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Region: Northwest Vietnam> Province: Hoa Binh>Location: Hoa Binh

Hoa Binh sights and attractions

Hoa Binh Reservoir - Boat trips

Description
Hoa Binh is well known for hilltribes such as Muong, Thai and Meo, all of whom can be seen in the town and in the surrounding area. Pretty much the only tour on offer is a boat trip up the Song Da river to an ethnic minority village, and also to explore caves, visit a waterfall, and more: we have yet to try it out ourselves, but we've heard it's quite beautiful.

Boats depart from the Bich Ha pier and visit Ban Dao Muong, where the Muong ethnic minority lives. Prices vary depending on where you want to go, but you're looking at US$50 to $65 for one boat for up to ten people, US$100 to $120 for a boat of up to 30 people, and the trip takes about four hours return.

Trips up to Mai Chau are also available. Though we don't recommend it as a place to stay, tours can be arranged at Da Giang Tours at the Song Da Hotel on Cu Chinh Lan, and also at the Hoa Binh Hotel, where they speak better English. Similar tours can be arranged from Mai Chau up the river. Try to book all tours at least one day in advance, or go through a travel agent in Hanoi.

Da Giang Tours: Song Da Hotel, 185 Cu Chinh Lan, Hoa Binh. T: (0218) 853 588; (0218) 894 219; (0912) 221 601. F: (0218) 852 103. Hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Hoa Binh Tourism: Hoa Binh Hotel, 395 An Duong Vuong, Hoa Binh. T: (0218) 896 987;(0913) 212 389;(0983) 844 389. http://www.hoabinhtourism.com

Hoa Binh Museum - Well worth a quick look

Intersection of Tran Hung Dao and the road to the dam, Hoa Binh

Description
This very small museum has only one gallery and is free to the public, but it's actually worth a look. They have some excavated human remains dating back 9,000 years, some of which are displayed as found, still half stuck in the dirt. There's the standard goofy diorama depicting the daily life of prehistoric Vietnamese, and also the preserved body of a giant, 300-year old turtle.

The great curiosity here is the excavated remains of an giant orangutan. In back of this display is a photo of a man standing next to a nine-foot ape that must be a man in a monkey suit. Please check it out and tell us what you think, especially if you know something about primatology. We found no staff on duty here, so just walk in and look around.

Opening Hours: 07:30 to 11:00 and 14:00 to 17:00