(HBO) – Mai Ha wine made with yeast from plants is a precious gift of Mai Chau forest in the northern province of Hoa Binh.


Ms. Vi Thi Ton from Chieng Ha hamlet is preparing different types of leaves to make yeast for wine.

Mai Ha wine became available on the market in the 1990s. The price of this wine is relatively high thanks to its special flavour which comes from the local yeast made from leaves. As the demand is increasing, Hung, a local, seized this opportunity to develop this trade to increase incomes for his family.

Having done this trade for over 20 years, Vi Thi Ton, Hung’s wife, shared that the most difficult step is to make the yeast because more than 20 types of leaves, tubers and fruits are needed. The leaves, tubers and fruits are picked in the forest, then washed, dried, crushed, and sifted to get fine flour, which is then mixed with steamed flour from dried cassava, corn and soybean, and left to ferment for about 20-25 days before distilling wine. For the making of "ruou can” (fermented wine without distilling), the fermentation process will be longer, at around two months.

Over the past time, Hung’s wine production facility has welcomed hundreds of visitors who came to experience the wine-making process and buy products right at the distillation place. Every week, three to five tourist groups from Buoc hamlet (Xam Khoe commune), Lac hamlet (Chieng Chau commune), and Long hamlet (Van Mai commune) come to enjoy Mai Ha rice wine. Recently, Hung accepted the proposal of cooperation from Herbal King Mai farm in Thung Khe commune, Mai Chau district, to supply wine for the making of cordyceps wine to sell to tourists.

Forty-five households in Chieng Ha are engaged in making wine. The hamlet is expected to be recognised as a traditional wine-making village./.


Related Topics


Kicking off the summer sports activities for children

With just over a month left until the school summer break, students are eagerly anticipating a period of rest and fun after a year of academic pressure. To provide a healthy environment for the physical development, in addition to the classes that foster talents and enhance the academic knowledge, sports and physical activities continue to attract a large number of children and teenagers.

Promoting and introducing the outstanding values of “Hoa Binh Culture” in Mai Chau District

On April 17th, Hoa Binh Provincial Museum organized a program to promote and introduce the outstanding values of "Hoa Binh Culture” at the Boarding Secondary and High School for ethnic minority students in Mai Chau District.

Hoa Binh colleges celebrate Lao Bunpimay Festival

The Hoa Binh College of Technical Technology, in collaboration with the Hoa Binh Technical and Economic College and the provincial Association of Literature and Arts, hosted a gathering on April 15 to celebrate Laos’ traditional Bunpimay (New Year) Festival 2025 and debut the new book "Nguoi Muong o ban Don” (Muong people in Don village).

Hoa Binh accompanies entire people in national construction, safeguarding

In the millennia-long history of national construction and safeguarding, people of all ethnic groups in Hoa Binh have been united and closely bound together to overcome all difficulties and challenges, standing alongside the entire Vietnamese people throughout the history of building and defending the country.

Living green through simple daily actions

Living green is a healthy, positive, and sustainable lifestyle that not only helps protect the environment and quality of life but also conserves natural resources and ecosystems. Among the many ways to embrace this lifestyle, reducing plastic consumption is one of the most impactful.

Kim Boi women join improving spiritual life

The women's unions at all levels in Kim Boi district have been making significant contributions to the movement of building cultural life in the local community. The movement helps improve rural look and the spiritual and material lives of local residents.