The journey to Dundj Valley begins with a boat ride through a natural water cave. On the other side, visitors arrive in a secluded valley where life continues much as it has for generations.

The family of Lady Thai still practices a largely self-sufficient lifestyle. Chickens, ducks, geese, goats, buffaloes, and other animals roam freely across the valley. Seasonal vegetables are grown nearby, and daily life follows the rhythm of nature rather than the clock.

Visitors are not treated as tourists passing through. Instead, they are welcomed as guests and invited to experience everyday life alongside the family.

You may help feed animals, walk beside the river, learn about local farming traditions, or simply sit beneath the limestone mountains and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

Not far from Tam Coc, Phoenix Valley offers another glimpse into rural Vietnam.

At the center of the valley lies a vast five-hectare rice field cultivated by the family of Mr. Phoenix. For decades, the family has farmed this land while preserving the natural beauty of the surrounding valley.

Visitors can walk through tree-lined pathways, observe farming activities, learn about traditional rice cultivation, and experience a slower pace of life rarely found in modern tourism.

The landscape is spectacular. Limestone mountains rise directly from the rice fields, creating one of the most beautiful countryside scenes in Ninh Binh.

Both Dundj Valley and Phoenix Valley offer something increasingly rare: authenticity.

There are no large resorts, no staged performances, and no crowded viewpoints. Instead, visitors encounter real families, real traditions, and real countryside life.

These are places where children still grow up surrounded by nature, where farming remains part of daily life, and where hospitality is offered naturally rather than commercially.

While visiting Phoenix Valley, travelers can also explore Hope Cavern, a remarkable natural cave hidden beneath the limestone mountains.

With its sparkling stalactites, underground passages, and untouched formations, Hope Cavern adds a sense of adventure to the rural experience, connecting visitors not only to local culture but also to the geological wonders of Ninh Binh.