Pu Luong Nature Reserve is one of the most appealing destinations in Vietnam. If you want to immerse yourself in pristine nature and enjoy fresh air, Pu Luong is undoubtedly an ideal choice. Let's explore the area with Handspan Travel Indochina!

Through this article, you will find these pieces of information below.

General information about Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is located in Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa District, Thanh Hoa province, 180 kilometers from Hanoi to the Northwest. It is 25 kilometers from Cuc Phuong National Park, connected with the park by two rocky mountains. 

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

With a total area of more than 17,600 ha and a diverse flora and fauna system, Pu Luong Nature Reserve fascinates tourists with the pristine beauty of primeval forests, waterfalls, caves, and terraced fields, along with the peaceful life of mountainous ethnic people. This destination is the residence living of the Thai and Muong people. According to the language of the Thai ethnic minority people, Pu Luong means the highest peak of the village. 

Terraced rice field in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Pu Luong peak, Don Village, Son, Ba, and Muong Village are some featured spots to explore in Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Besides, there are many famous spots in and surrounding Pu Luong, such as Lac Village in Mai Chau, Cuc Phuong National Park (Ninh Binh), etc., creating an attractive route. 

The ideal time to travel to Pu Luong Nature Reserve

As a mountainous area surrounded by tropical forests, Pu Luong Nature Reserve has a reasonably pleasant climate, even in the summer. Therefore, you can come here anytime to relax in the mild atmosphere with year-round fog. Just remember to check the weather to avoid heavy rain or storms. 

Harvesting season in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

However, it will be a more wonderful experience if you come here during the rice season. Pu Luong Nature Reserve is covered with green rice in March and April. After that, the rice begins to turn yellow in May and June, with the scent of ripe rice overwhelming. Besides May and June, September, October, and early November are also perfect for traveling to Pu Luong. At this time, Pu Luong enters the second harvesting season with bright yellow terraced rice fields. 

Yellow terraced rice field in Pu Luong

How to get to Pu Luong Nature Reserve from Hanoi

You can reach Pu Luong Nature Reserve from Hanoi by driving a motorbike or using a limousine. However, if you are unfamiliar with Vietnam transportation, you should use a limousine for more safety and convenience. It just takes 4 to 4,5 hours to get to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Below are two recommended limousine brands you may want to refer to.

Sani Express Limousine

• Contact: 0867 05 7172
• Price: from VND 250,000/ person/ turn
• Pickup place: Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower, E6 Pham Hung Street, Tu Liem, Hanoi
• Drop-off place: 217 Street, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa Province
• Frequency of departure per day: 01 turn/ day/ way
• Departure time from Hanoi: 07.00 a.m.

Sani Express Limousine Hanoi Pu Luong

Pu Luong Express Bus

• Contact: 0982 170 221
• Price: from VND 300,000/ person/ turn
• Pickup place: Hanoi Opera House (7.00 a.m.), 304 Metropolis Kim Ma (7.15 a.m.), 110 Tran Duy Hung Street (7.30 a.m.)
• Drop-off place: Pu Luong Hasana Resort, Ebino, Ecocharm, Natura, Retreat, Eco garden
• Frequency of departure per day: 01 turn/ day/ way

If you want more detailed information and book a seat, please do not hesitate to contact our Handpan team. Otherwise, you can refer to our article: How to get to Pu Luong from Hanoi. 

Spots to visit in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is an ideal destination to escape the city's hustle and bustle. Coming here, you may not want to miss these featured spots below.

Don Village (Ban Don)

Don Village is in Thanh Lam Commune, Ba Thuoc District, Thanh Hoa Province. This village is where a large number of Thai people live. Coming here, you will be amazed by the traditional stilt houses lying along the foothills, with a roof made of palm leaves. Besides admiring the stunning scenery, you will also have memorable experiences when joining the local's daily life activities. In addition to growing vegetables and planting rice, weaving is also a long-standing tradition of the Thai people in the Don Village. Let's visit the village and experience these exciting activities.

Don Village in Pu Luong

Kho Muong Village

Located deep inside the core area of Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Kho Muong Village appeals to tourists with the tranquillity and unspoiled beauty of nature. Although the route leading to the village is extremely winding, with the cliff on one side and the abyss on another side, it's worth driving. Visiting the village, you will find the Thai people's traditional stilt houses interspersed with rice and corn fields, surrounded by undulating mountains. Also, you will have a chance to learn more about the local's life and join rice planting, harvesting, and cultural exchange activities. 

Kho Muong Village

Walking through the extensive rice fields to the trail's end, you will reach the Kho Muong Cave, also known as the Doi Cave. The cave belongs to the karst form in the limestone mountain, with many large stalactites formed 250 million years ago. The deeper you go inside the cave, the more spacious the cave is. As the road to the cave is hard, it will be better to wear climbing or sports shoes. 

Kho Muong Cave

Son - Ba - Muoi Village

Son - Ba - Muoi are three highland villages in Lung Cao Commune, Ba Thuoc District in Thanh Hoa Province. This area is also known as the Cao Son area, located on the Pha He, Pha Chen Mountain peak, at 1200 meters above sea level. Therefore, it is pretty isolated from other villages on the mountain foot and has not been influenced by modern architecture from the outside. 

The path leading to Son - Ba - Muoi Villages

Son - Ba - Muoi Villages

Passing through steep and winding slopes, you can enjoy the peaceful rhythm of life amidst the majestic natural scenery in the three villages. Coming here, you will find traditional stilt houses with many characteristics of the ancient Thai people. 

Hieu Village

Hieu Village is also one of the Thai people's villages in the core area of Pu Luong Nature Reserve, located in the Co Lung Commune, Ba Thuoc District. The 25-kilometer road from Canh Nang Town to Hieu Village is stunning, with terraced rice fields on both sides. Coming to the village, you can admire the magnificent landscape of the fields, palm hills, and primeval forests.

