In May 2025, Avana Retreat had the honor of welcoming a survey team from the Guardians of Earth (GOE) organization, a prestigious network dedicated to assessing the ecological and cultural health of destinations worldwide. The latest report, published in July 2025, confirmed Avana Retreat's position not just as a resort but as a successful model for fostering harmony between human communities and the rainforest ecosystem.

Avana Retreat is proud to be ranked among the top 1% of "Eco-Resorts" and in the top 4% of the entire Guardians of Earth network. These precious positions demonstrate our continuous efforts and sustainable commitment to nature conservation and responsible tourism development.

Vietnamese Mountain Crab, a rare freshwater species

Impressive Achievements Over the Past Year

The GOE report highlighted the remarkable progress Avana Retreat achieved in the past year, as evidenced by impressive biological indicators:

• BioScore Increase: Avana Retreat's bio-score saw an astonishing increase from 4972.12 to 6793.94, a 24.6% rise in just one year.

• Strengthened Biocultural Units (BCUs): The resort now boasts 6.4 BCUs, an increase from 5.4 BCUs the previous year.

• Rich Biodiversity: The report recorded 151 unique species at Avana Retreat, accounting for 74% of all known species in the broader Mai Chau area. Data shows insects are predominant, and the presence of important indicator species like the Scale-bellied Tree Lizard, Yellow-backed Sunbird, and Great Mormon butterfly is a clear sign that the habitat here thrives. 

Yellow-backed Sunbird, a nectar-feeding specialist

To the furtherance of ecotourism

These achievements are not only a source of pride for Avana Retreat but also a motivation for us to continue our ecotourism journey. Avana Retreat sincerely thanks our guests, partners, and the entire community for your companionship and support.

Let's continue to work with Avana Retreat to record stories of harmony between humans and nature, spreading the message of conservation and further enhancing biocultural health. We believe that every story, every small action we take, will inspire and drive similar efforts globally, contributing to building a more sustainable future for Earth.

Photo Credit: Mr. Yannick Walrave

Beneath the quiet grandeur of the Stilt House Museum sits Ms. Tenh Y Vang, a 54-year-old H'mong woman from Pa Co Lon Hamlet, Pa Co Commune. With a tjanting pen in hand, she meticulously etches traditional H'mong patterns onto linen fabric. At midday on even days, she takes her place, shouldering the profound responsibility of preserving and sharing her ethnic's ancient art of batik drawing with the wider world.

How her story with batik painting begins

Ms. Tenh beams with pride, knowing she's the third generation in her family to carry on this precious legacy. Her mother shared with her that this skill has been passed down since her great-grandmother's time. Therefore, from the earliest days, the image of her grandmother, mother, and aunts in the village, diligently drawing whimsical patterns on cloth, was deeply etched into her young mind. Day after day, she watched them, not quite knowing when this art first captured her heart.

The H’mong woman vividly recalls getting burned by hot beeswax the first time she held the pen. Her loud cry then marked the very initial moments of her journey into the craft. Yet, with each passing day, her hands grew steadier. Starting with rough lines on plain fabric, then moving to more precise designs on skirt waistbands, her drawings steadily pulled her further into the rich world of batik.

The long journey of the authentic artisan

The H'mong art of batik painting holds a distinct charm, setting it apart from other traditional crafts. Its uniqueness shines through in everything from the raw materials and textures to the intricate patterns. This distinctiveness brings forth a wonderful range of products, including beautiful paintings for your walls, warm scarves, clothes, pillowcases, blankets, and more.

Whether their product is completed depends on two key steps: drawing and indigo dyeing. The drawing requires constant creativity from the artist, including inventing fresh, unique patterns and ensuring every line is balanced and flows smoothly. Meanwhile, good quality dye means the piece will absorb the color faster and become a vibrant, deep blue.

Photo Credit: @overyummed

"To achieve pure beeswax," Ms. Vang explained with her voice full of passion, "the Hmong collect natural honeycomb. We then heat it until it melts completely, and filter out all impurities using a cloth. The wax must be perfectly clean for the colors to emerge beautifully and last. Once cooled, the wax hardens, and each time we need it, we simply reheat it until it melts again."

The global community companion

Through a long process of mastering her skill, Ms. Tenh Y Vang is now incredibly happy to have preserved her ethnic group's traditional craft. But what many don't know is that this journey of preserving a valuable tradition wasn't just hers or the local community's. It also involved people from afar who care about the survival and growth of ethnic minority communities.

Ms. Tenh shared that a non-profit, fair-trade organization called Craftlinks has been supporting her village's beeswax drawing craft for nearly 30 years. Craftlinks works to help ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, and traditional craft villages revitalize cultural traditions, develop handicraft production, and boost community income. Ms. Tenh recalled how, in earlier days, Craftlinks would print out patterns on paper for the women to study and follow. Now, Ms. Tenh has become so skilled that she can simply imagine and then draw intricate patterns purely from her mind. Each day, she can complete a beautiful beeswax painting.

