Located in Thung Dun, a valley in Dam Khe Trong hamlet, Nam Hoa Lu ward, this rural tourism site is nestled between towering limestone ranges and is fast becoming a favorite destination for foreign visitors in Ninh Binh.

To reach the site, guests must walk over 1 km from the main Tam Coc–Bich Dong road, then travel by boat along a pristine canal to the secluded valley. Along the way, the boat passes through a natural cave nearly 100 meters long, filled with striking limestone formations.

Covering roughly 4 hectares, Thung Dun retains its untouched charm with water-filled fields, ponds, and a single small house built in 1990.

The site’s owners raise chickens, pigs, and wild ducks, and maintain ponds filled with fish and snails -all to provide visitors with a chance to live rural life up close. Guests are encouraged to get hands-on: catching ducks and pigs, scooping fish, foraging for snails, climbing hills, and preparing their own meals.

These activities offer a vivid window into the rhythms and traditions of Vietnamese village life.

Many visitors are especially excited to prepare food from scratch -slaughtering chickens, mincing pork, seasoning ingredients, wrapping them in banana leaves, grilling over charcoal, and finally enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Joseph, a traveler from the UK, was so moved by his visit that he chose to stay on as a volunteer, helping the tourism site.

“I feel completely at peace here -the air is fresh, and the energy is uplifting,” he shared. “These rural experiences have brought me closer to the local people and helped me better understand Vietnam’s agricultural culture. I’m also learning Vietnamese so I can communicate more meaningfully.”

Danie from Hungary and Conllin Licharz from the US also spent time at the site, calling it their most enjoyable experience in Vietnam so far. They were especially taken by the food -the grilled chicken and pork patties, they said, had unfamiliar but unforgettable flavors.

The British family of Jason and Natalie Rowe also left with lasting impressions.

"From the gentle boat ride through the valley, to hiking through forested cliffs, to standing as a family looking out over Tam Coc -it was all unforgettable,” they said.

“Our daughters helped with farming and caring for animals. We played, laughed, and worked together in nature. It was real, and it bonded us.”

They added that the place felt more like a shared home than a destination -a space where families meet, children learn to connect with the earth, and adults slow down and rediscover nature.

According to 66-year-old Dinh Thi Thai, who manages the site, her family has lived and farmed the land since 1985. Originally used for livestock and rice cultivation, the idea for a community-based tourism model began in 2017.

It wasn’t until December 2025 that the dream took shape, with the first visitors finally arriving.

Guests are ferried into the valley by boat, arranged by the family. The entrance fee is approximately USD 5 per person, which includes one meal.