Backpacking in Pu Luong, Thanh Hoa

Backpacking allows travelers to experience the challenge and excitement of overcoming difficulties and exploring little-known places. In this article, iguide.ai will share with you the experience of backpacking in Pu Luong, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam.

About 160 km from Hanoi, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is home to the Thai and Muong ethnic groups. In Thai, 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 away from Hanoi by road. The north and northeast of Pu Luong borders Mai Chau, Tan Lac and Lac Son districts of Hoa Binh province. Visitors can get to Pu Luong by motorbike, self-driving car or bus.

From Hanoi, follow Highway 6 through Mai Chau, Hoa Binh, then Highway 15C to Co Luong, Dong Dien to reach Pu Luong or follow Ho Chi Minh trail, through Cuc Phuong, then Cam Thuy, then follow the direction of Na Meo international border gate. If from Thanh Hoa city, visitors also take the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Currently, many accommodations sell combos including round-trip transportation from Hanoi to Pu Luong and accommodations starting at VND800,000 per person per night. In addition, guests traveling in groups can rent a private car or take a passenger car for VND300,000 per person for a round-trip ticket, or a higher-quality car costs about VND500,000.

When coming to Pu Luong, tourists can visit the attractions and villages by motorbike, bicycle or trekking. Many accommodations provide these services with guides.

Accommodation

Currently, homestays, motels, and resorts in Pu Luong are increasing in number, but still ensuring the natural landscape and environment of the nature reserve and developing eco-tourism. For those who love nature and want to learn about local culture, visitors can choose to stay at local houses, homestays on stilts in Kho Muong, Kit, Hieu villages... with prices starting from 100,000 VND per night.

Places to visit

Located on the road from Mai Chau to Pu Luong, Son Ba Muoi is a highland village in Lung Cao commune, Ba Thuoc district, with a temperate climate and a temperature of 18 - 22 degrees Celsius. This place is quite isolated from the outside world, so it still preserves many customs of the ancient Thai people, traditional stilt houses with many characteristics of the local people. Overcoming high and winding slopes, visitors stopping at Son Ba Muoi will enjoy a peaceful life amidst majestic natural scenery. Going deeper into the core of Pu Luong conservation area, Hieu village is famous for Hieu waterfall with clear and strong water flowing in many layers, attracting visitors to cool off. At the foot of the waterfall are natural "baths" with clear water, cool in summer and warm in winter. In addition to bathing in the waterfall, you should also visit the palm hills, terraced fields, and primeval forests.

About 11km from Hieu Waterfall is the Tom Village or Cham Stream area, where there are giant water wheels and the experience of floating on the river on a bamboo raft. The rafting tour lasts 1 hour, each raft can carry 8-14 people, the price is 50,000 VND per person.

In addition, visitors should not forget to experience hiking through terraced fields, cycling, bamboo rafting on the river... or simply relax, read a book and breathe the fresh air.

Pu Luong Peak is about 1,700 m high, one of the 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 conditions to climb to the top of Pu Luong. Standing on the top of Pu Luong, you can fully admire the poetic scenery of the mountains, forests, fields, and valleys at the foot of the mountain.