Searching for a tranquil retreat in the untouched mountains of Vietnam? Our Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay is the perfect great escape. Trapped in the valley with endless rice paddy terraces and life-giving water, we approached the delicate textile of life threads and beauty in the original land. Whether you’re looking for a getaway from the city, a few days trek in a beautiful natural landscape, or sightseeing and soaking up the local culture, Pu Luong Tours at Impress Travel offers authentic experiences, stunning scenery, and a warm welcome in Ban Don at our homestay.
Hidden in the peaceful rural village of Ban Don, the Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay provides travelers with a unique opportunity to experience the traditional life and culture of Vietnamese people. The homestay itself is a traditional Thai wooden stilt house that is knowingly simple and carefully built, using bamboo, timber, and openness to the natural air that they breathe with. It’s a source of immense pride and joy for the hosts, who belong to the local Thai minority, in maintaining the home and ambiance of their abode, much like it is your own, inviting and honest to the core.
It’s not the luxury that makes the Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay special – it’s the connection. Guests are invited to partake in daily village life: help in the kitchen, a meal around a wood-fired stove, awakening to birds and not city noise. From giggles shared around the dinner table to peaceful tea times on the porch, each second brings me closer to genuine cultural recognition.
The Bac Thanh Homestay is the perfect introduction to all Pu Luong Tours. You will be surrounded by a green terrace, think foliage and ripe fruit. You’ll be within a short hike of Hieu Waterfall, the bustling Pho Doan Market, and forest pathways alive with birdsong and butterflies. Every path from the front door leads to a story, a vista, a pause of wonder.
Restaurants can provide pools and polished amenities, but they lack the soul. Real Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay, which travelers are looking for. It is about the immersion, the participation, not the observation, into a lifestyle. If you are on Pu Luong Tours and you’re looking for something honest, slow, and memorable, then you’ve already started here.
Bac Thanh Homestay (Source: kinhnghiemdulich)
07:00 – 11:30 | Depart from Hanoi, enjoy scenic drive to Mai Chau
Impress Travel’s car and driver will be waiting to transport you from the Old Quarter. From here we will travel southwesterly, passing tranquil rural scenes and twisting hillside roads. Along the way, you will be treated to stunning vistas of rice paddies and stilted villages set in valleys.
12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch stop in Mai Chau Valley
We stop to share a traditional lunch of local food that includes stir-fried bamboo shoots, barbecued pork, and scented sticky rice. It is a good cultural appetizer before going deeper into the mountains.
14:00 – 15:00 | Arrival and welcome at Bac Thanh Homestay
Passing through the Pu Luong Nature Reserve brings you to Ban Don (Do Duoc), where you’re warmly welcomed by your host family. You will be accommodated in a comfortable stilt house room that’s ideal to experience life the way the Thai ethnic folk live it.
15:30 – 17:30 | Afternoon walk through rice terraces and ethnic village
A light trekking trip with a local guide through the hillside rice fields carved out of the land and bamboo waterwheels is a great chance to see and photograph the rural way of life and to experience a genuine cultural interaction with villagers in their homes and workplaces.
18:30 – 20:00 | Dinner with local family at the homestay
A freshly cooked meal is in store—vit co lung, streamside grilled fish, and bamboo tube sticky rice. Food is shared family-style in the communal area of the homestay with lots of laughter and storytelling.
20:00 onwards | Optional cultural exchange (upon request)
For those interested in groups, we can organize a traditional Thai dance and music class, or just relax with warm tea and rice wine around the fire—a lovely conclusion to your first day during the Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay.
Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Source: evivatour)
06:30 – 07:30 | Wake up early for mountain sunrise and tea
Begin your day with fresh air and tranquil views from the patio. Sunrise over the Pu Luong hillside is calming and unforgettable. Relax over herbal tea or coffee in the crisp mountain air.
08:00 – 09:30 | Visit Pho Doan Market (if available)
On market days (Sunday or Thursday), we attend the bustling Pho Doan Market, where Thai and Muong people barter local products, ranging from honey and spices to homemade textiles. This is a unique experience of hilltop commerce and tradition.
10:00 – 11:00 | Return and check out of Bac Thanh Homestay
Once you’ve been to the market in the morning, it is time to pack up. Bid farewell to your hosts and look back upon the warm hospitality of your Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay.
11:30 – 12:30 | Farewell lunch at a local eatery
Relish one final bite of Thanh Hoa’s cuisine before the return trip to Hanoi starts.
12:30 – 17:00 | Drive back to Hanoi
Relax in comfort in our car and take in the rural views on the way back to the city. Return to Hanoi is anticipated around 17:00 to complete a wonderfully rejuvenating and memorable experience of Pu Luong Tours.
Pho Doan Market (Source: puluongjunglelodge)
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
(Same as Day 1 of the 2-day tour)
Hanoi to Mai Chau to Ban Don is filled with stunning views, a tasty local lunch, and a warm reception at Bac Thanh Homestay on the first day. You’ll walk among the rice fields, dine on a traditional meal, and optionally participate in a cultural interaction with Thai host families—an incredible start to your Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay.
