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The Da River
Country: Vietnam
Province: Hoa Binh

Tinh Hoa Binh Holiday Weather today


Date/time of update: November 21, 2024, 12:49 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Overcast Clouds

Temperature: 20°C
Temperature feels like: 20.14°C
Minimum Temperature: 20°C
Maximum Temperature: 20°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1020hPa
Humidity:80%
Visibility: 10000m
Wind speed: 0.6m/sec
Wind Direction: 302 degrees
Cloudiness: 99%
Sunrise: 2024-11-20 11:12:10
Sunset: 2024-11-21 10:17:56

Hoa Binh is a mountainous province in north-western Vietnam. The province is bordered to the north by Phu Tho, to the east by Hanoi, to the southeast by Ha Nam and Ninh Binh, to the south by Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa, to the west by Son La. The provincial capital city is 74km south-west of Hanoi.

Geography of Hoa Binh Province

The terrain of Hoa Binh includes several mountains and the average altitude is higher to the northwest and lower to the southeast. The high mountains to the northwest of the province are mostly forested and the low mountains to the southeast of the province are mostly karstic.

 

Tan Lac Town Hoa Binh Vietnam
Tan Lac Town Hoa Binh Vietnam

The rivers in Hoa Binh includes:

- The Da River (Black River) flows southeastwards into the province from Son La, at Hoa Binh City the Da River flows northwards to Hanoi discharging its water into the Red River near Trung Ha Bridge between Hanoi and Phu Tho. A dam at Hoa Binh City makes up a huge reservoir for a power plant. The Da River has 103km of its river course in Hoa Binh City.

The Da River in Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam
The Da River in Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam

- The Boi River starts its course at Kim Boi with the length of 60km flows southeastwards discharging its water into the Hoang Long River in Ninh Binh.

- The Buoi River which is formed by the water from small rivers like Lo, Cai, Nhan Nghia and other small streams, starts its course at Lac Son and flows southeastwards to Thanh Hoa. The Buoi has 38km length in Hoa Binh.

 

Mai Chau Houses on stilts
Mai Chau Houses on stilts of the White Thai People

Climate in Hoa Binh Province

The region of Hoa Binh has a tropical monsoon climate with two main seasons: summer from April through September and winter from October to March. Still, different weather patterns exist in the province due to different in altitudes and due to that the land is divided by many high mountains. It rains in Hoa Binh mostly in July and August. The average annual rainfall is 1,800mm and the average humidity is 85%.

A bird eye's view of Hoa Binh City
A bird eye's view of Hoa Binh City

People and Population in Hoa Binh Province

There are different ethnic groups in Hoa Binh with the majority of Muong and Kinh, the rest includes Thai, Hmong, Dao,...

Hoa Binh Travel Guide, Tourist Attractions, What to see in Hoa Binh

The draw-card of Hoa Binh's tourism lies in the pristine nature with scenic rice valleys, mountains and traditional culture of the ethnic groups. Thanks to close proximity to Hanoi, visiting the province is just convenient and doesn't require much time.

The Thung Khe Pass in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam
The Thung Khe Pass in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam

1/ Mai Chau Valley

Mai Chau Valley is an idyllic valley of rice fields inhabited by the Thai ethnic group. Visiting Mai Chau, you can have a very relaxing holiday with staying at the home of a White Thai family in a house on stilts. The villages in the valley may be busy at weekend. On weekday, it is just peaceful with laid-back life-style.

View of the Mai Chau Valley from above
View of the Mai Chau Valley from above

2/ Hang Kia Valley

Hang Kia is another valley of spinach flowers inhabited by the Hmong People. Hang Kia used to be quite isolated from the mainstream society. Visiting the village, you have to hike for a few kilometers from the big road or travel on motorbike, mountain bike.

A trekking path at Hang Kia Valley in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh Province
A trekking path at Hang Kia Valley in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh Province

 

hang kia
Hang Kia, Hoa Binh

3/ The Da River, Hoa Binh Reservoir, Ba Khan Reservoir

The Da River (Black River) and the Hoa Binh Reservoir have some areas (Ba Khan, Thung Nai…) just like Halong Bay. There are different ethnic villages on the riverside that could offer more understanding of local life and culture.

Da River
Da River

4/ Lung Van ( once known as Muong Bi)

Lung Van (The valley of clouds) is located amid clouds at an elevation over 1,000m and with cool climate all year round that you can come for a weekend retreat or a trekking adventure.

Scenic landscape at Lung Van, once known as Muong Bi - an ancient land of the Muong in Hoa Binh Vietnam
Scenic landscape at Lung Van, once known as Muong Bi - an ancient land of the Muong in Hoa Binh Vietnam

5/ Ba Khan Reservoir

The reservoir is part of the Da River with several islands which make it another Halong Bay in northern Vietnam.

