Mai Chau is a beautiful town nestled in Vietnam’s northern mountains. There are gorgeous views of the mountains, valleys, and rice fields, and the craft shops in town offer beautiful wares. We highly recommend a visit if you’re in Hanoi; we went with Footprint for a day trip, and they did a fantastic job, providing a tasty lunch in town and taking us on a beautiful bike ride through the surrounding area and rice patties. But be aware that it’s a long drive (about 3 and a half hours each way) from Hanoi, so you might want to consider something like a two-day cycling trip or a less active overnight trip instead. Footprint doesn’t advertise a day trip from Hanoi, but they (and most tour operators) should work with you to customize a trip to fit your schedule and desired activities.