Viewpoint Mai Chau - Thung Khe Pass 2025

The Viewpoint Mai Chau (google maps) perches in Tong Dau Commune, Mai Chau District, Hòa Bình Province-roughly 140 km southwest of Hanoi. You'll find it directly on National Highway 6, at the top of the iconic Thung Khe (White Rock) Pass. From the town center it's about a 15 km ride; from the Tong Dau junction (where buses let you off), it's just another 4 km.
Mai Chau viewpoint is the best spot of Thung Khe Pass!

Getting There

By bus: Grab an 80k-140k VND ticket at My Đình or Yen Nghia Bus Station in Hanoi. Buses drop you at Tòng Đậu, and you can hitch a xe ôm or rent a bike for the final stretch.

By motorbike/car: Take Thăng Long Highway → turn onto Xuan Mai road → follow National Highway 6 through White Rock Pass until you see the flagpole. The drive is legendary-winding roads, limestone cliffs, misty valleys all the way.

What to Expect at the Summit

At the very top stands a towering flagpole, a symbol of Vietnamese pride, with sweeping valley views in every direction. Below you, patchwork rice paddies, shaded groves, and distant karst peaks stretch out like a living watercolor. On clear days, you can trace roads snaking through emerald fields; on foggy mornings, a sea of clouds drifts beneath you-an almost otherworldly sight.
Some people like the clear days but personally I loved the foggy weather over the mountains. Check the weather forecast before planning your itinerary but sometimes its hard to predict the weather in the mountains. Either way, you will enjoy it!

Don't miss the little market clustered around the pass flagpole: stalls with thatched roofs serve freshly boiled corn, bamboo sticky rice, grilled meats, wild vegetables, pure honey, and smoked pork-perfect fuel for the road. Local vendors also peddle fresh fruits and snacks, so you can munch while you enjoy the views.

Costs & Practical Details

Admission & parking: Free. You'll park about 100 m before the viewpoint, then stroll in-no fees, no turnstiles. If you find some shady looking people asking for parking fee just ignore them!

Facilities: Managed by Top View Mai Chau, there's a small beverage kiosk with coffee, tea, and light refreshments at reasonable prices.

Opening hours: There's no formal gate-visit anytime you pass through. (Kiosk hours are typically sunrise-sunset, though check locally.)

Best Time to Visit & Photo Tips

Aim for spring (Mar-May) when the valley wears a fresh green coat, or autumn (Sep-Nov) for golden, pre-harvest rice paddies.

Sunrise: Arrive before dawn; the first light filters through trees, painting the valley in pastel pinks and purples-ideal for dreamy landscapes.

Sunset: Golden hour casts long shadows across terraces. Bring a lightweight tripod and a wide-angle lens if you have one.

Weather check: Fog can roll in unexpectedly and obscure the vista-double-check forecasts before you leave Hanoi. But if you are like me, you would enjoy it nonetheless lol

Hidden Photo Spot & Nearby Gems

Secret cliff at Km 76: A narrow dirt trail veers off the main road-follow it to a cliffside with an unhindered valley view, marked by a lone red prayer flag. Few travelers know about this spot. Well you are those few travelers, now go visit it and keep it a secret!

Pom Coong Village viewpoint: About a 10 km detour off Highway 6, Pom Coong is a small Thai village whose name means "hill on a drum." Hike up to its hill for sweeping rice terrace views and authentic homestay stays in stilt houses.

Nearby Attractions to Combine

Go Lao Waterfall: Roughly 18 km past the pass, this secluded cascade is perfect for a refreshing dip after your mountain photoshoot.

Mo Luong Cave: Explore stalactite-studded chambers just outside Lac Village-ideal if you love a bit of spelunking.

Lac & Pom Coong Villages: Cycle through traditional Thai communities, sample local sticky rice, and catch a hill-tribe dance performance under starlit skies.

Final Thoughts

I can say Viewpoint Mai Chau is one of those stops that steals your breath-especially when dawn breaks over mist-swathed paddies. Pack layers (high-altitude mornings can be chillier than you'd think), bring plenty of memory cards (or just buy a 1 TB iphone 17 pro because why not!), and set aside a full day so you can chase both the famed flagpole shot and discover your own secret nook. 

Safe travels and happy shooting, Vietnam is calling you!