Avana got its start from a deep desire: to create a real green tourism model where the environment and the local community always come first. 

Our mission is to restore the area around Avana to its original, untouched beauty from decades ago. We want to make sure the kids running around barefoot today will have a safer, cleaner environment to grow up in tomorrow. We're also working hard to help the communities nearby understand how vital it is to live green, keep things clean, and see how precious their long-standing culture truly is. That's basically everything Avana Retreat is striving for.

You might think a big dream requires a big foundation. But on the journey to make those precious goals a reality and sustainability, we'd say: Greatness comes from the simplest things

#1: Daily conversations with the locals

Recently, James Thai, CEO of Avana Retreat, together with the top leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry, had a meeting at the Asia Sustainable Travel (AST) Forum in Hanoi to tackle key industry challenges. During the forum, Mr. James shared: "Engaging in collaborative dialogue and repurposing local natural materials helped us achieve the resort's unique standards."

With 90% of our workforce being local, Avana has truly become an integral part of the community, embracing the unique language, sounds, and culture of the region. Many of our Thai, Hmong, and Muong team members, who once relied solely on two rice harvests a year, are starting to learn everyday English phrases, how to fold napkins, set forks and knives, and even bake. They come to Avana really wanting to improve themselves, and we're just as passionate about helping this area grow. As long as they're eager to grow, we provide free training, career guidance, and employment opportunities. We're giving them the chance to work right here in their homeland, and in return, they're giving us the opportunity to have them as cherished members of the Avana family.

#2: The everyday work that sustains local communities

Being welcomed into this land has opened up so many doors for us to their culture and traditional crafts. That's brought us a treasure trove of sustainable materials to build our resort with! The local artisans in this region have been amazing teachers, showing us how to plaster mud walls, pick the best palm leaves for roofing, and share their unique Thái and H'mong house-building secrets that keep rooms so toasty in winter and wonderfully breezy in summer. When stepping into any corner of Avana Retreat – from the chill-out lounges to the private villas and restaurants – you'll find it adorned with stunning handmade items such as comfy pillows with vibrant brocade patterns, or gorgeous lamps woven from rattan and bamboo. Crafted from all-natural materials, Avana Retreat's decorations are more than just beautiful – they're also earth-friendly.

#3: Honoring cultures through global sharing

Beyond the culture of the Northwest, Avana Retreat also wants to share the idea of respecting cultures from all over the world through how we run our sustainable resort. During the Asia Sustainable Travel (AST) Forum, our COO, James Thai, shared some smart, budget-friendly ideas that any business could start using right away. A prime example he gave was Avana’s old-school mechanical keys. This simple swap doesn't just cut down on plastic key cards, it also beautifully shows our respect for Jewish guests who observe Shabbat without electronic devices.

Summer always gives Avana a little preview with golden sunlight spilling over the rice fields. Only until the Yellow Flamboyan Tree at the Green Chili Restaurant’s entrance also slowly shifts into that same brilliant hue, we know it has officially begun.

If trees at Avana Retreat had a “low-maintenance, high-reward” category, the Yellow Flamboyan Tree would win it hands down. 

This resilient beauty doesn’t mind heat, drought, or less-than-perfect soil. Once it sets down roots, it pretty much takes care of itself. Thanks to protective leaf hairs and termite-resistant wood, the Flamboyan rarely suffers from pests or disease. But even if something bad happened, it easily finds its way to return, growing back from seeds or shoots with quiet determination.

The magic of the Yellow Flamboyan Tree doesn’t stop there. While growing in the Northwest’s ferralitic or red basaltic soils, where nutrients are scarce and erosion is common, this humble tree lends a quiet helping hand. Its secondary root system forms nodules that house symbiotic Rhizobium bacteria, which fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and enrich the soil. This not only helps this special plant thrive but also benefits nearby ones, improving the health of the entire ecosystem. If the Yellow Flamboyan Tree were a person, it would be like one of the devoted children of the Northwest who are always there, working quietly behind the scenes to support their families no matter the circumstances.

As a humble plant, the Yellow Flamboyan Tree shines brightest only in summer. So if you want to witness this rare seasonal glow, make sure to visit Avana Retreat while the season lasts!

As you walk across the wooden bridge leading to Orchid Spa, take a moment to admire the graceful clusters of golden orange adorning the green bushes called the Ashoka Tree.

You might be surprised to learn that this tree grows naturally, without any human intervention. It's also one of the oldest tree species at Avana Retreat, having been here for 50-60 years.

Despite its natural growth, this tree has a meaningful name, the Ashoka Tree. Many sources suggest that this tree originated in India, hence its name. In Sanskrit, 'Ashok' means 'without sorrow' or 'sorrowless.' True to its name, the beauty of this flower makes those who witness it feel at ease. It’s a treat for the eye and the soul. And perhaps it's fate, or a destined arrangement, that it blooms profusely along the path leading to the Orchid Spa at Avana Retreat, where you can come and find your inner peace.

