North-Vietnam Tour | Da Bac, Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Ninh Binh – 06 Days

Go to Da Bac, see Sung village and the cave there, and discover the customs and culture of the Dao people.

Our driver and tour guide will take you up from your Hanoi hotel at 8:30 AM. We're going to Da Bac, a hidden treasure located around 100 kilometers southwest of Hanoi. Da Bac, tucked away in the Hoa Binh province's mountains, is well-known for its ethereal natural settings and isolated hill tribal settlements. Da Bac is the ideal location if you want a genuine off-the-beaten-path experience.

Arriving in Sung Village, the home of the Dzao Tien minority, will take us four hours of breathtaking driving through the northwest Vietnamese countryside. The 400 people that live in the village, which has around 78 houses, mostly make their living from farming and forest plantations.

To explore the village, we will walk for three kilometers. You will see a number of interesting locations on your trip, including the woodland and the Sung Cave. Your local guide will tell stories and offer identification tips for many plant kinds, some of which have therapeutic value.

We'll also stop at the community home, where the residents teach the next generation the Dao language, protecting this important cultural element. When you go back to the hamlet, stop by a family workshop to discover how to dye indigo and learn how to print textures with beeswax.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: L, D
Private transportation
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Da Bac Homestay (Sharing homestay)
Da Bac, Hoa Binh, Hoa Binh , Vietnam

Hiking the Da Bia trail from Sung, paddling the Da Reservoir, and discovering Muong culture.

We are going to hike 8 miles to get to Da Bia from Sung. For the first 4 kilometers, we'll walk on a tiny concrete road before veering right into a narrow route that winds through the forest. The route drops from 530 meters to 400 meters in approximately an hour, then climbs a little to 500 meters before continuing to descend to 120 meters at the local boat port, from where we will board a boat to Da Bia.

Note: The last four kilometers are on land, and heavy rain might make them rather slick. As a result, the track may be modified or a different course of action suggested.

Set off on a kayaking expedition to discover Da Bia Lake, a segment of the Da Reservoir, and acquire an insight into the livelihoods of the nearby fisherman.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
Kayak: Da Bia
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Da Bac Homestay (Sharing homestay)
Da Bac, Hoa Binh, Hoa Binh , Vietnam

Take a boat ride on Ngoi Hoa Bay, visit Mai Chau, go for a bike or stroll, and discover Thai culture.

From your homestay, stroll slowly 3 miles to the boat port. Take a native boat for a quick ride to Suoi Lon Harbor, where you can explore Hoa Binh Lake's stunning scenery—often referred to as "Halong Bay in the mountains"—and take in the stunning scenery.

To take you to Mai Chau, our driver will be waiting for you at the Suoi Lon boat pier.

Ride a bike (optional) or take a stroll along the concrete roads and paths to discover Mai Hich. The towns, rice fields, mountains, and streams all blend harmoniously to create breathtaking scenery that will entice you. Don't pass up the chance to interact with the welcoming locals who would be happy to have you over for a cup of tea at their home. Arrive back at your lodging in the late afternoon.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Boat: Da Bia - Suoi Lon
Private transportation
Bike: Mai Chau
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Mai Hich Homestay (Sharing homestay)
Mai Hich commune, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh , Vietnam

Visit Pu Luong, take a stroll through the forest, and take in the stunning terraced fields.

After a quick ride to Thanh Son, travel to Kho Muong village, which is Pu Luong's farthest settlement. The Thai ethnic minority resides in Kho Muong, which is a beautiful valley encircled by limestone mountains and terraced rice fields. Engage with the local ethnic people and take in the breathtaking view of the terraced rice fields as you travel.

Lunch will be provided in the Kho Muong home of a local family.

Our journey continues in the afternoon as we travel along the route that the villagers take to get to the fields for work. Travel through cassava fields and forests to arrive at the quaint Thai town of Ui, where our driver will be waiting to take us to our Pu Luong lodging.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Private transportation
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Pu Luong Homestay (Sharing homestay)
Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa , Vietnam

Visit Ninh Binh and go to Chieng Lau, a charming town known for its verdant rice fields and bamboo water wheels, to see bamboo water wheels. Take a leisurely stroll here to interact with the locals and see the bamboo water wheels that are used for irrigation.

Move on to Ninh Binh. Take a pause along the journey to visit Cam Luong's holy fish stream. This place is well known for a special kind of fish that live in the stream; they are often called sacred because of the many enigmatic stories that are told about this amazing fish. Proceed to Ninh Binh and settle into your lodging after your excursion.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L, D
Boat: Chieng Lau bamboo rafting
Private transportation
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day
Nep House(Double Room)
Lang Noi, Lang Van, Gia Lap, Gia Vien, Ninh Binh , Vietnam

Ride a bike to discover Thung La temple, go on a rowing boat excursion, attend an embroidery class, and return to Hanoi.

Take a 15-kilometer bike ride along the dike to see the beautiful scenery of limestone mountains, a river, and rice fields. There are many places to stop and take beautiful pictures and chat with people. Visit the eleventh-century Thung La Temple to continue your tour. Don't pass up the opportunity to see traditional musical instruments that are essential to Vietnamese culture and spirituality.

Sail a sampan boat through the limestone mountains and down the stream to explore the splendor of Van Long natural reserve. With any luck, you may be able to spot egrets and white monkeys perched on the rocks. Visit an embroidered hamlet after the boat ride, and then enroll in an embroidery class taught by Mrs. Lam, a local craftswoman. She will gladly share the methods used in her age-old trade. You will get a great chance to practice handling cloth like a true craftsman.

Travel the Red River Delta on your way from Ninh Binh to Hanoi, taking in the breathtaking scenery along the way. Along the trip, take advantage of several photo ops amid the verdant rice fields and peaceful countryside.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Boat: Van Long
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Bike: Ninh Binh
Leisure: Thung La temple music
02 bottles of mineral water (500 ml)/pax/day