About 160 km from Hanoi , Pu Luong Nature Reserve is home to the Thai and Muong ethnic communities. In Thai language, Pu Luong means the highest peak of the village. Pu Luong is located in the northwest of Thanh Hoa province, covering an area of ​​17,662 hectares, including dense forests, large and small waterfalls, caves and mountains interspersed with peaceful villages and green terraced fields every summer.

Move

This is a nature reserve located in Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa districts, Thanh Hoa province. Pu Luong is about 4 hours from Hanoi by road. To the north and northeast of Pu Luong is bordered by Mai Chau, Tan Lac and Lac Son districts of Hoa Binh province. Visitors can go to Pu Luong by motorbike, self-driving car or bus.

From Hanoi, go along National Highway 6 through Mai Chau, Hoa Binh, then follow National Highway 15C to Co Luong, Dong Dieng to Pu Luong or follow Ho Chi Minh Road, pass Cuc Phuong, then Cam Thuy, then follow the direction of the gate. Na Meo international export. If from Thanh Hoa city, visitors also run the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Currently, many accommodation places sell combos including round-trip transportation from Hanoi to Pu Luong and rooms priced from 800,000 VND per person per night. In addition, guests traveling in groups can rent a private car package or pick up a passenger car for 300,000 VND per person for a round trip ticket, a higher quality car costs about 500,000 VND.

When coming to Pu Luong, visitors go to attractions and villages by motorbike, bicycle or trekking. Many accommodations provide these services with guides.

Accommodation

Currently, there are more and more homestays, motels and resorts in Pu Luong, but still ensure the landscape and environment of the nature reserve and develop eco-tourism. For nature lovers and interested in learning about local culture, visitors can choose to stay at homestays, homestays on stilts in Kho Muong, Kit, Hieu… priced from 100,000 VND per night.($1=24,000 VND)

Besides, tourists who like luxury resorts also have many options to stay at resorts such as Pu Luong Retreat, Pu Luong Eco Garden, Pu Luong Natura, Ciel del Puluong, Pu Luong Tree House, Pu Luong Hillside Lodge .. price from 300,000 to more than 1,000,000 VND a night. These places have spacious rooms, infinity pools, lovely miniatures, super beautiful views of rice… Due to ecotourism, often resorts do not have televisions, air conditioners… however the rooms The snails are always clean, airy, with enough basic amenities.

A suite room with forest and terraced views. Photo: Pu Luong Retreat

Where to play?

Located on the road from Mai Chau to Pu Luong, Son Ba Muoi is 3 highland villages in Lung Cao commune, Ba Thuoc district, with a temperate climate, the temperature is 18-22 degrees Celsius. This place is quite isolated from the outside. So far, many customs of the ancient Thai people are still preserved, the traditional stilt house has many characteristics of the local people. Overcoming steep and winding slopes, visitors stopping at Son Ba Muoi will enjoy the peaceful rhythm of life amidst the majestic natural scenery.

Going deeper into the core area of ​​Pu Luong nature reserve , Hieu village is famous for Hieu waterfall with clear and strong water flow, flowing into many layers to attract tourists to cool off. At the foot of the waterfall are natural “bath pools”, transparent water, cool in summer and warm in winter. In addition to waterfall bathing, you should also visit palm hills, terraced fields, primeval forests.

Water rods are only used in the rainy season, so in the summer months, you can see them rotate to each beat.

About 11km from Thac Hieu is the Shrimp Village or Suoi Cham , where there are giant water fountains and the experience of floating on the river with a bamboo raft. The time of rafting tour is 1 hour, each raft can carry 8-14 people, priced at 50,000 VND per person.

In addition, visitors do not forget to experience hiking through the rice terraces, cycling, bamboo rafting on the river… or simply relax, read a book and breathe in the fresh air.

Visitors explore Pu Luong terraced fields. Photo: Manh Tien Khoi

Pu Luong peak is about 1,700 m high, is one of the mountain peaks that trekkers love to conquer because the road up the mountain is quite steep with many dangerous and winding sections. It takes about 6 hours in good weather to climb to the top of Pu Luong . Standing on the top of Pu Luong, you can fully admire the poetic landscape of mountains, fields, valleys at the foot of the mountain.

Visitors can set up camp on the top to eat and rest overnight or bring lunch, return in the afternoon to rest in Don village. When climbing, you should wear long clothes, hats, climbing shoes, mosquito repellent, squeeze, drinking water, anti-hunger food… If you don’t have much climbing experience, the resorts also offer private tours to go inside. day or 2 days 1 night.

Don village is home to a large concentration of Thai people. In the past 2-3 years, domestic and foreign tourists have come to Don village more and more. The village has a peaceful space, unspoiled natural landscape with many attractive specialties such as bamboo shoots, ducks, wild boars, hill chickens, squash vegetables, chayote tops…

Kho Muong village and Bat cave are the most attractive places in Pu Luong that tourists should not miss. Although the road to Kho Muong is difficult to go because of the zigzag slopes on the side of the cliff, on the side of the abyss, everyone has to be surprised by the hidden beauty of this place. Just looking from afar, one can see the roofs of stilts, rice fields, corn spreading far and wide and undulating mountains surrounding the village.

Bat Cave has many giant stalactites with unique shapes. Photo: Shutterstock/Le Minh Ty

Walking from the beginning of the village through a large rice field to the end of the trail is towards Bat cave or Kho Muong cave. The limestone stalactites formed about 250 million years ago made up this cave. It is also home to many species of bats. Going deeper into the cave, visitors will see a large space covered by strangely shaped stalactites.

Pho Don market takes place every Thursday and Sunday. Coming here, you not only experience the highland market but also shop for souvenirs, local products and eat specialties. A special feature is that the market still operates in the way of exchanging goods of equal value, rarely asking for challenges or paying prices.

Eat and drink

Pu Luong specialties must include Co Lung duck. Duck meat is lean, firm and fragrant, grilled with charcoal, priced at 450,000 VND, enough for 3-4 people to eat. In addition, you can order dishes such as stone snails, hill chicken, grilled stream duck, roasted wild boar, sour bamboo shoots, bitter bamboo shoots, wild sweet potato soup, lam rice, banana flower salad…

A tray of rice with meat dishes, snails, vegetables, salty, mannequin… served with many local spices. Photo: Pu Luong Retreat

Recommended schedule

Day 1: Son Ba Muoi – Ban Hieu – Thac Hieu
Day 2: Climbing Pu Luong Peak – Ban Don
Day 3: Kho Muong village – Bat Cave – Pho Doan Market

Photo: Internet (Vinlove.net)