The 'Ashoka tree' blooms vibrantly in the mountainous region of Northwest Vietnam from March to May. This has inadvertently created a connection between it and the local people here. The blooming of the flowers signifies the end of spring and the transition to summer, or in other words, the upcoming busy agricultural season. So, if you visit during this time, you will not only be soothed by the sight of the golden Ashoka flowers but also witness the reality of a busy season for the local community.

Coming to Avana Retreat is stepping into the pure symphony of life in the mountains. Let’s explore the sounds that infuse a luxurious retreat like us with a very humble, intimate, and down-to-earth vibe.

Calling of the ducks
The waddling ducks are an integral part of rural Vietnam's landscape. They love roaming around and welcoming their guests with their ‘quack quack’.

Melody of the cascades
Water is the source of life, and when cascading, it becomes a musician. From the gorgeous Pung waterfall to the gentle streams, let these natural musicians at Avana Retreat guide you to peace of mind.

Singing of the birds
Vietnamese have a saying ‘Where there is a good land, the birds will come and settle”. Every winter, flocks of birds choose Avana Retreat as their sanctuary, bringing with them their singing as a gift to this abundant land.

Chatter in the fields
The terraced rice fields at Avana Retreat maintain their beauty thanks to the surrounding ethnic minority communities. The fields are quiet most of the time, but when the rice sowing season arrives, they come bustling with chatter and hope for a bountiful harvest.

The pure symphony at Avana Retreat goes on captivating dreamy souls longing for a life in the mountains.

The beauty and strength of women, a constant source of wonder, demand a language of subtlety and grace. Let’s explore the Northwestern men's delicate love expressions that win the hearts of their women.

Expression through the secret signals
In the Northwest region, there are weekly markets from dawn until around 9-10 a.m. where local people exchange goods with each other. On the end-of-month or special days, there will be cultural activities such as dancing, singing, and playing folk instruments. Boys will dress beautifully and carry panpipes and flutes. If they are captivated by any girl, they will approach her and express their feelings.
Experience this slice of local life at Bao La Market, a 4.5km walk from Avana Retreat, where locals gather every Friday morning.

Expression in nonverbal language
There's a very famous musical instrument in the Northwest called the panpipe. This instrument is made from bamboo and copper, and its sounds are both deep and soaring, powerful yet full of emotion. Perhaps for this reason, the panpipes are favored by Northwest boys, who choose them as their "messenger pigeon" to send loving words to the girls they adore.
They often stand on a hillside, playing captivating melodies to send their love to the girl in the neighboring village. If the girl hears and responds by appearing or sending a signal, such as tying a scarf to a tree.

Listen to the sound of the panpipes and immerse yourself in it with dances during the weekly Wednesday and Saturday night experience next to the Green Chili restaurant at Avana Retreat, allowing you to harmonize, interact, and connect with the local people.

Expression under the floor
When a Thai boy likes a girl, he will go to her house at night, stand under the floor, and use a long stick to gently poke the floor to wake her up. If she agrees to talk, she will open the door or come down the stairs to meet the boy.
This is a discreet, subtle, yet patient way to express affection. If the girl is not interested, she can remain silent or politely decline. If she has feelings for him, they will continue to get to know each other through such 'floor poking' sessions.

Visit the stilt house museum. Avana's stilt house dates back to 1970 and was relocated and rebuilt when the Avana project began construction, offering a deeper understanding of the region's culture and history.

Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness, so your journey at Avana Retreat wouldn’t be complete without a culinary adventure. Green Chili restaurant is here to treat you to Soul Food, brimming with the delicious flavors of Northwest Vietnam and beyond.

Hanoi’s “Bún Chả”
Originating from the bustling streets of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi Kebab Rice Noodles symbolizes Vietnamese cuisine.
This dish features the rich flavors of marinated grilled meat, served with rice noodles, various fresh herbs, and a delightful sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. The grilled meat's charming touch of charcoal smoke gives it an unforgettable flavor.

Mai Chau Catfish
The Black River (Da River) flowing through Mai Chau endows the land with a freshwater specialty called catfish. These fish are rich in nutrients, firm yet tender, with very few bones, and have a tempting aroma.
At Avana Retreat, catfish is marinated with turmeric and galangal to eliminate fishiness. To balance its rich flavor, you can roll the fish with accompanying vermicelli, herbs, and peanuts.

Grilled Lemongrass Duck Meat Ball
Vietnamese meatballs from Central Vietnam are a delightful blend of caramel-colored meatballs paired with a rich, savory dipping sauce and fresh herbs.
While traditional Vietnamese meatballs are usually made with pork, at Green Chili restaurant, we use duck instead, giving this dish a more robust and distinctive flavor.

