Mai Chau - minority villages

We're in a village called Lac near Mai Chau. The area is inhabited by Thai people which is a minority in Vietnam. The landscape is mountainous scattered by rice fields. The typical Thai architecture is stilt houses built of timber and bamboo. Sometimes it feels like stepping into a time machine and landing 200 years back in time. The locals weave intricate patterned textiles: scarfs, table cloths, bags. Others work on the rice fields, some are farming animals, or giving foot massage for tourists. The village Lac has also very special food which is typical to the Thai minority. This includes chicken, catfish, pork, lots of vegetables, and rice in different forms. One of the more interesting ways of cooking and serving rice is in the form of Com Lam. The dish is basically a bamboo tube lined by banana leaf filled with rice. There are also sliced coconut and coconut milk inside. The rice is washed and soaked in water for 2-3 hours and then out into a bamboo tube and grilled. In the following video I demonstrate my unique skills and undoubtable expertise in how to open and eat it:

Red and white versions:

 Pork and a catfish are being grilled for us:

Rice fields:

  Typical stilt houses:

Weaving:

Village life: