Hoa Binh (Peace in Vietnamese), 74 km southwest of Hanoi is the homeland of many Minority groups, including Muong and Thai. Unfortunately, they were removed 15 km away to clear the ground for Hoa Binh hydroelectric plan. Therefore, Hoa Binh does not have much of a hill tribe atmosphere. It is just a good stop for lunch or taking photo of Song Da Reservoir, the biggest in Vietnam with clear water.
Mai Chau is the closest hill tribe villages to Hanoi (elevation 400m). It is a beautiful rural area, and most of the people here are ethnic White Thai, related to tribes in Thailand, Laos and China. They know how to communicate in Thai language but do not know how to write and read. Lac village is the most beautiful one in the region with good service, nice music and hospitable people. There is a government-run guesthouse very near this village, but it is not interesting. Staying with people in thatched-roof stilted house on split bamboo floors (preferably, house number 9) is a good experience. Villagers have even organized a traditional song and dance performance here in the evenings on request at a reasonable price