their time.

The last option is to rent a scooter or motorbike from one of the homestays in Mai Chau and drive yourself to the viewpoint.

It takes around 30 minutes to drive from Mai Chau to the viewpoint, so you’ll have plenty more time for exploring the surrounding areas before or after your visit.

Best time to visit the Thung Khe Pass

Unfortunately the weather in Mai Chau is slightly unpredictable in that it can be a clear day in Lac Village, but on the other side of the mountains (where the viewpoint is located) it can be misty and cloudy.

We recommend waiting for the a relatively clear day to visit the Thung Khe Pass and then hoping for the best as it’s impossible to see what the weather is like until you’re there. Alternatively, depending on how you’re travelling to Mai Chau you may be able to ask to quickly stop off there if the weather is good as you’re passing by!

Thankfully the Thung Khe Pass isn’t particularly well-known, so whenever you visit it’s unlikely to be particularly busy - so you can enjoy the views in relative peace!

What to do at the Thung Khe Pass

The main thing to do at the Thung Khe Pass is simply enjoy some lovely views of the beautiful Vietnamese countryside. Even on misty and cloudy days the brilliant views of rice fields, mountains and villages below make this one of the best viewpoints in Mai Chau.

There are a number of small restaurants and cafes built on stilts, overhanging the edge of the cliff and providing their own unique viewpoints. Take the chance to enjoy lunch, or maybe even a drink or two, whilst taking in the wonderful views.

If you time your trip for later in the day it’s more than likely a great spot for sunset, especially if you’re lucky enough to get some vibrant colours in the sky.

For more great places to visit in Vietnam check out our 2 day itinerary to Ninh Binh and the best things to do in Hoi An at night!

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