Dried Buffalo with Green Papaya Salad
The Thai people used to have a hunting tradition, often going on trips that lasted several days and yielded plenty of fresh meat. To preserve their catch, they developed a method of drying the meat, giving birth to the famous dried buffalo dish.
Today, dried buffalo is enjoyed in various ways, including The Dried Buffalo with Green Papaya Salad. This dish features a delicious blend of dried buffalo, green papaya, carrots, fresh herbs, peanuts, sesame seeds, and a tangy sweet and sour sauce. It’s a refreshing and tasty way to complement your main dishes and lighten up any meal!

Vietnamese cuisine is always an exciting topic, and what could be better than savoring these culinary treasures from Soul Food at Green Chili restaurant?

The Bauhinia flower has long been seen as the symbol of the Northwestern mountains and holds a special place among locals' hearts, especially the Thai. As the season of the Bauhinia begins, let Avana Retreat share with you some timeless tales of this beautiful flora, whose beauty and spirit led us to name our villas after it!

The legend of an immortal love
Long ago, on the Northwest mountain, there lived a beautiful Thai maiden named Ban, who was known for her exquisite weaving and enchanting voice. Ban’s heart belonged to Khum, a young and talented man, but her father insisted she marry a rich, though lazy, man. Heartbroken, Ban ran to find her beloved Khum for protection, but he had gone far away on a hunting trip. She searched high and low for him, calling his name until her voice gave out. Exhausted and worn, Ban finally collapsed to the ground.

Where she fell, a tree began to grow, bearing long, slender white flowers blooming like a maiden's delicate fingers. They called it the Ban tree, or the Bauhinia tree. Every spring, the Bauhinia flowers would bloom across the hills and valleys, as if the wind sought to tell the story of Ban’s love once again.

A symbol of Thai life and culture
The Thai people, an ethnic minority group in the Northwest, share a deep connection with the Bauhinia. To them, this flower is not just a beautiful bloom; it symbolizes the spirit of their daily life and ancient culture passed down through generations.
As a resilient flower, the Bauhinia bloom thrives in the harshest terrains and weather, carrying the responsibility of bringing vibrancy to this remote region. Each year, the locals journey into the forests when the season turns, gathering the first blooms to take home or offer during traditional festivals. Through these flowers, they express gratitude to their ancestors and the spirits of the mountains and rivers, while praying for good weather, bountiful harvests, and prosperity to bless their lands.

A flower amidst the Avana “village"
Inspired by the whispered tales of old, Avana Retreat has named some of our villas after the Bauhinia flower. Much like the blossoms that grace the wild mountains of the Northwest, our Bauhinia Mountain Suite combines rustic charm with luxury, offering a peaceful escape where you can enjoy the comfort of premium interiors, modern amenities, and natural light throughout the day.
Bauhinia flowers are expected to bloom this March. There will be a blanket of pure white along the winding roads of the Northwestern provinces at that time, weaving a scene of breathtaking beauty. A sight not to be missed!

For nearly every Vietnamese child, the memory of a cold is intertwined with the fragrance of their mother's special pot. What seemed like mere cuttings, like a branch of a grapefruit tree, some sun-dried leaves and dried peel, a quick gathering of backyard leaves, and some sliced ginger, can become, in a mother's hands, a potent remedy for the little bodies in the sick days.

She covers her sick child and the hot pot with a blanket so they can breathe in the steam. That fresh and invigorating scent extracted from the garden herbs sparks a flurry of emotional memories whenever we smell it.

At Orchid Spa, we've infused those cherished childhood scents into our therapies that allow you to find the inner balance, improve your well-being, and uplift your spirit. Today, we invite you to reminisce about mother's comforting care with our signature aromatherapy treatments.

Avana Signature Soothing
Indulge in our signature treatment, a personalized journey beginning with your selection of exquisite essential oils. Combined with medium to firm pressure, acupressure points are stimulated, and circulation is enhanced. The therapeutic warmth of traditional Vietnamese herbal packs is then applied to deeply soothe tired muscles and inflamed joints, promoting flexibility and restoring vital energy.

Deep Tissue Release
This powerful treatment is designed to alleviate deep-seated tension and muscular stress. Enhanced by a special oil of your selection, our therapists will use light to firm pressure and acupressure techniques to warm your tissue and soften the superficial layers. They then move slowly onto the deeper tissue layers to provide your body with deep relaxation and revitalization.

Vietnamese Energy Healing
This treatment benefits from the healing properties of natural oil to enhance skin penetration and create an overall sense of well-being using a combination of gentle to medium pressure with long strokes and kneading techniques. 

​Reawaken the mother's childhood embrace with us!

With the desire to connect more with the local community, the Avana Marathon Open was organized for the first time on 26th November, welcoming the people of villages around Avana to participate with our staff, sharing a love for sports and the joy of overcoming personal limits.

The 15 km long road running through the hills and villages was an unforgettable experience of being in harmony with nature and the daily life of the locals.

