Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi to begin the journey to Da Bac, a hidden gem located about 100 km southwest of Hanoi in the mountains of Hoa Binh province. Renowned for its stunning natural beauty and traditional hill tribe villages, Da Bac offers an unforgettable off-the-beaten-path experience.

After approximately 4 hours, we’ll arrive at Sung Village, home to the Dzao Tien ethnic group. This quaint village, with around 78 households and 400 residents, thrives on farming and forest plantations. You’ll have the chance to visit a local Dao family and meet an artisan skilled in beeswax printing and indigo dyeing. Watch as they create intricate patterns and learn about this centuries-old craft.

We’ll enjoy a traditional Dzao-style lunch at a local home before heading out on a 3 km walk to explore the village. Along the way, you’ll visit key attractions such as Sung Cave and an ancient forest. Your local guide will share fascinating stories and introduce you to the medicinal products of various plants. We’ll also stop at the community house, where locals work to preserve the Dao language by teaching it to the younger generation.

Afterward, we’ll take a short transfer to Da Bia Village, home to the Muong ethnic group. Here, we’ll take a quick stroll through the village before continuing to the boat pier. From there, we’ll embark on a relaxing cruise along the Da River, often referred to as the "Halong Bay of the mountains" for its breathtaking scenery of towering limestone peaks rising from the water.

Our cruise concludes at Maida Lodge, a peaceful retreat on the banks of the Da River. With its blend of rustic charm and modern comfort, the lodge provides the perfect setting to unwind. After checking in, enjoy dinner and relax as you settle in for your first night at Maida Lodge.

Start your day with a leisurely morning at Maida Lodge. You can choose to relax by the infinity pool, go kayaking on the tranquil Da River, or take a scenic walk to explore Mo Hem Village, home to the Muong ethnic group.

Around noon, we’ll check out and enjoy a delicious lunch at the lodge's restaurant before boarding a boat for a short transfer to Suoi Lon pier. There, our driver will meet us and take us to Mai Chau.

Upon arriving in Mai Chau, we’ll set out on a short bike ride (or walk) through the lush rice fields of the valley, passing charming Thai villages along the way. This is a unique opportunity to visit a Thai family and gain insights into their daily life and rural traditions, offering an authentic cultural experience.

In the evening, enjoy dinner and settle in for the night in Mai Chau.  

Start your day with a short transfer from your hotel in Mai Chau to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Along the way, we'll stop at a bamboo factory, where skilled artisans craft chopsticks, cups, and a variety of other bamboo products—offering a glimpse into the ingenuity of local craftsmanship.

Our journey continues to Eo Ken, about 30 kilometers from Mai Chau town. From here, we'll set off on a two-hour walk down a charming small path. Along the way, you'll be treated to spectacular scenery, where lush tropical forests seamlessly blend with terraced rice fields and scattered limestone rocks. You'll also have the opportunity to visit a local family in Eo Ken village and experience their authentic, day-to-day life.

The walk concludes in Hang village, where our driver will be waiting to take us to our hotel in Pu Luong.

Our afternoon walk begins from Ban Don, leading us into a breathtaking valley adorned with spectacular rice fields. We’ll follow narrow paths that wind through lush greenery, taking us to charming local villages such as Ngon and Leo.  

As we descend deeper into the valley, we’ll be immersed in a vibrant mosaic of landscapes: rice fields, rustic villages home to the Thai people, vegetable gardens, and fish ponds. Each turn reveals a new facet of this captivating region. Along the way, we’ll pause to meet friendly locals, hear their stories, and gain insights into their daily lives. It’s an unforgettable opportunity to connect with the heart of this beautiful land.

Head to Chieng Lau, a picturesque area renowned for its lush rice fields and bamboo water wheels. Here, embark on a scenic walk, allowing you to engage with local residents and catch a glimpse of the bamboo water wheels used for irrigation.

Pick up by driver then transfer back to Hanoi. On the way, visit the sacred fish stream in Cam Luong. This place is well known for a special kind of fish that populate the stream. It's called a sacred fish for the many mysterious stories created around this special creature. Continue travelling to Hanoi, check in your hotel in the late afternoon.