The Ba Khan Reservoir on the Da River also known as Halong Bay in the Northwest of Vietnam
The Ba Khan Reservoir on the Da River also known as Halong Bay in the Northwest of Vietnam

6/ Go Lao Waterfall

The waterfall is 7km from Mai Chau, on the back road between Mai Chau Valley and the Ba Khan Reservoir. There are patches of forests around the waterfall.

 

The Go Lao Waterfall, among the most beautiful waterfalls in the Northwest of Vietnam
The Go Lao Waterfall, among the most beautiful waterfalls in the Northwest of Vietnam

Luxury Adventure Travel & Family Tours, Things to do in Hoa Binh

1/ Luxury Holidays, Adventure Tours to Mai Chau

You can travel to Mai Chau for a couple of days on luxury holidays, romantic escapes, cycling tours or trekking adventure tours. Depending your travel interests, Paradissa could work on an itinerary that exactly meets your requirements.

A luxury ecological resort in Mai Chau Valley in Hoa Binh Vietnam
A luxury ecological resort in Mai Chau Valley in Hoa Binh Vietnam

Mai Chau can also be a great stop for a night for those of you venturing further into the North-West of Vietnam. You can certainly choose to stay in a luxury ecolodge or at a homestay with a local Thai family.

Mai Chau Valley
Mai Chau Valley

2/ Trekking Tours in the Mai Chau Valley or from the Hang Kia Valley to the Mai Chau Valley, Bicycle Tours in the Mai Chau Valley

Those love hard hiking tours can take a trekking adventure from Hang Kia to Mai Chau traveling through forests and rice valleys, or another hard trek from Tan Lac to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. These adventures can range from 2 days to 4 days.

 

trekking at Hang Kia
Trekking at Hang Kia

3/ Day Trips

For the day-trippers from Hanoi, you can have a relaxing boat trip on the Da River. There are some islands that you may like to stay on for a night, but these are quite touristy and busy at weekend.

Hoa Binh City
Hoa Binh City

4/ Escape Adventure Vacations

Lung Van is on an elevation of over 1,000m above sea level with Muong ethnic communities, forest, waterfalls. Lung Van is yet untouched by mass tourism and certainly merits escape adventure vacations.

Lung Van Valley of the Clouds at Tan Lac Hoa Binh
Lung Van Valley of the Clouds at Tan Lac Hoa Binh

Accommodations, Where to stay in Hoa Binh

Accommodations in Hoa Binh includes homestay with the Thai or the Hmong People. Those who need comfort and luxury services may want to stay at the eco-friendly lodges in Mai Chau Valley. For those traveling to Lung Van, you can stay at a local Thai family or go camping. There are simple hotels at Hoa Binh City and Tan Lac.

A homestay on stilts in Ban Lac Village in Mai Chau Valley, Hoa Binh Province
A homestay on stilts in Ban Lac Village in Mai Chau Valley, Hoa Binh Province

There are luxury hotels and luxury ecolodges at Mai Chau Valley or by the reservoir of Hoa Binh which offers a limited range of luxury travel services. Paradissa travel experts should certainly help you to pick out a suitable hotel.

 What to eat, Food in Hoa Binh

Grilled fish with herbs
Grilled fish with herbs

 

Raw fish slices
Raw fish slices

 

Stir-fied fish with herbs and sesame seeds
Stir-fied fish with herbs and sesame seeds

 

Fried pieces of fish
Fried pieces of fish

 

Steamed fish with dills
Steamed fish with dills

 

Sweet and sour fish
Sweet and sour fish

 

Steamed wild vegetables
Steamed wild vegetables with bitter yet refreshing flavor

 

Fish egg broth
Fish egg broth used as dipping sauce for herbs

How to get there and how to get around Hoa Binh

There's a good road from Hanoi to Hoa Binh City and Mai Chau Valley. To access the villages, you can go by motorbike or mountain-bike or on foot. The trip by car from Hanoi to Hoa Binh City is 2 hours and to Mai Chau is 3-4 hours.

Route 12b between Tan Lac District (Hoa Binh Province) and Nho Quan District (Ninh Binh Province)
Route 12b between Tan Lac District (Hoa Binh Province) and Nho Quan District (Ninh Binh Province)

 

Route 6 at Xuan Mai Town connects Hanoi and Hoa Binh
Route 6 at Xuan Mai Town connects Hanoi and Hoa Binh

 

Ho Chi Minh Road connects Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh and Hoa Binh
Ho Chi Minh Road connects Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh and Hoa Binh

 

Provincial Route 317 which runs along the Da River connects Phu Tho and Hoa Binh
Provincial Route 317 which runs along the Da River connects Phu Tho and Hoa Binh

 

Route 6 at the Moc Chau Plateau connects Son La Province and Hoa Binh Province (at Mai Chau)
Route 6 at the Moc Chau Plateau connects Son La Province and Hoa Binh Province (at Mai Chau)

Hoa Binh Average Monthly Rainfall and Temperatures


Vietnam Travel Guide