Hanoi – Mai Chau – Pu Luong – Ninh Binh 5 Days 4 Nights

Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi and depart for Mai Chau via Hoa Binh town (150 km) through picturesque scenery with stunning views of the mountain ranges along the way. Upon arrival, We will have lunch with a local family then check in your hotel. In the afternoon, have a relaxing 2-hour biking tour through the beautiful valley of Mai Chau. You will meet the local hill tribe people pursuing their daily routines such as rice planting, herding buffaloes, or building houses. Have dinner by yourselves. Traditional dance performance by the local Thai from the village. Accommodation at Mai Chau Ecolodge Meals included: Lunch

Enjoy breakfast and the morning at a leisure pace, then check out and transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve via a breath-taking mountain pass connecting Mai Chau with the Pu Luong Nature Reserve in the western district of Thanh Hoa Province. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch with fresh local food followed by free time to explore the facilities and tranquil setting of the Pu Luong Retreat. In the afternoon, you will start to venture out into nature with a walk along the Cham River in search of the stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to the handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes. Continue walking to a local fisherman’s house, have a short rest to gear up for a rafting adventure. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer the bamboo raft. Arriving at the scenic Tan Lap bridge, you will disembark for transfer back to Pu Luong Retreat. Accommodation at Pu Luong Retreat Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you will have an enthralling trek to the valley at the mountain base. Photo opportunity abounds, so do not forget to bring along our camera. Start early by descending into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you will walk around the tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Continue trekking to the base of the valley, you will weave between the changing and contrasting sceneries with farmland, villages, wild fields, ponds, rivers, mountains and open land. Picnic lunch will be served at a beautiful spot on the route. After lunch, you will have free time to explore the refreshing water of the nearby river before moving on to the pick-up point for a transfer back by car. Accommodation at Pu Luong Retreat Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you will journey further south toward Ninh Binh Province which is a famous tourist destination. The limestone karsts formations jutting out from the flooded rice fields have earned the area the nickname "Dry Halong Bay" Many of the limestone mountains contain water grottoes that provide access to hidden valleys by paddled sampans. After lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant, you will take a relaxing sampan boat ride down a small canal to visit Thien Ha caves, enjoying the natural scenery along the way. This is a newly-exploited eco-tourism attraction and said to be the most beautiful cave in Ninh Binh by tourists, offering endless photo opportunities. The boat trip will continue after the cave and end at Thung Nham, near Tam Coc Garden resort. Check in your resort and free on your own. Accommodation at Tam Coc Garden resort Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

After your breakfast at the resort, check out then we will visit to Mua Cave. Nestled amidst the picturesque landscape of Ninh Binh province in Vietnam lies the captivating Mua Cave, a natural wonder that enthralls visitors with its enchanting beauty and historical significance. Carved into the limestone mountains, Mua Cave, also known as Hang Mua, offers an immersive journey through stunning geological formations, lush vegetation, and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Its name, "Mua," meaning dance, is derived from the legend that a regional king once hosted dance performances here, hence the name Dance Cave. Ascending the 500 steps to the peak rewards adventurers with breathtaking vistas of the sprawling rice fields, meandering rivers, and towering limestone karsts that define the region's iconic landscape. At sunrise or sunset, the spectacle becomes even more magical as the golden hues cast a mesmerizing glow over the countryside, creating a scene reminiscent of a masterpiece painting. Beyond its natural splendor, Mua Cave holds historical significance, with traces of ancient temples and relics dating back to the Dinh and Le dynasties (10th and 11th centuries) dotting its landscape. These remnants serve as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and spiritual legacy of the region, offering visitors a glimpse into Vietnam's storied past. Continue your trip to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital to visit King Dinh and King Le temples in Hoa Lu which was the capital of Vietnam, then called Dai Co Viet, in the 10th and 11th centuries. The limestone mountains surrounding Hoa Lu were used as a natural fortress to defend the capital. In 1010 King Ly Cong Uan, the founder of the Ly Dynasty, transferred the capital to Thang Long (today's Hanoi) and since then Hoa Lu has been known as the "ancient capital". The temples dedicated to Kinh Dinh and Kinh Le were erected on the grounds of the former main palaces of the royal citadel. Have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch transfer you back to Hanoi. End of the tour.