A huge shoutout to all the amazing runners for their incredible energy on this journey.
Mr. Luong Van Nam, Head Chef of Avana Retreat, was the first runner to reach the finish line in 1 hour and 17 minutes. Just one minute behind him were two males from Cun Pheo village. In the top 10 males to finish the race early, there were 6 locals and 3 Avana Retreat staff members.

About 10 minutes later, Ms. HaThi Thuyen, a kitchen staff member of Avana Retreat, won the women's first prize with a time of 1 hour and 38 minutes. The top 10 females finished also acknowledged the other 3 female participants from Cun Pheo village and 6 Avana Retreat staff members.

Throughout the race, local people showed up to cheer and boost the spirits of the runners. Additionally, our organizing team provided support with water, light snacks, and medical assistance. Thanks to these, 90% of the runners finished earlier than expected.

The first running event at Avana Retreat has served our goal of connecting our staff with the local community and enhancing awareness about health and well-being.
Waiting for the excitement of what's to come! The upcoming events are sure to bring more happiness and new challenges to conquer!

Our journey to the dream of bringing nature and humans closer was recently recognized by Guardians Of Earth when our BioScore reached the top 1 on their The Realms ranking. The Guardians Of Earth is a community for nature lovers who have the same desire to preserve nature and biodiversity. Getting the highest BioScore on this platform's chart is truly a great honor for us.

We would like to thank our guests for capturing the precious moments of nature and sharing them on The Realms. Your genuine photos and stories of biodiversity have helped us reach the top of the places with the highest BioScore scores.

From the empty lands to a new ecosystem that now is a home for many animals to live together in harmony is a whole process of love, nurturing, and care.

With the motto of always appreciating what we have, we protect and keep the gifts that nature gives to us in their original state by all means.

Avana Retreat promises to continue nurturing our love and passion for nature and strive for a friendly living environment, where biodiversity is diverse and nature is preserved

We are the Guardians of Earth, and so you can be. Let’s help us level up Avana’s nature - verse by sharing the moments at Avana here!

With the idea to honor the architectural highlights of the natives, 36 bungalows and villas of Avana Retreat are constructed with the guidance of craftsmen from three minority groups of Mai Chau. Every corner, every inch, is imbued with the cultures and identities of the natives.

Dry in spring, cool in summer, warm in autumn, and wind-proof in winter, the villa responds to the environment of the Northwest mountain wonderfully, thanks to a unique building method: totally hand-crafted earthwork. With architecture modernities these days, it’s hard to believe a raw, natural material like earth is still useful. In fact, this ancient method is one of the most sustainable building methods. 

The craftsman said that thatched roofs are the best, they are abundant, light, and effective. By layering up palm leaves, it prevents heat leaks in the winter and keeps the space chill around the summer. Looking from afar, it’s like camouflage that blends seamlessly into nature.

A traditional craft of the Thai ethnic groups, using the outer layer of the rattan tree, the craftsmen skillfully entwine the solid timbers into patterns. You can see it on the ceiling, you can see it on the chandelier, the sedge carpet, or the buffalo muzzle decor, all contribute to a space that is truly in tune with nature.

Take a day to explore Avana Retreat and you will see a stilt house hiding on a low hill. It might surprise you that usually there would be a bungalow constructed here, so why does a stilt house of the natives placed right here? Well, it's not just a traditional house, it is a renovated museum full of stories and past memories. 

Built in 1970, this stilt house was moved to its current location as the construction started. Back in the days when Avana Retreat was no more than concrete and frames, the founders would get together in the stilt house after a day of hard work and talk about the process, share their hopes, and just bond over the tough times. The stilt house witnessed all and came through the hardships with us, it was our special place.

Then, the house was converted into a museum when the project was finished. Opening from 9:00 to 17:00, you can come and observe the collections of jewelry, traditional clothing, farming tools, literature, musical instruments, and many other interesting objects of the three ethnic groups that reside close to Avana: Thai, Muong, and H'mong. There are new ones, there are old ones, and there are ones that are still useful to this day. A guide is always there to walk you through the details. Every artifact has its own story, and it's always nice to understand the culture from the natives. 

A Thai old lady sitting peacefully, looming over her weave is a familiar sight in the space underneath the stilt house. It is also the place for Avana's craft workshops such as Batik art or Bamboo weaving craft, all you need is to register and get a hands-on lesson with the artisans themselves. In winter evenings, we would gather around, light up some firewood and roast corn and sweet potatoes. Eating the yummy treats, having a sip of warm tea, and warming up the atmosphere with cozy moments around the fire really bring back the good old days.

When everything we absorb these days is filled with plastic junkies and chemicals, we would want to go for a choice that focuses on the greens and benefits to the environment like organic products. Making our products more natural, ethical, and healthier is a great start in the commitment to sustainability, and we have plenty on the list: 

• Organic juice and fruit:

A hearty plate of yummy fruits and juice is Avana’s first gift of welcoming you here. Charge your daily glucose and vitamin boost while feeling the crunch and sweetness of fresh tropical fruits.