Hieu Village in Pu Luong

The village is famous for the Hieu Waterfall and Hieu stream, which originate from a cave in the limestone mountain range of the Pu Luong - Cuc Phuong National Park. Therefore, the water here is always cool and crystal all year round.

Hieu Waterfall in Hieu Village

Muon Waterfall

Muon Waterfall, also known as Mo Waterfall, is located in the Dien Quang Commune, Ba Thuoc District, 500 meters above sea level. This majestic waterfall with 43 different levels is created from the stream flowing through the mountain slopes. Besides the falls and streams, Muon Waterfall has three caves with stunning stalactites: Mong Cave, But Cave, and Ben Bai Cave. 

Pu Luong peak

If you love trekking, you should not miss climbing Pu Luong peak, 1700 meters above sea level. It will take you about 5 to 6 hours to reach the peak. From here, you can admire a panoramic view of Pu Luong Nature Reserve with vast silver fields, forests, and quiet stilt houses. Besides, you can do overnight camping and adore beautiful dawn in the peak. 

For more places to explore in Pu Luong, please refer to our article: The top 07 spots in Pu Luong Nature Reserve you should not miss. 

Accommodation in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Currently, there are many accommodation choices in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, from homestays and hotels to resorts. However, the landscape and environment here are still guaranteed and preserved. If you want to know more about local people's life, you can choose to stay in the homestays in Kho Muong, Hieu, and Don Villages, with a price of VND 100,000 per person. Otherwise, you can stay in the hotels and resorts below.

Pu Luong Retreat

• Address: Don Village, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa
• Contact:  +84 24 3823 9988

Pu Luong Retreat

Pu Luong Retreat is ideal for those who want to escape from modern life and get closer to nature. The resort impresses guests with its boutique style, authentic environment, fantastic view, and exciting activities. 

Staying in Pu Luong Retreat, you will have a chance to experience rafting bamboo or kayaking, riding a bicycle, trekking through beautiful villages, and trying the local specialties. There are nine bungalows, one traditional stilt house with 16 beds, an infinity pool, and a spa inside the resort.

Stilt house in Pu Luong Retreat

Deluxe new wing bungalow in Pu Luong Retreat

Spa service in Pu Luong Retreat

Pu Luong Eco Garden

• Address: Bang village, Thanh Son Commune, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa
• Contact: +84 2439 323 323

Pu Luong Eco Garden

Pu Luong Eco Garden is also a choice of accommodation in Pu Luong Nature Reserve you may want to refer to. You can choose from seven room types: Dormitory (12 - 15 beds), Dormitory (6 - 8 beds), Deluxe Double room, Deluxe family room, Superior Double room, Superior Family Room, and Suite Villa with outdoor jacuzzi. By choosing Pu Luong Eco Garden, you can enjoy local and international dishes and homemade cocktails in the cozy restaurant and bar. Also, the resort's infinity pool is a place to refresh after a day exploring the area. 

Infinity pool in Pu Luong Eco Garden

Pu Luong Eco Restaurant

Pu Luong Boutique Garden

• Address: Don village, Thanh Lam commune, Pu Luong, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa
• Contact:  +84 869 641 813

Pu Luong Boutique Garden

Pu Luong Boutique Garden offers a breathtaking view of Pu Luong Nature Reserve, convenient room service, and great facilities. The resort has ten mountain bungalows divided into three room types: Superior Palm View Bungalow, Deluxe Bamboo View Bungalow, and Suite Rice Terraces View Bungalow. They are provided with a two-way air conditioner, a private bathroom with a hot shower, and daily breakfast served. Besides, Pu Luong Boutique Garden has three stilt houses with 16 beds and a shared bathroom. 

Stilt house in Pu Luong Boutique Garden

Deluxe bamboo view in Pu Luong Boutique Garden

Besides those above hotels and resorts, there are many other accommodation choices in Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Don't hesitate to contact our Handspan team to book a room. 

See more: The top 05 best resorts in Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Handspan Travel Indochina.

Local specialties in Pu Luong Nature Reserve 

Pu Luong Nature Reserve does not have many restaurants. However, you can try local specialties in your homestay, hotel, or resort. Pu Luong cuisine has the distinct features of Thai cuisine with grilled and steamed dishes with many flavors of the mountains. Let's see some local specialties you should try. 

• Co Lung duck (Vit Co Lung)

Coming to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, you may not want to miss dishes made from Co Lung duck, which has small bones and firm and lean meat. The best way to process Co Lung duck meat is roasted duck.

Roasted Co Lung duck

• Grilled stream fish (Ca suoi nuong)

The stream fish is washed and marinated with local people's spices, such as Mac khen, wild herbs, chili, lemongrass, etc. After marinating, the cook will use a bamboo stick to clamp the fish and grill until the fish is cooked. Then, you will have a delicious dish to enjoy.

Grilled stream fish

• Grilled armpit pig (Lon cap nach nuong)

Grilled armpit pig is the featured specialty of the Muong people. Its meat is extremely tasty when served with local spices. 

Besides these dishes, Pu Luong Nature Reserve offers other food like sweet bamboo shoots, bitter bamboo shoots, Lam rice, etc. Especially, Can wine (Ruou Can) is indispensable in each meal of the Thai people. 

In conclusion, you have just learned some information about Pu Luong National Park. You can explore the area yourself or book a tour with us. Below are two recommended tours by Handspan you may want to refer to.

 

From The Mountain to Ha Long Bay

Mai Chau Valley vs Pu Luong Reserve

Northern Vietnam Unveiled: 8-Day Nature & Culture Expedition