Review Author: JL

Review Date: 22 Juni 2026

Review Body: If you want the quiet, slow side of Ninh Binh, this is a lovely way to do it. You stay in a peaceful village near Bai Dinh instead of busy Tam Coc, surrounded by rice fields and it feels like staying in a friend's home and really getting to see the real Ninh Binh. The host Thanh grew up here and it shows. He took us round like a friend would, stopping to chat with farmers and walking us through daily life at the market. He replied to my messages so quickly before the trip, and he was lovely and easygoing about changing plans, even letting us check out late so we could pack after our morning activities. We added a bunch of activities to the original Seek Sophie itinerary so we could see more. Just discuss with Thanh if you want to do this and he'll let you know if it costs extra! The bits we loved most: the Galaxy Cave, which you reach by bamboo boat, then a forest walk, then a boat through the cave itself. Top tip: go after 3pm once the Hanoi day-trippers have cleared out and it's so peaceful. And we also went to Van Long nature reserve, where we got to see the critically endangered Delacour's langurs (only around 200 left in the world)! We went in June and pretty much had it to ourselves, just a handful of boats, which was heaven! The early-morning market and the bear sanctuary nearby were really lovely too. Would highly recommend the bear sanctuary! We also added Trang An boat trip to the itinerary and it was hellish compared to the more local village stuff we did with Thanh. It was just a very touristy site with a ton of tourists and not super interesting. We much preferred our Galaxy Cave and Van Long reserve trip in comparison. So if you hate tourist traps, definitely skip the Trang An boat trip and do the other things we did instead!! I also mentioned it was my parents' anniversary and Thanh surprised them with a cake and a little happy anniversary sign which was so sweet. And one of our highlights was his suuuuper cute dog Binh! Binh even came along with us on the excursion on day one! Come for the village life and the people rather than fancy comforts, and you'll have a really lovely time.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Wina

Review Date: 01 Juli 2026

Review Body: This was an amazing experience and one of the highlights of our trip to Vietnam. What made it so special was that it wasn’t just a tour, it was an opportunity to experience life as a local. Our host is incredibly passionate about what he does, and that passion shines through in every part of the experience. He and his family run a beautiful homestay where we are genuinely made to feel like part of the family. I also really appreciated how professional and well organized everything was, while still being flexible when needed. We visited at the end of June, when the weather could change quickly from summer heat to heavy rain and thunderstorms. Our host was very accommodating and helped adjust the pace of the itinerary and also our meal choices so we could still enjoy the experience comfortably. If you’re looking for an authentic way to experience Ninh Binh beyond the typical tourist attractions, I highly recommend staying here. The host offers a variety of tours and activities, and if your schedule allows, I would suggest staying an extra one to three more days. It gives you the chance to slow down, explore the area more deeply, and truly immerse yourself in the local way of life.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Yasemin

Review Date: 17 Juni 2026

Review Body: Honestly all i can say is wow. I had read on reddit some people arguing against ninh binh for a short visit, but it was absolutely the highlight of my trip. The homestay is SO beautiful and such a welcome escape from the chaos of hanoi. The family is so lovely and really care for you. The true gem is Thanh, the owner. He is so passionate, and welcoming, and shared so much information about the region, the culture, the country’s history. We shifted things around and did the activities on the first day. On my second day, he showed me around the region and it was one of my best experiences in my trip. The other guests were also so lovely. One tip - bring earplugs as the chickens wake up early ;)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rob

Review Date: 16 Juli 2026

Review Body: An eye-opening venture into a beautiful region of Vietnam which was largely unknown to foreigners until a decade ago. The advantage of this is lots of untouched rural experiences despite the stunning scenery. A highlight of our trip was a river safari to see the rare local langurs whose numbers were near extinction but are bouncing back - we saw a dozen of them clambering across the rock faces (take binoculars for a better look, as they are understandably shy). Our guide, Thanh, himself a former farmer, also made an impromptu stop in some fields to show us how peanuts are grown and harvested, including helping the local villagers with their final bundles of the day.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Laura White

Review Date: 24 Juli 2026

Review Body: We have been absolutely delighted with our stay at Thanh’s home stay. The room was brilliant, staff brilliantly friendly and helpful and the pool was fantastic. Thanh and his team attended to our needs (transfers/late check ins/dinners/laundry etc), tailored our trip to suit our family and booked us onto an addition evening tour to see the Pagoda - definitely not to be missed. We were lucky enough to see the Delacour Langurs in the wild - an unexpected treat. Our girls loved the dog Binh as well 🐶. We would wholeheartedly recommend this trip to anyone, and would have loved to have stayed longer.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ellinor