• Organic herb garden: 

To keep the greens truly green, our herb gardens are pesticide-free. From seeding to harvesting, every process is carefully nurtured by our local farmer. The freshest food comes straight out of the soil, and in our cooking class, you can visit the garden and pick up fresh herbs for your menu. 

• Organic eggs: 

Avana Retreat is home to nearly 300 birdies, where they lay fresh, healthy eggs. No cages or stress, they are just a flock of happy chickens, roaming freely on the hill, scratching the ground for worms, and bathing in the sun. 

• Organic spa oils & shower essentials: 

Ranging from essential oils to soap, shampoo, and candles, put your body in whole natural care with organic extracts from herbs, flowers, and fruits. Let the products deepen your connection with heaven and earth through fragrant, true-to-nature scents that linger for hours.

Organic products aren’t just a costly trend we can skip, to Avana Retreat, it is a statement, a revolution, and a significant change for the better. 

​​Brocade motifs are regarded as the spirit of mountain culture. Every ethnic group has unique textiles and colorways, and you will be mesmerized by the Thai’s creative patterns of nature, family, and culture. 

Thai brocades are known for rich, lively hues, so their colorways don’t match the word ‘boring’. White for rice, green for trees, blue for the sky, and endless shades of flowers, under the skillful hands of Thai women, they loom each thread into a big pattern, reflecting their vivid life of nature and labor. 

In Thai ethnic culture, brocade weaving and women are inseparable.  Starting from 8 to 9 years old, little girls learn the basics of brocade weaving from their moms and grandmothers. "Girls know how to weave, boys know how to fish", that's what they say. After a girl has acquired all these abilities and can create her own goods, she is regarded as an adult. Brocade weaving is the symbol of a woman’s virtues. Her aesthetic appears in every color she entwines, her meticulousness shows in every thread she spins, and her passion shines through every pattern she weaves. 

We believe that culture is a form of art, of which the only artist to perform it is people who connect deeply to it. No pens or notebooks, just you and the artisan, cherishing authentic culture. Hear the tales being woven through the loom and learn a thing or two from their patterns mix matching from a Thai woman sitting at the loom weaving brocade patterns under the Stilt House.

Costumes say a lot about a person, and looking at the traditional clothes of the H’mongs you will see their culture in it. The H’mong, they proudly wear traditional costumes that exalt the beauty of Batik Art - a long-standing traditional custom. In the midst of modern times with fast fashion and quick costumes, true artistry like batik art is truly precious.

Every H’mong batik artist is familiar with the aroma of heated wax. They are masters in creating elaborate designs with wax and a tjanting tool, a wooden instrument with a small metal receptacle at the end for holding hot, melted wax, and the nib through which the wax flows. Batik is a type of resist dyeing, so every detail they draw on the hand-loomed hemp is not fixable. The more skilled the artisan is, the better dexterity is shown on every line, every curve. 

As the H’mong do not have a written form, textiles have become their way of expression. Living in the midst of nature, their motifs are heavily influenced by the surroundings and labor life: plant seeds, snail shells, ferns, rice flowers,...Alike the ancient Vietnamese, the H’mong thought that the sky was round and the ground was square, thus you'll see these basic forms employed in many of the foundation designs inside each little square of cloth.

Last but not least, Batik art isn’t completed without the indigo shade. At late summer, the H’mongs will go to the fields to cut indigo leaves and dye the fabric, with young girls often following their mothers to the fields from early morning. After the batik drawing has dried and the wax has been removed, the material is again dipped multiple times to create the signature dark blue. The batik process is complete, with powerful white motifs set against hues of blue indigo.

Independent from modern fabrics, with dexterity from years of refining the craft, they inlaid their costumes with exquisite golden motifs. It is Batik Art, the pride of the H’mong.

Up in the mountains, where life is still at its own pace, the ethnic groups' lives are much braided with nature and all its rawness in a familiar material: rattan

One of their oldest skills, weaving with bamboo and rattan, is still widely practiced in their villages. Made of solid timbers from bamboo, may come out stiff and boring, yet under the skillful hand of the artisans, rattan strands are intertwined in the most complex patterns. Plain, twill, basket, satin, every knot is highlighted by the earthy undertone of bamboo strips.

Besides the beautiful patterns that are pleasing to the eye, rattan is a material that has a lot to offer. Durable, abundant, and easy to amend, the Hmongs have a variety of handicrafts to assist their daily lives: sedge baskets, kitchenwares, boxes, even religious artifacts, and many more. 

