Vân Long homestay _ Nhà Lúa — Hotel in Ninh Bình Province

This is such a beautiful homestay away from the tourist crowds. We stayed for 2 nights and wish we could’ve stayed for a few more.

Here is the overview:

The homestay “homestay” is short selling it. It’s more like a boutique hotel with thoughtful touches and beautiful design. the rooms are spacious, the bed is comfortable and the hot water was plentiful. During our stay the temperatures dipped so we asked for an extra duvet which was quickly accommodated.

The host Hoang is a great guy. He works super hard to look after his guests and to answer questions quickly. We were welcomed with hot tea, biscuits and pomelo during our stay.

The location Nha Lua is walking distance to one of the last remaining colonies of Delacour’s langur monkeys. Our host provided advice on the timing and location of where they can be spotted. We ended up seeing a family of 5 monkeys during a boat trip across Van Long nature reserve. The boat trip on Van Long nature reserve is well worth it by the way.

Activities & food We hired a scooter to look around the local area but this is also easily done via bike. The boat across Van Long wetland nature reserve is 200k for 2 people plus tips. Good for bird watching & maybe to spot monkeys We had food at Nha Lua on both evenings. You preorder via a text/ WhatsApp and it’s freshly made for a time of your choosing. The food was delicious and super fresh. There are a few eateries in the village but we didn’t try these. We did a painting class with the family which was a nice way to spend a couple of hours in the evening.

If you want to get away from the tourist crowds and traffic then Nha Lua is a...

Excellent guest service in the middle of a peaceful village. Located in Gia Vien, next to Van Long Reserve and quite far from Trang An and Tam Coc, this place allows you to fully experience a typical Bac Bo village. We’re here during the harvesting season, so we've got to see dry paddy rice all over the street, ripe rice in the field, blooming lotuses, and water lilies. It's beautiful and calming. The room is clean. The food is fresh and well prepared, with lots of options. My son had tons of fun in the swimming pool, especially during the hot season during our stay. The owner cum chef is resourceful and friendly. His family also lives here, so he takes care of the place well. Everything is neat. The plants and flowers are everywhere. He also advised our trip. Very helpful. We hired a motorbike to travel around. There are also free bikes. On one side, it's close to a market and schools. On the other side, you can have a lovely ride on the dike and observe the natural reserve and the paddy fields.

The only minus is the bathroom light, which is not bright enough for my wife’s makeup routine. Overall,...

We had a wonderful 3 days at Nha Lua Homestay and could easily have spent a whole week here. Although the accommodation is a little away from the tourist centers of Ninh Binh and Tam Coc (approx. 30-35 min by scooter or cab from the bus stop in Tam Coc, ~300,000 Dong), it offers all the more peace and authenticity. The rooms are very tasteful and super clean. The garden with many plants and the pool in the middle is wonderful, it feels like you're swimming in the middle of the jungle. The owners built everything themselves and are incredibly hospitable and helpful. For example, we were allowed to leave our luggage in another room on check-out day and use the bathroom and shower there free of charge. Both breakfast and dinner are freshly prepared, beautifully presented and very tasty. Totally fair value for money! Scooters can be rented at the accommodation for 150,000 dong/day, so you can quickly reach all the attractions in the region and get a taste of 'real life' in Vietnam along the way. We would stay here again anytime and can fully recommend it! We wish Hoang and his family...