Review Date: 10 Dez. 2025

Review Body: Staying with Thanh was the highlight of my trip. I arrived at 7 a.m., and he kindly allowed me to check in right away. He then arranged a driver to take me to several local sights. The next day, we joined Thanh for a guided tour, where he led us away from the busy tourist areas and showed us stunning landscapes—hiking in the morning and exploring by bike in the afternoon. He even took me to play badminton, which was a fun and memorable experience. All the meals prepared by his wife were delicious, and the rooms were beautiful and spotlessly clean. I can wholeheartedly recommend staying here.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Johanna

Review Date: 08 Mai 2026

Review Body: The stay with Thanh was truly amazing! He is making sure you’re seeing the most of this beautiful area and having a wonderful time! The homestay itself is very charming and we had the best time there! I can recommend this experience to everyone who wants to spend unforgettable days here! We had the opportunity to visit the Bai Dinh Pagoda at night time with a private guide: a true highlight! Thanh even helped us to organize our transfer to our next location and dropped us off directly at the station!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ryan

Review Date: 06 Jan. 2025

Review Body: The place was absolutely beautiful! But even better than the actual home was all the extras that were provided: Thanh’s wife cooked all of our meals (on our schedule), he gave us private tour around the more local areas of Ninh Binh and he arranged all pickup and travel logistics. Highly recommend for any traveler that wants to stay somewhere that truly feels like you are living in Vietnamese culture vs just going all the more touristy route

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kelcey

Review Date: 08 Mai 2026

Review Body: This was such a nice trip! I ended up staying an extra night to see more of the area and have a chance to relax at the pool. The homestay is beautiful and a perfect location to relax. Mr. Thanh is an excellent guide and customizes your experience to match what you are looking for. I highly recommend booking this tour!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Claudia & Hazel

Review Date: 18 Aug. 2026

Review Body: Thanh was amazing! So helpful, so knowledgeable and he definitely went above and beyond to show us the best places in Ninh Binh. We also really enjoyed all the meals we had with him, both cooked for us at the homestay and ordered for us at restaurants - by far the best experience we’ve had in Vietnam so far!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Stephen

Review Date: 31 Mai 2025

Review Body: Thanh and his family hosted a welcoming and authentic stay in a tranquil and serene location with idyllic surrounding areas and their activities and tours on offer to immerse one’s self in the lifestyle. Great food, hospitality, guided tours offered and local recommendations!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mia

Review Date: 31 März 2025

Review Body: The home stay is absolutely amazing! Than was always very responsive and accommodated our needs. The location was great, gave us the opportunity to explore the countryside with a motorbike. All meals we had were homemade and delicious. Cannot recommend this place enough 🙂

Review rating: 5

Review Author: James

Review Date: 12 Okt. 2026

Review Body: We really enjoyed the boat ride to spot the endangered monkeys and cycling tour to interact with the locals. Not to mention the company of a really cute dog named Bin in the residence.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nathalia

Review Date: 30 Apr. 2025

Review Body: Felt great every single second there. Amazing place/family to be surrounded with. Hope to come back a thousand times. Miss your place already!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Martha Stark

Review Date: 02 Sep. 2026

Review Body: Beautiful location and nice rooms. Food was disappointing as I was as expecting this to be a highlight of the stay. The organized activities were good but some of them were unexpectedly with guides other than Thanh, whose English was difficult to understand.

Review rating: 4

Review Author: Jorge

Review Date: 18 Okt. 2026

Review Body: Thanh guided us through a beautiful day covering all of Ninh Binh’s highlights. We started at Tam Coc and climbed the 500 steps to the top of the mountain, and the views from up there are absolutely breathtaking. From there we visited a few temples and pagodas, including the Silver Pagoda and the Golden Temple, where Thanh explained local Vietnamese culture and traditions. Lunch was Phở followed by Vietnamese coffee at a local coffee shop, and both were delicious. In the afternoon we took a boat ride through Trang An, surrounded by massive limestone cliffs. The boatwomen were incredibly skilled, guiding us through tiny caves with perfect precision. The best part came last: a bike ride through a very local neighbourhood. We rode past rice paddies, watched people harvesting rice, passed small chicken and duck farms, and caught the sunset from our bikes. It was a genuine look at everyday life in Ninh Binh and the perfect way to end the day. Thanks Thanh for being a great guide from start to finish! Highly recommend this tour!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jennifer

