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🌿 Stunning Landscapes in Ninh Binh, Van Long & Mai Chau – 4 Days

Q: Day 3: Ninh Binh – Mai Chau Valley (B/L/D)

Scenic transfer (approx. 4.5 hours) After breakfast, set off for Mai Châu, a fertile valley fringed by forested hills and speckled with White Thai stilt houses. En route you’ll pass sweeping rural vistas — a good chance for roadside photos. Arrival & lunch at a local restaurant, then a 2-hour cycling loop through villages and rice paddies. The ride is gentle and photographer-friendly: stilt houses, weaving stalls, buffalo in the fields, and friendly villagers who often welcome short conversations. Your guide will arrange respectful meet-and-greet opportunities to learn about weaving, daily chores and local customs. Overnight in Mai Châu.

4 Day(s)

Departure: Hanoi

Transportation:

Cities: Ha Noi - Ninh Binh - Mai Chau

Description

Discover a quieter, more intimate side of Northern Vietnam: ancient history at Hoa Lư, peaceful wetlands framed by limestone karsts at Van Long, and the emerald valleys and friendly stilt-house villages of Mai Châu. This 4-day journey blends iconic scenery, hands-on cultural experiences, and easy cycling for photographers and slow-travelers who want both beauty and authenticity.

Why visit these places?

Van Long is Northern Vietnam’s largest wetland nature reserve — a tranquil, less-crowded alternative to the busy Tam Cốc/Tràng An area. Its calm waterways, reed beds and dramatic karst islands create postcard scenes and act as a refuge for diverse birdlife and rare mammals. It’s especially valued for conservation of species such as the endangered Delacour’s langur.
Hoa Lư was Vietnam’s first centralized capital (968–1010 AD). The ancient Dinh and Lê temples and the surrounding karst paddy fields give a powerful sense of historical scale and continuity — ideal for visitors who like culture with scenery.
Mai Châu offers mellow valley landscapes, traditional White Thai stilt houses, colorful brocades and friendly village life. It’s an excellent spot for easy cycling, short treks and cultural exchanges with local communities.

Best times vary by aim: October–April for cool, comfortable touring; May–September for lush green rice fields.

Highlights

Scenic contrasts: ancient temples at Hoa Lư, reflective wetlands in Van Long, and green valley life in Mai Châu.
Wildlife & conservation: Van Long supports many bird species and is an important habitat for endangered species such as Delacour’s langur — a strong conservation message you can use to promote responsible tourism.
Authentic village experiences: short farm visits, weaving demonstrations and plenty of bicycle time to keep the trip slow and intimate.

Journey

Upon arrival in Hanoi, your private driver will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in the city centre. Spend the afternoon and evening at leisure: recover from travel, stroll Hoan Kiem Lake or take an optional short Old Quarter cyclo to stretch your legs.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Practical note: We keep this day flexible to accommodate flight times — add a guided Hanoi walking tour or an evening show with a surcharge.

Morning: transfer to Hoa Lư (approx. 2-hr drive from Hanoi)
We’ll leave early and drive to Ninh Bình, often called “Halong Bay on Land” and start with Hoa Lư, the former capital with Dinh and Lê temples set among paddy fields and low limestone peaks. The compact temple complex provides historical context for Vietnam’s early dynastic period and great photo opportunities around the temple courtyards and river gateway.

Midday: Countryside cycling & farm visit (4 km)
After the temples, enjoy a gentle 4-km bike ride on quiet country lanes. This short cycle is designed for slow sightseeing: rice paddies, water buffalo, and village life. We’ll pause at a local farm where you can try simple agricultural tasks (collecting eggs, gardening, or helping prepare local dishes) — a warm, hands-on cultural moment perfect for storytelling photos.

Afternoon: Van Long Nature Reserve
Transfer to Van Long – the largest wetland in Northern Vietnam and a haven for migratory birds. Board a small rowboat to glide through wetlands ringed by limestone karsts and reed beds. The landscape here is more tranquil than the busier Tam Cốc area; in the dry season the reserve is also an important stopover for migratory birds. Van Long is also significant for biodiversity and conservation efforts. Quiet paddling (often with a local oarsman) is the recommended way to experience its reflections, grottos and birdlife, and also a photographer’s paradise.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Scenic transfer (approx. 4.5 hours)
After breakfast, set off for Mai Châu, a fertile valley fringed by forested hills and speckled with White Thai stilt houses. En route you’ll pass sweeping rural vistas — a good chance for roadside photos.

Arrival & lunch at a local restaurant, then a 2-hour cycling loop through villages and rice paddies. The ride is gentle and photographer-friendly: stilt houses, weaving stalls, buffalo in the fields, and friendly villagers who often welcome short conversations. Your guide will arrange respectful meet-and-greet opportunities to learn about weaving, daily chores and local customs.

Overnight in Mai Châu.

Wake up to the serene sounds of the countryside. Spend your morning relaxing amidst nature or take an optional cycling trip to Sam Khoe village, home to the Thai ethnic community. Greet villagers and capture the authentic charm of daily life, exploring another layer of valley life.

Afterward, return to Hanoi for your onward flight or extended stay.

Included

Meals as mentioned in the program. B-Breakfast, Br-Brunch, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
All entrance fees and sightseeing as mentioned in the program
Private transportation (16-seaters van) with A/C as per program
Boat trip(s) for sightseeing as per the itinerary
Local English/ Italian/ French speaking guides in Vietnam
Bottles of mineral water on tour day (2 bottles/person/full day)

Excluded

Accommodation based on double/twin/triple sharing room
Visa Service to Vietnam
Meals not mentioned in the program
Any flights (Domestic and International) and airport tax
Single Supplement. Early check-in and late check-out. Hotel/Room upgrade
Tips (hotels’ staff, restaurants’ staff, boatmen…), drinks and personal expenses
Any services not clearly mentioned in the program
Bank transfer fees for payment to Focus x Travel
Compulsory tipping for guide and driver in cash

Hotel List

Hanoi

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