If you're looking for a trekking experience in the mountainous regions of Vietnam but don't have enough time to venture further into the highlands of the Northwest or Northeast, we recommend the Mai Chau - Pu Luong tour, located not far from Hanoi. This area boasts ethnic villages nestled amidst stunning landscapes of high mountains and beautiful rice fields stretching as far as the eye can see. It's an ideal trekking route in the Vietnamese mountains for 2-3 days.
If you're looking for a trekking experience in the mountainous regions of Vietnam but don't have enough time to venture further into the highlands of the Northwest or Northeast, we recommend the Mai Chau - Pu Luong tour, located not far from Hanoi. This area boasts ethnic villages nestled amidst stunning landscapes of high mountains and beautiful rice fields stretching as far as the eye can see. It's an ideal trekking route in the Vietnamese mountains for 2-3 days.
Below are some suggestions for trekking routes through Mai Chau and Pu Luong:
1. Hanoi - Mai Chau - Mai Hich - Pu Luong (3 days)
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Mai Hich: Visit a Muong village, admire the panoramic view of Thung Khe pass, bike through the villages in Mai Hich, and explore Thai culture. Overnight at a local's place.
Day 2: Mai Hich - Eo Ken - Ban Hang - Pu Luong: Trek from Eo Ken to Ban Hang, meet the Muong people, transfer to Pu Luong, trek and take a bamboo raft to visit Chieng Lau.
Day 3: Pu Luong - Ban Chom Uoi - Lan Ngoai - Ninh Binh: Trek through rice fields to Ban Chom Uoi and Chom Lan, transfer to Ninh Binh, and visit the sacred fish stream of Cam Luong on the way.
2. Hanoi - Mai Chau - Mai Hich - Pu Luong (4 days)
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Mai Hich: Travel to Mai Chau, bike or hike to explore the Thai villages in Mai Hich. Overnight at a local's place.
Day 2: Mai Hich - Pu Luong: Trek to Eo Ken and Ban Hang, then transfer to Pu Luong, visit Chieng Lau, and take a bamboo raft.
Day 3: Explore Pu Luong: Trek to the Kho Muong - Uoi - Lan Ngoai Thai villages.
Day 4: Pu Luong - Hanoi: Trek through the Leo - Chu - Mo - Danh villages, return to Hanoi, and visit the sacred fish stream of Cam Luong.
3. Ninh Binh – Pu Luong – Mai Chau – Hanoi (3 days)
Day 1: Ninh Binh - Pu Luong - explore: Move to Pu Luong, on the way visit the sacred Cam Luong fish stream, go to Chieng Lau village and take a bamboo raft.
Day 2: Pu Luong - Ban Uoi - Lan Ngoai - Eo Ken - Ban Hang - Mai Hich: explore Pu Luong nature reserve, meet Thai people in the villages of Uoi and Lan Ngoai, Eo Ken, Ban Hang. Move to Mai Chau. Night at a local's place.
Day 3: Explore Mai Hich – Hanoi: Easy walk or cycle to explore Thai villages in Mai Hich and return to Hanoi.