Pu Luong Thanh Hoa travel experience: Vietnam’s hidden gem for nature lovers

by Lam Pham

Pu Luong Thanh Hoa has become one of the hottest destinations recently. Before the hustle and bustle of life, traveling to Pu Luong Thanh Hoa is the perfect choice for immersing yourself in fresh, cool nature and bringing the most peaceful feeling. In this article, let’s join Karst Plateau to learn about Pu Luong’s travel experiences to start the journey to explore this land.

1. Where is Pu Luong?

This place’s full name is Pu Luong National Nature Reserve

Pu Luong in Thai means the highest peak, this place has the full name of Pu Luong National Nature Reserve, in 2 districts Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa of Thanh Hoa province. This place has an ecotourism chain scattered across 4 communes Thanh Lam, Thanh Son, Co Lung, and Lung Cao of Ba Thuoc district.

It covers an area of more than 17,600 hectares with diverse flora and fauna and wild and idyllic natural landscapes. Pu Luong always attracts a series of tourists or photographers everywhere to visit here and leave artworks.

2. Moving to Pu Luong?

Many young people choose motorbikes as a means of transportation to Pu Luong

To get to Pu Luong you can travel in many ways:

If you live far away, you can book a Plane to Hanoi, and then from Hanoi we depart to Pu Luong.

Passenger car: this is a safe option for you, with a price of about 120,000 VND / trip. You will meet the car at My Dinh bus station The passenger car will take you to Canh Nang town (Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa), then you can catch a taxi or motorbike taxi to go to Pu Luong.

Motorbike: If you like to go on a road trip, you can choose a motorbike as a means of transportation to Pu Luong. You take National Highway 6 to Hoa Binh, then choose 1 of 2 turns through Lung Van Valley or Ban Lac, continue to lead to Mai Chau, and then to Pu Luong.

3. Ideal time to travel to Pu Luong

Traveling to Pu Luong in May to June and September to October is most suitable

The most ideal time to travel to Pu Luong Thanh Hoa is around May to October. Depending on each person’s free time and preferences, you can choose the time to go to Pu Luong:

Late May – early June: This is the time when the fields in Pu Luong enter the new crop, so everywhere will be covered with a gentle and fresh green color of new rice.

September or October: This is the most ideal time because, at this time, all the fields and terraces are dressed in iridescent yellow shirts. Here, you will admire the rich nature painting of Pu Luong.

In addition, you can come here at any time of the year. Because the air here is airy and fresh all year round.

4. Where should you stay in Pu Luong?

Currently, homestays, motels, and resorts in Pu Luong are more and more but still ensure the environmental landscape of nature reserves and develop ecotourism.

You can choose to stay in a homestay, hotel or resort

For those who love nature and love to learn about local culture. Guests can choose to stay at homestays on stilts in Kho Muong, Kit, and Hieu villages … Prices from 100,000 VND/night.

Besides, visitors who like luxury resorts also have many accommodation options at resorts such as Pù Luông Retreat, Pu Luong Eco Garden, Pù Luông Natura, Ciel del Puluong, Pu Luong Tree House, Pu Luong Hillside Lodge, etc. Prices range from 300,000 to more than 1,000,000 VND/night. These places have spacious rooms, swimming pools, and super beautiful rice views.

5. Unique places to visit and travel in Pu Luong

5.1 Kho Muong village

This place possesses a hidden beauty that is an ideal destination for domestic and foreign tourists

This place is located deep inside of Pu Luong nature reserve, Kho Muong village possesses a very wild and poetic beauty. This is home to 60 Thai ethnic households, so visitors can explore the highland ethnic cultural identity. Standing from the top of Kho Muong village looking down, you can see the rice fields and corn fields located at the foot of the hill.

5.2 Hieu Waterfall

Admire the fairyland-like beauty of Hieu waterfall

Hieu Waterfall is located in Hieu Village, Co Lung Commune, Ba Thuoc District, and belongs to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Originating from a majestic rock cave in the Pu Luong – Cuc Phuong limestone habitat. Hieu Waterfall is a stream that flows all year round and never runs dry. In particular, the water from Hieu Waterfall is very clear. When it rains heavily, Hieu Waterfall is dressed in a white color by limestone powder. Therefore, the trees and objects located in Hieu Waterfall are petrified.

If you move here by motorbike, you will have the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery from Canh Nang town to Hieu Village. Along the way are long terraced fields located on both sides of the stream.

5.3 Son – Ba – Muoi Village

Marvel at the poetic beauty of Son – Ba – Muoi Village in Pu Luong

Son – Ba – Muoi are three different mountainous villages in Lung Cao Commune. It is about 130 km north of Thanh Hoa city center and located at an altitude of more than 1,000 m above sea level. As a result, the climate here is extremely cool, and the image of the village appears among the forest trees, clouds, and sky, making you easily think of Sapa or Da Lat.

Here, you can admire the majestic natural scenery, get up early to hunt clouds, learn about the life of the people in the region, and enjoy specialty delicacies.

5.4 Pho Doan Market

The market opens every Tuesday and Sunday

If you visit the place on Thursday or Sunday, don’t miss to join Pho Doan Market, which has been famous since the French period. It is located in Lung Niem Commune, Ba Thuoc District, Thanh Hoa Province. There are trading activities, purchasing local products of Kinh, Muong, and Thai minorities from surrounding areas such as Tan Lac District, and Lac Son District (Hoa Binh Province)
Pho Doan is typical for mountainous markets with mostly self-sufficient products. They are quite simple but prevalent in kinds of products such as traditional silk costumes, tube wine, mountainous vegetables, fresh fruits, etc.

5.5 Conquer Pu Luong Peak

This peak is 1,700m above sea level with majestic natural beauty

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

5.6 Check-in Pu Luong water wheel

Check-in Pu Luong water wheel

To be able to see with your own eyes and check in beautiful photos of the giant water wheels, visitors must visit Tom village or Cham stream (about 11km from Hieu village). In addition to watching the water, you can also enjoy rafting across the stream for about 2.05 USD per person per turn (each raft can carry 8–14 people).

Note: The water wheel will not be used during the rainy season, so only in the summer months can visitors admire each water wheel rotating rhythmically.

Above, Karst Plateau has just introduced to you the experience when traveling at Pu Luong Thanh Hoa Nature Reserve. Karst Plateau hopes this information will help you in your upcoming vacation trip. After many long days of hard work, let the Pu Luong travel itinerary and the charming natural scenery here bring you moments of relaxation.

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