Hanoi – Mai Chau – Pu Luong – Ninh Binh – Halong Bay 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 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

Following breakfast leave Ninh Binh early at 0730 for the 4-hour drive to Halong City. Arrive at the pier around noon and proceed with check-in formalities.
After the welcome onboard and checking into the cabin, lunch will be served whilst cruising. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits or activities (depending on the boat’s set itinerary). Towards the end of the afternoon the boat will anchor for the night surrounded by karst formations.

Enjoy sunset on the deck followed by dinner, then retire for the evening.
Overnight on Cruise in Halong Bay

Wake up to the fresh morning amidst the bay and have breakfast (brunch on some boats) while leisurely immersing in the serene setting of the spectacular rock formations.
Proceed to checkout as the cruise arrives towards port. Upon disembarkation, be met by the driver for the transfer back to Hanoi.