Review Date: 31 März 2025

Review Body: We chose Thanh’s homestay based upon a previous review. Our family does not usually book an all inclusive package (minus drinks), but this was a last minute trip that we didn’t have time to plan. The previous review stated that the personalized tours from Thanh were excellent… this was the best part of our trip! Thanh and his family put together an off the beaten path tour package, almost free of tourists, with delicious home cooked meals! If you are looking for the true local experience of Ninh Binh province, this is your place! We were comfortable with a lovely small, but refreshing pool, fresh food, and Thanh’s experience in tailoring a tour package and altering it for unpredictable weather and my friends fear of snakes, was beyond our expectations! Thanh created a tour package for us that met our requests of seeing as much as possible, but not feeling rushed. There was plenty of time to relax at the bungalow, take a quick nap, eat and go out exploring again. Don’t hesitate..book!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Michelle

Review Date: 31 Mai 2025

Review Body: There are no words to describe the magic of staying with Thang’s family. The place itself is very nice, confortable, good food. But what makes this stay outstanding is following Thang’s recommendations and going with him on local tours. I travel a lot, and research every detail beforehand - thankfully I had read from other reviewers that Thangs local tours where worth it so we were flexible and went along. Everything was beyond wonderful. He knows the off the beaten path spots, best times to go places, rented us a scooter, took us on a bike ride, on a night tour of the Pagoda, to a natural reserve. It just kept going from awesome to even better. Do everything he says, let him be your guide, you will not regret it. We even took part in his wife’s birthday celebration. I only wish we could have stayed longer.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Andrew

Review Date: 30 Juni 2025

Review Body: Our family of 5 stayed with Thang and his wife in 2 bungalows. Their bungalows are spacious and the pool was perfect especially after a long drive there. For breakfast Thangs’ wife made sure we were looked after with fresh fruits, Vietnamese dishes and we even had banana pancakes one morning. The host was attentive and listened to our needs for a more authentic experience. We went to harvest soy beans, went to the Galaxy cave ( our favorite as it’s less touristy,) Thang took us for a bike ride around his village, local market and explained some of the local traditions which made this part of our trip so much more memorable. This place comes highly recommended!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Alice

Review Date: 31 Mai 2025

Review Body: We had an incredible time staying with Thanh. The surroundings were beautiful and peaceful, the rooms were comfortable, everyone was very friendly and the food was delicious. It was easy to walk into the small town where there were a few cafés and restaurants, and Thanh organised so many amazing things for us to do during the day. Everything felt very personalised and full of local recommendations. He went above and beyond in celebrating the birthday of one of our group. This is a great place to stay to explore all of the beautiful things Ninh Binh has to offer!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Relaxing village afternoon, swimming, and a home-cooked dinner

Itinerary Description: 1:30pm – Check into your room and enjoy the afternoon at your own pace. Take a refreshing dip in the swimming pool (from March to October), or rent a motorbike or bicycle (additional fee) to explore the quiet village and its peaceful surroundings. 7:00pm (flexible) – Sit down to a delicious home-cooked dinner prepared by Thanh’s wife — a highlight praised by countless past guests. Afterwards, settle in for a restful night’s sleep.

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Cycling Ninh Binh’s scenic trails & boating through Thien Ha Cave's underground wonders

Itinerary Description: 7:00am – Enjoy breakfast at the homestay. 8:00am – Begin your cycling tour around the countryside. Get off the beaten path and explore the serene landscapes of Ninh Binh, far from the tourist crowds. The ride starts along the picturesque shores of Dam Thi Lake, located near the stunning Bai Dinh Pagoda, before continuing to local farms, ancient temples, pagodas, and village homes. Pedaling through quiet rice paddies in the “middle of nowhere” is an unforgettable experience — the vibrant green fields stretch endlessly, and the air feels fresh and still. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to observe farmers at work and learn about rural traditions. With Thanh as your guide, you’ll hear stories of local life, rituals, and habits that give deeper meaning to the journey. 12:00pm – Break for lunch and rest. 3:00pm – Depart for Galaxy (Thien Ha) Grotto by car. 3:30pm – Embark on a boat trip to explore the Thien Ha Cave system, which combines both dry and water caves, skylights, and underground rivers. This hidden gem is often described as a “galaxy underground,” thanks to its shimmering beauty. Inside, you’ll encounter diverse formations of stalactites and stalagmites, glowing in hues of yellow and silver where natural light filters through the openings. The blend of tranquil river passageways and sparkling cave chambers makes this a truly magical experience. 5:30pm – Return to the homestay, bid farewell to your hosts, and take with you lasting memories of Ninh Binh. Please note: The itinerary is flexible, and the included activities can generally be rearranged between Day 1 and Day 2 based on your preferences and availability. However, if you choose to replace any of the included experiences with different activities, additional charges may apply.