Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi Jeep Tours to Mai Chau in Hoa Binh for Homestay: Hanoi Jeep Tours to Hoa Binh – Mai Chau homestay (L/D)
Start in the morning from Hanoi, the Jeep will drive you to the west of Hanoi. Take National road No. 6 through Thanh Xuan District, Chuc Son before meet up Xuan Mai Town, from this point of the drive, you will start seeing rice fields with karsts mountains dotted along the road.
Passing by a picturesque golf course built between mountains you will stop for refreshing at a roadside café.
Get back to your Jeep to conquer the Kem Slope, not too far after that, you will reach to Hoa Binh City- the capital city of Hoa Binh Province which is well known for Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant. If take a careful look, you even could see a giant statue of Ho Chi Minh placed on the mountain. End of the city, you will conquer the second slope named Cun, it used to be the most challenging slope in the past. Tan Phong is the next town you will pass by which is easily to be recognized with sugarcane and orange farms. From here, you begin to see some houses, villages of Muong Minority Group. Stop for taking photos and stretch your legs.
Continue your drive until reach to the foot of The White Rock Slope, you will turn right to small road. It is a hidden road through villages. A bit bumpy for the first 30 minutes, which is perfectly done by vehicle like Jeep, then wow, you get to Hoa Binh Reservoir. It seems like you see another Ha Long Bay on mountain. Stop for photos, enjoy fresh air and the grand view of the lake. Keep driving along the reservoir bank, you will get to a Muong’s home. The host was a former local authority officer; retired now but full of energy and warm hearted. His house is nice, isolated and located just by the reservoir, you can swim if the weather permits.
Have lunch at his house and have chats with him over cups of tea. Enjoy your time until depart for Mai Chau. Continue a short drive on the bank until you meet up the main road again. About 30 minutes later, you will arrive in Mai Chau Town. Check in your homestay in Poom Coong Village – a nice village located in Mai Chau Valley. Walk around the village by yourself or just free at leisure.
In the evening, dinner will be served with local dishes.
Note: As traditional custom of Thai People, the host will come to you with cup of rice wine which you can never say no. The local people drink for health, luck, happiness and friendship so even if you are not alcoholic, just hold the cup and say 1 2 3 Dzoooo……. loudly.
Overnight at homestay.
Blanket, pillow and mattress are provided but can bring your own sleeping bag for your own comfort. The homestay has hot shower and western toilet for guests.
Day 2: Hanoi Jeep Tours to Mai Chau in Hoa Binh for Homestay: Mai Chau Jeep Tours to Hanoi
Waken up by natural alarm- roosters. Have cup of tea or coffee, sit back and watch the
villagers beginning a new day. Some take their kids to school, some go to the farm. Everybody has works to do. Enjoy the breakfast and then start a morning walk around the villages to learn more about rural life, take more photos of this peaceful area and friendly people.
Back to homestay, pack your stuffs, farewell to the host and set off for Hanoi. Just few kilometers from Mai Chau, you will conquer the slope of the day: The White Rock Slope, it is long and the most challenging of the trip. You will have stop with nice view of village and landscape.
Drive downhill and on the way, you stop at private Muong Culture Space Museum. The owner is an artist who is crazy lover of the Muong culture, he has collected thousand objects of the Muong culture to display in this museum (Muong is largest ethnic population in Hoa Binh Province, one of the largest minority groups in Vietnam with population of 1.3 millions). The museum staff will walk you around this museum to show the objects, photos, model houses it helps you learn more about this minority group.
Lunch with authentic foods of the Muong as banana root soup, papaya flower, pork wrapped by pomelo leaf at Muong’s house on stilts. Inside the house, a set of Gongs and a collection of authentic hunting guns are displayed.
Unwind yourself a bit after the meal and then drive back to Hanoi. Trip ends at your hotel.
* Price Includes:
+ Jeep with driver (one Jeep can carry 2 adults plus guide, or 2 adults and 1 child plus guide)
+ English speaking local guide
+ Meals as indicated in program (local foods, B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner)
+ 1 night homestay
+ 01 bottles of water and 3 cans of beers or soft drinks per person per day
+ Entrance fees
* Not Included
+ Meals not listed in the itinerary
+ Drinks, other than water on activity days
+ Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, tips, etc)
+ Travel insurance
+ High season surcharge if any
+ All other services not listed in “Prices Include”
If you need further details on our updated quotes for such a tour, kindly email us at sales@vietnammotorbiketour.co.uk or dnqtravel@gmail.com directly