Mai Chau Tours

The below is my suggestions and questions;

I wonder if this tour can't be 2N/3D without returning to Hanoi on Day 2.
Sorry for my ignorant. I am simply looking at GOOGLE map.
I wonder if it is feasible to drive straight to Ninh Binh from Mai Chau.
It might be slightly longer drive compared with Mai… More The below is my suggestions and questions;

I wonder if this tour can't be 2N/3D without returning to Hanoi on Day 2.
Sorry for my ignorant. I am simply looking at GOOGLE map.
I wonder if it is feasible to drive straight to Ninh Binh from Mai Chau.
It might be slightly longer drive compared with Mai Chau - Hanoi but
it looks like there are roads between Mai Chau and Ninh Binh.
It is a bit pointless to return to Hanoi on Day 2.


Is it standard for tour operators in Hanoi to return to Hanoi in rather early afternoon ?
I was back to Hanoi from Mai Chau and Tam Coc respectively but both days,
I was back to Hanoi around 1500 or so.
Is it standard ? I found it too early. This is the part I didn't enjoy at all.
I chose stayovernight to spend more time in Mai Chau and Ninh Binh, rather than day trip but
my tour guide always wanted to come back to Hanoi early , saying trafic jam,,,
It sounds like their problem, not mine. As I paid expensive money for this private tour,
I could have spent a bit more time in each destination. Even 1 hour longer helps.
As she always suggested to come back to Hanoi early,
I eventually requested to stop by Ning Bing Train starion before returning to Hanoi
She just rush rush and rush to return to Hanoi early but
they have to remember that I PAID FOR this service.
As she always requested me to start early, I had to wake up early , which is actually OK but
I didn't have enough free time between breakfast and departure.
She could have asked me (guests) what I wanted to do first before she suggested her preference.
having said that, I also have to know if it is standard for Hanoi or just her preference ? Less

We love our trekking time in Mai Chau. This place's absolutely gorgeous and the trekking route was not so difficult, we totally enjoyed the trip.

It was a very enjoyable trip, with plenty of time to rest and have free time between travelling to different places. We had a wonderful time, and we contribute it to your wonderful organisational skills and the amazing tour guides/ drives. We especially enjoyed the more local (and less tourists) experiences… More It was a very enjoyable trip, with plenty of time to rest and have free time between travelling to different places. We had a wonderful time, and we contribute it to your wonderful organisational skills and the amazing tour guides/ drives. We especially enjoyed the more local (and less tourists) experiences such as Mai Chau, Ninh Binh's Galaxy Cave and bicycle tour of surroundings. All of the tour guide were amazing and showed Vietnam from a local view, as well as answering all our questions honestly. We hope that all the tour guides and drivers, and travel agent are paid well or reimbursed well for their exceptional services. Our travel agent, Linh was also exceptional. She was very patient, answered all our concerns honestly, and helped personalised our trips to our needs and interests. We were pleasantly surprised that she met us in person on our first day. She was both thoughtful, and easily contactable from the time we planned our trip and throughout the trip itself. We are glad that we booked our trip through Best Price Travel. Next time, we would make plans to have more hands-on involvement, such as learning how to plant rice in the fields or learning how to make silk lanterns. Less

The Mai Chau was also very good. The hotel was good, the food excellent & the guide was fantastic

However we didn't think it was such good value. We felt the price should be similar to the Halong Bay cruise.