Much as modern days have replaced natural items with more efficiency, there is not any match as authentic, close-to-nature, and intricate as rattan weaving. Captivated by the rustic, unique beauty of rattan weaving, Avana Retreat's decoration can not miss out on the touch of rattan. You can see it on the decor by the nightstand, you can spot it on the basket, you can notice the walls weaved in wave patterns, and you can feel the heat subsides by the rattan ceiling in the summertime. All of our rattan products are made of Hmong artisans, who still keep the craft alive and going. To engage rattan weaving in our concept is to treasure an art, and to continue a story of a prolonged culture that is almost replaced and forgotten. 

Under the Stilt House Museum, you can join the rattan weaving workshop. Sit next to our artisan, listen to his story of mastering the craft, admỉre the expertise in every knot, and experience weaving it yourself! 

To preserve the beauty of Mai Chau land for many more years, we should start with the people. Hospitality is all about making guests feel at home, and probably the best way to know about the land other than the native themselves. Therefore, we create job opportunities for the natives and welcome them to the Avana family.

After 2 years of operation, 90% of Avana staff are local. Most of them are people from the small villages around Avana, with education not beyond university, or even high school. But that does not stop them from continuing to learn and grow at Avana Retreat. Hospitality training, sustainable development basics, and even English lessons, they will receive any skillsets needed to become successful. Once they are officially Avana staff, we continue to offer great welfare, health insurance, professional working conditions, promotion prospects, and additional job training for constant improvement.

Offering people great jobs, and helping their life improve are always beyond our pride and joy, but the best thing is that we give them a chance to contribute to their homeland.  Together, we honor the beauty of the land and make every experience here even more worthwhile and authentic! 

We are all living on a blue pale dot called Earth, and it is the only home we have. And it is our duty to keep it garbage-free. In teamwork with the region’s Youth Union, Trash Collecting Day has been a monthly routine for us. 

Each month, the volunteer team will move to a different area. In the early morning, Avana Retreat staff will gather with the Youth Union. With gloves, masks, and a bag, we got to business right away. Bushes, riverbanks, streams, along the way, no place is left out of our sight. Although the work is simple, never a minute is boring because everyone is full of chatter and laughter. 

Nobody was paying attention to the clock, but when we did, it was already lunch time. Some people just joined for the first time, some people were on their fourth session, and some people invited friends to join. After each month, the manpower has gotten bigger and bigger, and we are all happy to be involved: Happy to meet new people, happy to clean the land together, and happy to mark a meaningful activity on the monthly calendar. As for Avana staff, we are happy to contribute to the resort's sustainability principle: preserving the original beauty of nature.

There are countless ways to make an impact on the environment, and the easiest, simplest action is to put your litter in the right place.

When Avana's founder used to go explore the land and scout deep in the forest, we passed through many streams. Looking at the clear water, we thought that it is too pure that we could almost drink it. So an idea was initiated: a self-supplied water system that is as fresh as the natural streams.

True water-drinking enthusiasts will know that not every water tastes the same, and yes, Avana’s water is different from any water in the urban. It’s neither the bottled water you usually drink nor the bland tap water, it’s a strangely pleasant refreshing flavor of nature’s clarity. Water is not something you would pay attention to, but to us, any efforts to preserve nature is worthwhile:

• Complimentary water is provided during every activity of the Retreat.
• Water is filled in glass bottles for guests for reusable purposes. 
• An on-site purifying system helps cuts down CO2 emissions during outsourced water transportation and also cuts down on plastic usage 

By building the system, we are always proud to provide a clean, pure source of water, made of nature’s freshest and a part of the care plan for the environment. 

A clean sip of water will refresh you, and a clean source of water will relieve nature.

Food sourcing had been a puzzling quiz to solve during Avana's first days. Costly expenses, long delivery hours, fresh food decaying, etc., more and more problems just occurred when it comes to transporting ingredients from the urban to Avana Retreat in the mountain. We were too focused on the limitations, but then a fact came ringing that there is a treasure we have been ignoring: the local food source. Planted and nurtured by the natives, you can feel the authenticity in every ingredient.

On Friday morning, chef Tuan will head to Bao La market - a local market just 10 minutes away from the retreat. He said that whoever comes first gets the freshest ingredients, and he proves it right. Tumbling fish, vegetables that look like they just got straight out of the soil, chicken, and ducks clucking here and there,  bags of beans next to each other, everything just looks inviting to cook! 

Food tastes best when it is cooked wholeheartedly. There is no better way to honor the local cuisine than to have it right on your menu, using the ingredients that grow on this land: 

• Fish, pork, chicken, and goat, all meat are locally produced.  You can taste the juicy, tender texture of creatures that grow up in nature.
• Have a taste of local herbs and plants that is only found in the mountain. In the highlands, common veggies like potatoes and corn have a more earthy taste. 
• Handmade desserts are served after every main course. Comes in many shapes and sizes, these cakes are delicacies of Northwestern Vietnam.

We love our local source, we love the fresh ingredients, we love the mountain taste in every bite, and we love to support the local community. To buy food locally is to give natives the chance to make a living, and to honor their cuisine authentically, and rightfully.

