- Itinerary in Detail
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DAY 1: HANOI – MAI CHAU (-/L/D)
08:00 Depart for Hoa Binh. Photo stops to admire the hills covered with tea plantations, rice paddies and dotted with limestone rocks. Visit a village market on the way. Continue to Mai Chau valley, through typical steps on the road to Dien Bien Phu, visiting authentic villages where you are greeted by the Thai ethnic groups living in houses on stilts. Lunch in a traditional house in the village Van. Then do an exciting bike tour to the villages of Van, Pomcong and Lat to discover the daily life of the Thai ethnic minority. Overnight in a hotel in Mai Chau.
DAY 2: MAI CHAU – PU LUONG (B/L/D)
Breakfast. Enjoy your time in the early morning in Mai Chau before transfer to next destination: Pu Luong Retreat. On arrival, you will be transfered to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes. Transfer back to Pu Luong Retreat for lunch.
In the afternoon, descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Your camera will not be able to sit still! Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat.
Optional: you can enjoy rafting or kayaking on Cham river (with supplement)
DAY 3: PU LUONG – NINH BINH (B/L/-)
Breakfast. 8:00 Leave the Retreat for Ninh Binh. On the way, stop to visit to the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, recognized as a World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO, situated at Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province. It was the capital of Vietnam from 1398 to 1407. The citadel of the Ho Dynasty is considered as the only stone citadel remaining in Southeast Asia and is one of the few remaining in the world.
Continue to Ninh Binh, passing through the beautiful landscape with immense pineapple plantations. Arrive in Ninh Binh at about 1PM. You will have lunch in local restaurant
Bike (about 2.5 km) through rural villages, limestone rocks and impressive rice towards Thung Nham. You will have the opportunity to admire a magnificent panorama view of the region that is considered the Halong Bay on land. A rowboat ride on a small river through 3 caves that give you the impression of being in a magical space. Inside the 3rd cave, there is a large stone resembling an elongated Buddha that brings luck, happiness, and prosperity to man. This place is called the cave of Buddha.
Then landing for a walk (10 minutes) in the amount up to Thien Ha cave (Celestre River) where you will continue a boat ride inside the cave over 300 meters with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Back in the boat at the pier Thung Nham, then back to Tam Coc by bicycle. Dinner on your own. Overnight in hotel in Ninh Binh.
DAY 4: NINH BINH – KY SON VILLAGE – MOON GARDEN (B/L/D)
Breakfast at hotel. The trip starts at Phat Diem Cathedral, this is one of the most beautiful and unique cathedrals in Vietnam, it became the center of Catholicism in north Vietnam. Transfer back to Ninh Binh to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon transfer to Ky Son village. Arrive at Moon Garden Homestay in Ky Son village. Welcome drink, you will be offered some kind of local tisane. Then you have free time to discover Moon garden home stay and Ky Son village by yourself.
18:00 Traditional, refreshing steam bath with fragrant herbs (Lemon grass, pomelo leaves, holy basil leaves).
19:15 Observe the evening Buddha worship.
19:30 Dinner; Then, enjoy your foot bath in warm water with ginger, salt and mugwort medicinal herbs before bedtime, which brings you a deeper sleep.
Overnight at Moon Garden Homestay
DAY 5: MOON GARDEN – HANOI (B/L/-)
07:00 Joining Yijinjing traditional exercises.
07:30 Breakfast.
08:30 You can have choice of a short ride of 6 km or a long ride of 12 km round trip:
Short ride:
Take a bicycle ride to discover the Ky Son, Tam Son, Van Minh, and Cham farming communities and stop at any home you like for a cup of tea. Visit the kindergarten (if open). Chat with local people about their daily life and farming. You can help with plowing or making rice beds, transplanting seedlings, harvesting rice (or cassava, corn, sweet potatoes…) depending on the harvest season.”
Long ride:
Take a bicycle ride with a local guide to discover the Ky Son, Tam Son, Van Minh, and Cham farming communities, Duong Lam ancient village and visit Mia Pagoda, Mong Phu Communal House… Then bike ride back along the ritual paths of Thang Thac village to discover the Ngo Quyen tomb, Phung Hung temple.
11:00 Cooking class
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Hand Spa – Enjoy having your fingers dipped in a fragrant lime bowl and the traditional herbal hand massage. Then, free time: You can make yourself at home relaxing on the hammock in our garden, taking pictures with Vietnamese traditional clothes, chatting with people or further discovery around Ky Son village until your departure time for the next destination
