Hanoi Trip Overview
Suitable time
Value for money.
Cheap.
Discover nature.
Visiting local people
Enjoy delicious food
There’s nothing more delightful than food made from ingredients grown right in the area. Pu Luong is home to an amazing array of vegetables such as baby pumpkin leaf, green beans and bamboo shoots. With so many freshly harvested options, you’re likely to find a few new favourites on the table. For a real Pu Luong lunch or dinner, try the locally raised pork and grilled mountain snails dipped in fish sauce.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam
Trip Category: Outdoor Activities >> 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours
Explore Hanoi Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Hanoi, Vietnam, Vietnam
Suitable time
Value for money.
Cheap.
Discover nature.
Visiting local people
Enjoy delicious food
There’s nothing more delightful than food made from ingredients grown right in the area. Pu Luong is home to an amazing array of vegetables such as baby pumpkin leaf, green beans and bamboo shoots. With so many freshly harvested options, you’re likely to find a few new favourites on the table. For a real Pu Luong lunch or dinner, try the locally raised pork and grilled mountain snails dipped in fish sauce.
Itinerary
Day 1: Mai Chau
Stop At: Mai Chau, Mai Chau, Hoa Binh Province
Mai Chau is a place worth going to enjoy the pristine natural beauty.
The sound of chickens clucking. Stilt houses surrounded by forest-covered mountains. Simple and fresh plates of food. These are the impressions Mai Châu will give you.
Mornings are ideal for peaceful walks through Mai Châu. With small hamlets dotting the valley, winding paths and quiet gardens, it’s easy to explore on your own. Keep an eye out for a drink stall where you can savour a cà phê phin (Vietnamese coffee) looking out onto the rice fields as butterflies drift by.
When in Mai Châu, don’t miss the chance to shop beautiful fabrics woven by the White Thai people. Local shops will even have looms out front, where you can watch the locals weaving, or give it a try yourself. For an ethical splurge.
One of the best ways to experience Mai Châu is by cycling. You can set off on your own or hire a guide to help you explore the many trails through the valley. A guide can also introduce you to a White Thai household. Take a seat in their long stilt houses, where you can sip tea, nibble on lychees and find out more about rural life.
The countryside surrounding Mai Châu is perfect for nature lovers. You might like to sign up for a morning of kayaking on the Hòa Bình Reservoir, or take a full-day trekking tour in neighbouring Pù Luông Nature Reserve
Duration: 6 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Stop At: Pu Long Nature Reserve, Pu Long Nature Reserve, Thanh Hoa Province
One glance at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve and you’ll see why the ethnic Thai people made this enchanting valley their home long ago. The slow pace in Pu Luong is a striking contrast to life in the capital just a few hours away.
From the top of Hieu village, it’s only a short hike through the rice fields before you’re presented with a series of dreamy waterfalls cascading down the hillside. Climb down and follow along to where the two streams meet and the pools become larger. This is the perfect spot to cool down with a quick dip, relax in nature, and explore different sections of the falls.
Pu Luong is dotted with quaint hamlets and villages throughout the park, each with its own unique history. Most of the communities in the reserve are Thai people, an ethnic group with two local branches, White Thai and Black Thai
Pu Luong’s mountains are covered with tropical rainforest, while the valley is a series of cultivated rice terraces. Take a walk along the valley floor or in the foothills to get up close with the area’s flora and fauna. Listen to the waterwheels and forest sounds, wave at farmers and grazing water buffalo, and snap pictures of the greenery and wildlife. Simply being in Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a breath of fresh air.
Long-established ways of living have been passed down for generations in Pu Luong. The Thai people have kept the habits of their ancestors as an important part of their culture and community. Weaving, embroidery, basket making and bamboo furniture are all key skills for the Thai people.
Trekking is the best way to soak up the natural splendour of Pu Luong. Access to maps and marked trails are limited throughout the park, so hiring a local guide will save you time and help you plot the perfect route.
Duration: 7 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Breakfast: There’s nothing more delightful than food made from ingredients grown right in the area.
Accommodation included: Mai Chau Sunrise Village