Convenient, fast, and cheap, plastic is like a dream material for life in the mountain of ethnic groups. But the plastic utopia doesn’t last long when people are more and more dependent on single-use plastic products.

Unfamiliar with garbage sorting, and most garbage disposal areas are concentrated in the city, waste management is not really a matter to concern about in remote mountainous and rural areas, but consequences are clearer day by day: Plastic bottles scattered by the river and cascade banks, sights of plastic bags carelessly thrown on the bushes, and garbage piling up by the beaten village road. For it to be an imprinted mindset of ethnic groups, to damage and pollute the intact, beautiful nature here, those are the sights we don’t want to witness.

Therefore, Avana wants to bring them a new mindset, a new lifestyle where plastic is not necessary at all:

• No single-use plastic in the resort
• Eco-friendly materials: corn starch waste bags, bamboo and paper packaging, cups and bags, etc.
• Reusable bottles and cups: Our water purifying system allows us to use glass bottles for refill

There is no need for a grand campaign; they can start with small actions, but consistency is key. Continue to practice, continue to remember the things they could do, and continue to share with others.  90% of Avana staff are locals, coming from the surrounding villages, so they will continue to spread that lifestyle to their families, neighbors, and villages because that's how they do it: share and spread good things to the village.

From a single action, they can change to being a habit, and it will become a lifestyle - a plastic-free lifestyle.

Restore the forest, relive the land

Back in the day, the land where Avana lies was just a vacant, empty hill with little care, little notice, and barely any footsteps reaching. And yet, the potential it conceals is hard to overlook. The moment we decided that Avana will bloom here, we just know that it was up to us to relive the hill back to life. 

From a desolate hill, it is now a verdant land thriving in the life of lush evergreens. There were hardships, and there were disappointments, but these challenges only push us further to have the achievements today: 

More than 10,000 trees have set their roots here, with 10++ hectares were restored

Trees are not the fastest growers, so it's not every day that you see the changes, but it is definitely worthwhile to witness the impact in the long run. Coating on Mai Chau a green look is not simply planting a seed and letting it grow, it is a long-lasting effect that nurtures the land inside out. It’s the fresh air we breathe in, it’s the woods that kept the rains from flooding in, and it’s the abundant resource that invites the animals here, to create a new life in this beautiful land and make it their home.   

Every year after the Tet festival, Avana’s staff will gather at the retreat, planting new trees to keep the traditions going. But we are not doing this alone, with the help of local government, we are all in this together, and join hands to build a better, greener future. 

Avana’s journey still has a long way to go, but we believe that, once you set your heart and mind to something, good causes will happen and come back to you. As a saying goes: “To plant trees is to give body and life to one’s dream of a better world”

Visiting Mai Chau, apart from the pristine forests and natural cascades, you will be impressed by the poetic terraced fields, cultivated by the indigenous people here - the Hmong ethnic group.

With agriculture experience accumulated from thousands of generations, the Hmong people are unique field engineers. They are like the artisans of farming, they sculpt majestic terraced fields into nature, they master the crops, and they are out in the fields regardless of sun and rain. For them, it is not only a job but also a long-standing tradition, a cultural charm that has continued from time to time. 

You can catch that idyllic farming scene right inside Avana Retreat. Giving land to them to cultivate, cultivate and let them enjoy the fruits of the harvest, which are just simple and rustic joys that Avana wishes to cherish.

Terraced rice fields during the ripe season are a sight not to be missed. Admire the golden hue that dyed the whole land, sense the earthy, ripen scent that lingers in the air, and watch locals joyfully harvesting their fruits with stilt houses scattered between the fields, the experience just arouses a sense of tranquility that is beyond words.

There is a Vietnamese idiom: “Where there is a good land, the birds will come and settle”, and rightly so, fertile lands are where life thrives. At Avana, life here is always abundant and fresh all year round, and it is thanks to the animals residing here, all contribute to a rich and diverse ecosystem.

There are hard-working chickens laying eggs at the chicken farm.

There are ducks sunbathing under the trees, and rambling by the lake without a worry in the world.

There are schools of Koi fish swimming under the translucent stream.

There are vibrant butterflies and bees that collect nectar every day.

There are shy snails hiding in the wet, fertile ground.

After every winter, we often see flocks of birds migrating to the land, choosing the trees that Avana planted to nest, making it their home for many more springs.

With many animals living in harmony here, we are proud to be their forever home. Therefore, it is also our responsibility to protect their land with all of our might:

The primeval forest, where there are abundant streams and waterfalls all year round, the birthplace of many herbs and flowers, is preserved as it is.

We do not construct to destroy nature, we construct to respect it, as the curves of nature are beautiful. Wooden bridges leading to the spa are designed in winding shapes to avoid cutting trees.

The light is also at low power so as not to affect the life of plants and creatures

Avana is blessed with nature's best gifts, and that we never cease to cherish. Preserving the land’s ecosystem is also securing a sustainable, ever-lasting future.