Muong & Thai Encounters is a small-group shared tour designed as a short cultural escape into the peaceful countryside of Mai Chau and Pu Luong. Guided by a knowledgeable local guide, you spend three days connecting with Muong and Thai communities through gentle walks, village visits, and shared moments with local families. The journey blends light hiking, traditional crafts, and warm homestay hospitality, offering an authentic and unhurried glimpse of rural northern Vietnam - ideal for travelers seeking meaningful encounters in a limited amount of time.
8:30: Meet your tour guide and driver, then depart for Mai Chau. Along the way, stop for a short walk to visit a Muong ethnic village, offering a first glimpse of rural life in northern Vietnam. Continue to Thung Khe Pass, where you pause to enjoy sweeping panoramic views over the valley before arriving in Mai Chau town around noon. Nestled among green mountain ranges and rice terraces, Mai Chau is a peaceful valley known for its harmonious landscapes and laid-back atmosphere.
Enjoy lunch at a local homestay.
In the afternoon, explore Mai Hich village and the surrounding hamlets by bicycle (optional) or on foot, following a quiet concrete path through the countryside. The serene scenery is captivating, with villages, rice fields, mountains, and streams blending seamlessly together. Take time to interact with the warm and welcoming locals, who are often happy to invite you into their home for a cup of tea and a friendly conversation.
Walking: approximately 6 km Cycling (optional): approximately 12 km
Dinner and overnight in Mai Chau.
8:30: Start the day with a short transfer from your hotel in Mai Chau to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. En route, stop at a local bamboo workshop where skilled artisans transform bamboo into everyday items such as chopsticks, cups, and household tools - an insightful introduction to traditional craftsmanship and sustainable materials.
The journey continues to Eo Ken, around 30 kilometers from Mai Chau town. From here, begin a gentle two-hour walk along a narrow path winding through a beautiful rural landscape. Lush tropical forests gradually give way to terraced rice fields dotted with limestone outcrops, creating a striking harmony between nature and agriculture. Along the way, visit a local family in Eo Ken village and gain a glimpse into their authentic daily life.
The morning walk ends in Hang village, where the driver is waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Pu Luong.
Walking distance: approximately 5–6 km
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, set out from Ban Don, walking through expansive rice fields toward Lan village, well known for its traditional Thai textiles. As you descend further into the valley, the scenery becomes a rich mosaic of rice paddies, small villages inhabited by Thai communities, vegetable gardens, and fish ponds. Stop at a local workshop to observe how traditional Thai brocade textiles are genuinely handcrafted using age-old techniques.
Later in the afternoon, meet the driver and transfer back to your hotel.
Walking distance: approximately 5–6 km
Dinner and overnight stay in Pu Luong.
8:30: 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.
To round off the day, enjoy a bamboo raft ride on the river. This experience offers a moment of relaxation and meditation after our walk.
Walking distance: 3-4 km
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Your driver will pick you up and transfer you back to Hanoi. The journey takes around 4 to 5 hours, with optional stops along the way for a break or restroom use. Upon arrival in Hanoi, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.
Dinner and accommodation are at your own expense (not included).
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of arrival in Vietnam and contain a minimum of two blank pages.
French citizens, as well as nationals of 12 other countries (including Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain), may enter Vietnam without a visa for stays of up to 45 days. If you plan to stay longer, or if your nationality is not eligible for this exemption, please check with the nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate, or feel free to contact us for further information.
International flights are not included in the price of our tours. You are free to choose and book the flights that best suit your needs and schedule. If you wish, our travel consultants can assist you in finding the best available options.
Valid travel insurance is mandatory to participate in the tour. It must cover the following:
Before departure, please provide us with the following information:
Please check whether your credit card already provides coverage and consider purchasing additional insurance if necessary.
Spring (February to April) and autumn (September to December) are the most pleasant seasons to visit Vietnam, with mild weather and limited rainfall. However, the country stretches over more than 1,600 km, and weather conditions vary significantly. Vietnam can be visited year-round:
Please pack clothing suitable for each region according to your itinerary.
Vietnam operates on GMT+7 year-round. There is no seasonal time change.
The local currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). US dollars and euros are sometimes accepted in hotels, but this is not guaranteed.
Tip: Avoid using old, damaged, or torn banknotes, as they are often refused for payment.
If your tour includes domestic flights, the exact schedules, flight numbers, and relevant details will be provided in your travel documents.
Please arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure, bringing your passport and electronic ticket (or booking reference).
Baggage: Checked baggage allowance generally ranges between 20 kg and 23 kg, depending on the airline. Cabin baggage is usually limited to 7 kg.
Attention: Additional fees may apply if you exceed the permitted limits. We recommend checking the specific conditions of each airline (Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, etc.) before your flight.
Flight schedules are subject to change by the airline. We will keep you informed in case of any updates.
If you have a connecting domestic flight in Vietnam, please follow these steps upon arrival:
Airport staff are generally available to assist you if needed. Do not hesitate to ask for help.
Recommended connection time: minimum 2 hours 30 minutes
This allows sufficient time for possible flight delays, queues at immigration and customs, and transfers between terminals.
Practical tip: At major airports such as Hanoi (Noi Bai) or Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat), domestic and international terminals are not always located in the same building. Please allow ample time and follow the signs upon arrival.
No mandatory vaccinations are required to enter Vietnam.
However, health authorities recommend the following vaccinations, especially for long stays or travel in rural areas:
If you are undergoing regular medical treatment, please ensure you bring a sufficient supply of medication for the entire duration of your stay.
Do not forget to carry your prescription, preferably in English, to facilitate any checks or medical consultations on site.
The risk of malaria is very low in Vietnam’s main tourist areas, including Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and the tourist areas of the Mekong Delta. No malaria prophylaxis is generally recommended for these regions.
However, if you plan to travel to remote rural, forested, or mountainous areas (for example, Muong Te in Lai Chau, certain border or isolated areas of the northern highlands, or deep areas of the Mekong), you should consult a doctor or a travel medicine clinic to assess the need for preventive treatment.
Tips to protect yourself from mosquito bites
Upon your arrival in Vietnam, our driver will be waiting for you at the airport exit, holding a sign displaying: “IZITOUR – [Your name]”.
Please take a moment to carefully check the signs at the arrival exit. If you have any difficulty locating our driver, do not hesitate to contact our French-speaking assistance team, available 24/7, at the following number:
+84 382 536 266 (direct call or WhatsApp available).
Practical tip: Make sure your phone is activated for international calls or internet access upon arrival to facilitate communication if needed.
Note: At some airports, several drivers may be waiting at the exit. If you do not immediately find our representative, please remain in the meeting area and contact us — we will assist you promptly.
Our small-group tours generally bring together between 4 and 7 participants. You will travel alongside people from diverse backgrounds, with different nationalities, cultures, and ages. This is a great opportunity to share experiences, exchange perspectives, and build meaningful connections throughout the journey.
To ensure that all planned activities run smoothly, punctuality is essential. Please respect the schedules communicated by your local guide to guarantee an enjoyable and seamless experience for the entire group.
For group tours, room allocation is based on the gender indicated on your passport. By default, you will share a twin room with a traveler of the same gender.
You will be accommodated in a single room in the following cases:
In both cases, a single supplement applies. Please contact your travel consultant to check availability and the exact supplement amount.
Note: This supplement does not apply to train cabins, which include four berths per compartment.
