Northern Vietnam is the home to many ethnic hill tribes and especially in Mai Chau Valley, a couple hours west of Hanoi perfect for trekking with a great balance of cultural and physical activities. In this moderate / challenging grade eco trekking trip, with the stunning natural landscape of Vietnam’s northwest, you will have an opportunity to trek through a variety of natural surroundings from rice fields, vegetables farms, fruit orchards, up and down hills on undulating routes, with a trek to explore the natural heritage, the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. You will also have chance to enjoy the discovery of rural daily life among the local communities. The highlight is O/N stays in the Ecotourism home stay style in the villages, hosted by friendly locals when you can learn their culture and do some cultural exchanges.

Destinations: Hanoi – Pu Luong Nature Reserve – Ban Ton – Ban Muoi – Ban Hin – Ban Kho Muong – Hang – Ban Buoc – Hang Kia – Mai Chau - Hanoi

Tour Highlights

Itinerary in details

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)

We arrive at Hanoi Noi Bai Airport where we are met by our guides and taken by private coach to the city.

There will be a trip briefing and if we have time, we will have a guided walk through the Old Quarter before dinner.

O/N in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Tan Lac – Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Ban Ton Village Valley/Mountain Trek (5 Hours Trekking) (B/L/D) 

Depart Hanoi early morning and transfer 3 hours to the trail head in Hoa Binh Province. This scenic drive takes around three hours. Along the way we pass fields of tapioca and sugar cane as well as rice paddies.

At Tan Duc town, we branch off on the scenic gravel road Ngo Luong, get off the bus and begin a warm up an hour trek to lunch stop in Ton village. 

After lunch, we trek through local villages and evergreen rice paddies. The route we will take weaves its way up and down hills and valleys.

Dinner and O/N in Ecotourism Homestay, Ton Village

Day 3: Ton Village – Ban Muoi –Ban Nua- Ban Hin (5-8 Hours Trekking) (B/L/D)

The first few hours are spent hiking in beautiful undisturbed forest before plunging very steeply down hill into the heart of the reserve, a wide lush valley cultivated by minority Thai peoples. The steep downhill may be challenging if it has rained recently. 

Along the valley bottom rice fields and vegetable farms are punctuated by idyllic looking villages. Reaching level ground, hike along a jeep trail and on village paths to Hin and Nua village for O/N. For those wishing to hike further continue uphill into the limestone hills to Ban Cao Hoong. This is a there and back hike but very beautiful. 

Enjoy an evening of traditional music presented by the local villagers themselves.

O/N in Ecotourism Homestay, Hin or Nua Village

Day 4: Ban Hin – Ban Kho Muong (6 Hours Trekking) (B/L/D)

This day must be a Thursday in order to enjoy the weekly market at Pho Doan. Start hiking early along with many villagers to Pho Doan market. Enjoy the market atmosphere especially on Thursday before hiking for 3 hours uphill along a footpath to a hidden village Kho Muong. 

This is perhaps the most remote of the village homestays. Trek to a recently discovered and now protected cave, home to rare bats. It’s a fantastic tour around the cavernous hollow interior, untouched as yet by fairy light and concrete trails. (Bring a torch)

O/N in Ecotourism Homestay, Kho Muong

Day 5: Kho Muong – Hang Village (5 Hours Trekking) (B/L/D)

Today’s hike is 50% on village paths and another 50% on an old disused unpaved French road. There are some good descents and several more stream crossings. The trekking is remote yet one is never far from a villager tending fields. 

Relax from the heat of the day in a local home while lunch is cooked before continuing on picturesque path to a village nestled between steep karst mountains. The setting of the village is perhaps the most beautiful in Vietnam. 

It is recommended to stroll round the village and join in as villagers go about their daily lives, or relax in one of the three eco homestays.

O/N in Ecotourism Homestay – a stilt house in Hang Village

Day 6: Pu Luong Nature Reserve – Van Mai – Ban Buoc (5-6 Hours Trekking) (B/L/D)

After a leisurely breakfast, hike through the narrow valley for 2 hours to the junction where our bus will be waiting to transfer the group to Van Mai village.

Take a short hike to the village before we stop for a good lunch. After lunch, keep trekking on the dirt road passing the local villages of Thais people and evergreen rice paddies.

The trek ends today at friendly homestay of Thai people in Buoc village. Be sure to bring plastic sandals as there are two more streams to cross before leaving the reserve.

Day 7: Buoc Village- Sam Khoe- Hang Kia (6-8 Hours Trekking) (B/L/D)

Today, the scenery contrasts to the previous day. We begin trekking a gentle descent on a wide track, which turns into a narrow path, which winds through hamlets, cultivated fields.

The trekking is challenging involving several stream crossings steep descents and balancing between rice paddies. Ascending the mountain to Hang Kia village, watching the spectacular karst rock mountains in the distance over beautiful Mai Chau valley.

Our destination for this evening is Hang Kia village, home of the Hmong Minority people. Here we stay O/N as the guests of an Hmong family in a traditional long house, situated in a picturesque valley of peach orchards

Note: Accommodation in Hangkia Village is the simplest of the whole itinerary.

Day 8: Hang Kia- Xa Linh – Mai Chau- Hanoi (4 Hours Trekking) ((B/L)

After breakfast, we descend on the steep mountainsides. The vegetation is dense and the trail down is steep. The path eventually leads to an open valley, known locally as “Elephant Valley”, where there is a flat trail.

From here, we continue trekking on the flat dirt roads passing local fruits orchard, school and villages. We end up the trekking today at Xa Linh village. Shuttle a short distance to Mai Chau on the undulating road with spectacular scenery.

Arrive at Mai Chau around lunchtime. This is your free time to hang around the charming Thai village. Mai Chau is very popular for its handmade weaving scarves. Return to Hanoi afterward.

O/N in Hanoi.

Day 9: Sightseeing of Hanoi (B)

Take a morning sightseeing to explore the most peaceful city in Asia. Visit the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and then drive on to the Museum of Ethnology. The Museum of Ethnology is one of Vietnam’s best with interactive displays and a wide collection of well preserved objects and documents. It is also a great place to learn about Vietnam’s 52 ethnic minority peoples.

From the Museum of Ethnology, drive back to the centre of town.

Visit Hoa Lo Prison, the Lake of the Restored Sword. Spend you’re the afternoon at your leisure.

O/N in Hanoi

Day 10: Hanoi at Leisure ((B/L)

The day is at leisure to shop and visit the top sights of Hanoi.

Before dinner, regroup to visit the water puppet theatre.

O/N in Hanoi

Day 11: Depart Hanoi (B)

Spend your time at leisure until transfer to airport for onward flights.

Logistics

Ethics

This is a culturally sensitive tour to a remote area unused to foreign cultures. We would have to inform our clients in advance about local culture of the Thai people, expected behaviour and conduct when trekking through this region. This is not normally a traditional trekking region. It is an ecotourist initiative set up by flora and fauna International, and we must be careful not to damage the sensibilities of the local people or cultures as we visit each homestay.

The facilities are basic, but there is one toilet and one shower in each village, that has been built for guests. Local villagers previously had none and the facilities are reserved for foreign guests.

Note:

Note: We can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.

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