07:00 – 08:00 | Breakfast and trek preparation
Rise to bird song and misty mountainside air. Start with a hot breakfast in a homestay and get set for a day-long hike to some of the most breathtaking trails in Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
08:00 – 11:30 | Trek through jungle paths to Hieu Waterfall
Guided by a local guide, set out on your trek through rich forests, peaceful bamboo groves, and gurgling streams. After about 2.5 hours of moderate walking, the roar of falling water brings you to the magnificent Hieu Waterfall—a multi-tiered waterfall set in the middle of Ban Hieu village.
11:30 – 13:00 | Swimming break and picnic/lunch with local family
Chill out with a cool dip in the falls or just sit by the edge of the water. Enjoy a picnic on the streamside in the way you like best, or feast on a hot meal in a typical Thai stilt house nearby. In either case, it’s a richly immersive experience on your Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay.
13:00 – 16:00 | Return via Ban Huong – terrace view stops
On the return trip, we travel via Ban Huong, a peaceful hamlet that sits on hillside slopes. You’ll pause at lookout points to take in dramatic views of the valley—ideal for photographs and introspection.
18:30 – 20:00 | Dinner at Bac Thanh Homestay – optional BBQ or rice wine gathering
We return to the homestay to be treated to a home-cooked dinner in the evening. On demand, we can arrange a special BBQ dinner with freshly cooked meats and greens, or a leisurely sit-down with local rice wine under the stars. It is a night of tales, laughter, and that good feeling of togetherness that characterizes all Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay.
Hieu Waterfall (Source: vinwonders)
06:30 – 07:30 | Morning tea and free time
Take your time in the morning, linger over the serene mountain air with a warm cup of tea. You can go walking around the village again if you wish, or you can sit and look out over it from the balcony.
08:00 – 09:30 | Visit Pho Doan Market (market days only)
If you’re here on Thursday or Sunday, we will go to Pho Doan Market, where minorities from all over the region meet to barter and share news. It is a great cultural outing and a place to purchase homemade souvenir items and sample local delicacies.
10:00 – 11:00 | Return to Bac Thanh Homestay – pack up and relax
Upon your return from the market, you’ll be able to freshen up and spend your remaining quiet hour at the homestay. This is the ideal time to bid farewell to the host family and look back at your experience.
11:30 – 12:30 | Farewell lunch
Enjoy one last meal at a nearby eatery before departing from Pu Luong.
12:30 – 17:00 | Drive back to Hanoi
The return trip is a chance to relax or just sit back and observe the landscape go by. You should be in Hanoi in the late afternoon with memories in your heart and a refreshed spirit.
Ban Don (Source: nhasanpuluong)
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
For those looking to immerse themselves deeper and more meaningfully in nature, the Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay has something very unique to offer. This is where you trade busy cities with towering mountains, rice fields, and forest paths in one of Vietnam’s most untouched areas. Each of our Pu Luong Tours is designed to be environmentally friendly with maximum cultural immersion. From hiking through foggy hills to enjoying tea with local families, you get to experience life the way it is lived in Pu Luong.
What distinguishes the Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay is its personal, down-to-earth style. No great crowds and strict itineraries here, you’ll experience a laid-back pace and one-on-one attention. You’ll eat in the Thai stilt house where you’ll also sleep, it’s where you’ll share meals, tales, and laughter with your family hosts. For those wanting the authentic, inner beauty and rich people-to-people contact of Vietnam, the trip is not so much a guided tour—it’s a true immersion in land and people.
If you’ve dreamed of a genuine getaway, this is it. Join one of our carefully planned Pu Luong Tours and live among a culture where beauty is in the simple things, and people do connect. Limited space exists because we believe in small group travel experiences, so we suggest reserving your Pu Luong Tours stay at Bac Thanh Homestay ahead of time with Impress Travel. Leave the details to us; your sojourn in the mountains awaits.
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
This eco way travel route to bring you via the 3 provinces in the north of Vietnam: Hoa Binh - Thanh Hoa - Ninh Binh and It is one of the most wonderful combinations between Pu Luong Tours, Mai Chau Tours, and Ninh Binh Tours.
We escape from Hanoi bristling city then explore Mai Chau by trekking and riding a bike around Poong Coong Thai Village, transfer to visit Pu Luong trekking and experience of homestay at Muong – Thai Ethnic people.
It is one of the most wonderful combinations between Ba Khan in Mai Chau Trekking Tour & Hoa Binh lake boat Trip. Then day tour to Ninh Binh with amazing landscapes and experiences of biking and rowing boat.
Mai Chau has become one of the 10 friendliest destinations in Vietnam selected by Traveller Review Awards 2023. The highlights captivate international visitors by its natural charm and national cultural identity.
