Mai Chau, Vietnam Avana Retreat
Find your natural self in the mountains of Northwest Vietnam.
Welcome to Avana Retreat, a luxury mountain sanctuary set deep in the tropical forest of Mai Chau, where three ethnic groups share the landscape. Across 15 hectares of land, shaped by a roaring waterfall, the retreat blends striking natural beauty with the region's cultural heritage – born from its founders' wish to preserve this place from the mass tourism that has overrun other beautiful natural spots in Vietnam. 36 bungalows, suites and private pool villas nestle into the mountainside overlooking the valley, terraced rice fields and forest. Rattan ceilings, earth walls and thatched roofs elegantly echo the craftsmanship of the region's Northwestern ethnic groups – a place where stillness, nature and culture are inseparably woven together.
Location
Panh Village, Bao La Commune, Phu Tho Province (Mai Chau region), Northwest Vietnam
Around a 4-hour drive from Hanoi and Noi Bai Airport · roughly 1.5 hours' drive from Pu Luong
Highlights
Cloud Pool – a three-tier infinity pool inspired by Mai Chau's terraced rice fields, heated year-round
Hidden Spring Lagoon – a natural spring hidden in the forest (open weather-permitting)
Private dining by Pung Waterfall, the beating heart of the retreat
Amenities
36 bungalows, suites and private pool villas
5 room and villa categories
Green Chili Restaurant & Cloud Pool Bar · Orchid Spa set along a mountain stream · Hidden Spring Lagoon · Cloud Pool
Impressions
Cuisine
Dining at Avana Retreat celebrates the flavours of Northwest Vietnam using the freshest seasonal ingredients, much of it from the resort's own free-range chicken farm and local farmers around Mai Chau. At Green Chili Restaurant, culinary finesse meets regional cuisine, while Cloud Pool Bar invites guests to unwind with signature cocktails and fine wines.
For special occasions, Private Dining by the Waterfall creates an unforgettable evening for two, accompanied by champagne, flowers and a bespoke menu. To taste the region's history, Dining at the Stilt House offers an intimate dinner inside an over-50-year-old Thai stilt house, where every course tells a story of the Northwest. A kitchen team of 32, 90% of whom are local, brings authentic flavour and heart to every dish.
Wellness
Orchid Spa sits along a gently flowing stream, wrapped in the calming sound of the waterfall and the earthy scent of trees and flowers. It combines traditional Vietnamese healing with Avana's own signature essential oils – a haven of calm for health-conscious travellers.
Treatments include Mountain Stone, using heated stones to release deep muscle tension, Vietnamese Energy Healing with gentle-to-medium pressure techniques, and the Avana Signatures, inspired by traditional Vietnamese herbs. Couples can retreat to a private spa bungalow for the Couple Romance treatment. The offering is rounded out with complimentary yoga and meditation sessions at H'mong Cottage (Hatha and Yin yoga, singing bowl meditation, breathwork) and a weekly candle-making workshop in the Herbal Room.
Experiences
Avana Retreat invites guests to actively discover the mountain landscape of Mai Chau: the Nature Trek leads along untouched paths to the mountaintop, where the whole valley and its villages open up below, while the Local Village Walk offers encounters with local residents. In the Thai Traditional Handicraft Workshops, guests learn rattan weaving or traditional Thai weaving from local artisans.
For quieter moments, there's an outdoor picnic lunch infused with earthy flavours, an afternoon tea ceremony with champagne and nature views, and singing bowl meditation sessions at H'mong Cottage. A highlight for families and water lovers is the Hidden Spring Lagoon, perfect for a swim or a cocktail amid forest stillness.
Room categories
Avana Retreat's 36 accommodations are organised into five categories, all with views of mountains, valley or rice terraces, and Vietnamese craftsmanship in rattan, earth and thatch.
Die luftige, elegante Mountain Suite (98 m²) bietet ein King-Bett oder Twin-Betten, eine Lounge mit Sofa und einen lichtdurchfluteten Wohnbereich. Der 35 m² große Balkon lädt zum Verweilen im Schatten ein, während das Bad mit separater Regendusche und einer raumhoch verglasten Badewanne für ein einzigartiges Badeerlebnis sorgt.
Das Lantana Mountain Bungalow mit zwei Schlafzimmern (124 m²) mit Blick auf die grünen Hügel verbindet zwei durch eine Verbindungstür getrennte Schlafzimmer mit einer gemütlichen Sofalounge – ideal für Familien oder Freundesgruppen. Ein 34 m² großer Balkon sowie zwei separate Bäder mit Regendusche und Badewanne runden den Bungalow ab.
Eine von sechs Grand Mountain Suiten (115 m²) mit Blick auf Wald, Tal und Reisfelder. Das stilvolle Schlaf- und Loungezimmer mit King-Bett und Sofas fügt sich harmonisch in die Natur ein, während das größte Bad des Resorts mit Regendusche und großer Badewanne für tropisches Flair sorgt. Inklusive Avana-Exklusivleistungen: Retreat-Host-Service, eine Flasche Sekt pro Aufenthalt, 60-minütige Massage für 2 Personen, kostenlose Wäscheleistung und Nachmittagssnack im Zimmer.
Die Senna Hilltop Pool Villa (194 m²) ist für Privatsphäre und Romantik konzipiert: eine großzügige Lounge mit angrenzendem King-Schlafzimmer, verbunden mit einer Terrasse und einem zweistufigen Infinity-Pool (61 m²) mit 270-Grad-Blick über das Tal. Ideal für Flitterwochen und Paare. Inklusive Retreat-Host-Service, Sekt, Paarmassage und Nachmittagssnack am privaten Pool.
Die Senna Hilltop Pool Villa mit zwei Schlafzimmern (229 m²) ist die großzügigste Kategorie des Resorts und Vietnams einzige Villa mit privatem, ganzjährig beheiztem Pool. Zwei separate Schlafzimmer mit eigenem Bad, eine luxuriöse Lounge mit Tal- und Reisfeldblick sowie eine weitläufige Terrasse mit 89 m² großem, zweistufigem Infinity-Pool. Perfekt für Familien oder Freundesgruppen, inklusive Retreat-Host-Service, Sekt, Massage für 4 Personen und Wäscheservice.
We'll make your dream trip a reality.
Avana Retreat – Relaxation in the mountains of Vietnam
Avana Retreat combines private pool villas and suites with the cultural heritage of three ethnic groups and the untouched nature of Mai Chau. If you're looking for a retreat far from the crowds, this is the place for you.
Send us your no-obligation travel enquiry today, and we'll design your personal mountain escape in Vietnam exactly to your wishes!
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