Located on a section of the Da River in Cao Phong District in the northern province of Hoa Binh, Thung Nai, with its hundreds of islands and a large number of Muong ethnic people living in the region, can enchant anyone who sets foot into the land.
Tourists should not miss Ba Chua Thac Bo Temple (Thac Bo Goddesses Temple), which is one of several sightseeing spots in the area.According to legend, two local ethnic women had supplied food and boats for the troops of King Le Thai To when they defeated foreign invaders in 1431. When the women died, the King praised their services and asked local residents to build a temple to worship them. Since then, boatmen often stop off at the temple to pray for smooth waters and a safe trip.
Visiting the temple, tourists can also witness old Muong ethnic women displaying their farm products to sell to visitors. Their “goods” include the herbal medicines they collect from wild plants the jungle along with fresh and dried bamboo shoots.
Ten minutes by boat from the Goddesses Temple, tourists can get to Thac Bo Cave, which was recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national heritage site in 2008. There are different shapes of stalactites inside the 100m-long cave, and each stalactite brings about a specific sound when a visitor beats on it.
Visitor can expand their sightseeing tours by visiting small villages of Muong and Dao ethnic people, or they can ask the boatman to take them to Ngoi Hoa Lake. Located on the top of a mountain, the lake can be seen after an hour’s climb through the green landscape.
The Windmill guest house attracts visitors not only for its nice location, but also for its local specialities, such as fermented fish and grilled and smoked fish, served with ruou can (a home-made rice wine in a jar, drunk with bamboo straws). It offers a package for tourists for a very reasonable price, from VND250,000-300,000 (about US$13). The package includes a bed, three meals and a sightseeing boat.
Tour to Thung Nai
$ 45, 2days / 1night
Day 1 - Ha Noi - Thung Nai
10.30 am : Arrive in Thung Nai. Get off the car and take a short rest of several minutes before taking a motor-boat to the rest-house ( Coi Say Gio Hostal ) of Ngoc Island.
After a 20-minute motor-boating, you will reach the rest-house of Ngoc Island. Check in hostel then Relax and prepare for having lunch with local people.
11.30 am: Have lunch . Enjoy some specialties of Hoa Binh such as “Com lam” (sticky rice in bamboo), Can Wine, Thung Nai chicken , Da river fish … and cheer together.
1.45 pm : Start cuising in Da river and doing kayakking
From 4:00 pm to midnight: Take part in some outdoor activities. Then, come back to the hostel for a night sleep.
Day 2 : Thung Nai - Thac Bo Temple - Local Market - Ha Noi
6:00 am : Wake up to enjoy the fresh air of the Northern mountain area of Vietnam. Then having breakfast.
8:00 am: Travel on motor-boat around the lake of Thung Nai, visit Thac Bo Temple and Thac Bo Cave. Watching the daily life of some ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh Province, drop in Thac Bo Market.
11:00 am: Come back to the rest-house, have lunch and take rest.
2:00 pm: Prepare and getting back to Hanoi.
4.30 pm : Arrive in Ha Noi, end the tour.
INCLUDED :
+ Meals in tour
+ Entrance fees, kayaking
+ 01 night in homestay
+ English speaking guide
+ Bus, cruise boat
