Mai Chau – Pu Luong – Ninh Binh tour 4 Days / 3 Nights

7:00 – Pick up the guests from hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter to board the bus and start the trip to Mai Chau. You will have a stop in Thung Khe Pass for a spectacular view of Mai Chau Valley. During the stop, you can see the local stands selling typical products. Take a chance to try one of the local specialties, the “Com Lam”, sticky rice cooked in bamboo. 

Arrival in Mai Chau which is considered the capital of the Thai people. Check in and have lunch in the traditional house on stilts with specialties of the Northwest mountains.  Take a small rest to relax by the pool or a quick walk in the narrow alleys to admire the local life.

Start the cycling tour to discover the beautiful Mai Chau valley. You will pass through fields and villages and get the opportunity to discover more about the unique cultural activities of the White Thai ethnic group. Take a break to visit brocade production facilities made by locals.  You are welcome to visit the shops and to buy souvenirs from this unique place. 

Your next destination is Chieu Cave aslo known as the Thousand Steps Cave. From the foot of the moutain, you will climb to reach the moutain’s peak from where you can enjoy the fantastic view of Mai Chau valley.

Back to homestay & have some teabreak. 

Hotel: Mai Chau Rustic Home ( or similar)

7:30 – Early breakfast to be ready for the amazing day coming. Board the car to reach the beautiful Pu Luong Reserve and stop at Pu Luong Eco Garden to drop your bags before starting the exciting day. You will board the van to reach the starting point of the trek. On Thursday and Sunday, you will have a stop at the local Pho Doan market. 

You will then be dropped at the starting point. The trek will pass through a small dirt path, passing by an isolated hamlet and through the jungle. You will arrive at the higher part of Hieu village contemplating some stunning views.  While going down to reach the waterfall, you will see some local houses. Free time to enjoy the waterfall (swimming and water hiking depending on season). Time to join the local house for a Garden to Table Lunch at the homestay of ethnic minority people. 

In the afernoon, board the car to reach the starting point of the afternoon trekking. You will first pass a hanging bridge over the Cham river. You will pass through Ba village and see old traditional houses. 

After that, you will admire the ingenious agriculture system of the Thai ethnic minority, the bamboo waterwheels. Specific to the Thai people, the water wheels in Pu Luong are amongst the most impressive in Vietnam. The day will end by a relaxing and tranquil bamboo boat ride. Adapted for tourism, the boat is kept in use by locals to navigate and visit other houses or to go to the fields. Back to the Retreat to relax in your room or enjoy swimming at the infinity pool. 

Hotel: Pu Luong Eco Garden ( or similar)

Breakfast at the Retreat. Then start the trek to Kho Muong Village & Bat Cave. The trekking will start by a small alley nearby traditional Thai stilt houses until reaching beautiful viewpoints of the infinity rice terraces. Arriving from the top of the hill, you will slowly see the village of Kho Muong and understand how special this place is. After walking around the village, you will walk to the entrance of the cave. Possibility to visit the cave (depending on weather conditions). 

Check out and lunch at Pu Luong. Say goodbye to the fabulous Pu Luong Nature Reserve and start the journey to reach Halong Bay on land, Ninh Binh. Arrival at the lodge and free time to relax around the pool or on the terrace to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. 

Hotel: Trang An Ecolodge ( or similar)

Cycling to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Back to the X century, the ancient Vietnamese capital was the place of the emperors of the dynasty of Dinh, Tien Le and Ly. Travel out of time on this spectacular site. 

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital is not only a valuable relic site but also a remarkable tourist attraction, offering tourists the chance to appreciate both stunning historical scenery and unique architectural values of a bygone era.

It will be time for a relaxing tour in the UNESCO site of Trang An. You will enjoy a boat tour in the wonderful landscape in between karst pics covered by jungle, passing through a cave and watching temples. It is a world apart and a unique destination in Vietnam. 

A relaxing and serene boat trip with the most amazingly beautiful views and rich in history with perfectly preserved architecture.

Transfer back to Hanoi with an estimated arrival time around 6.30pm.