Hiking trip in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is geographically lying in the two districts of Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc in Thanh Hoa Province. It is well-known to every visitor for its primitive landscape and plentiful and diversified flora and fauna. Hence, out of many hiking tours in Vietnam, a hiking trip from Hanoi to explore the Pu Luong natural reserve is the fascinating one for those who love to discover the beauty of nature.

Rustic beauty of Pu Luong Nature Reserve

A diverse nature reserve of Pu Luong: Stretching an area of 17,662ha, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is now the largest low area of limestone forest in the Northern Vietnam. It consists of three major types, including thick forests on low land and low mountains; forests on limestone mountains and floristic compositions of bamboos, Neohouzeaua and bushes.

The statistics of the Management Board show that the Pu Luong Nature Reserve has 1,109 species of vascular plants, under 447 branches and 152 families, of which 42 special-use varieties of plants of Vietnam and four species listed in the World’s Red Book. Additionally, Pu Luong is also home to nearly 600 species of animals, birds and reptiles with 51 precious and special-use species listed in the red books of Vietnam and the world, including 26 species of animals, 5 species of bat, 9 species of birds, 5 species of fresh water fish and 6 species of reptiles. In particular, Pu Luong is the living place of the second largest population of Vooc mong trang (Trachypithecus delacouri) in Vietnam with 31-38 individuals (the first belongs to Vooc mong trang in Van Long Nature Reserve – Ninh Binh Province).

How to reach Pu Luong? As the road 15C runs through Pu Luong Nature Reserve is Road 15C, you can easily travel to the reserve from two directions: You can depart from Lac Village in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh to Highway 47 and then Road 15C at Co Luong crossroad; or else you choose to start from the Ho Chi Minh Trail and turning right at Cam Thuy Town, Thanh Hoa Province to arrive in Road 15C at Canh Nang Town.

Road into Pu Luong Nature Reserve

What Pu Luong offers?

Stunning terraced rice field in Hieu Hamlet - Short trip from Hanoi to Pu Luong

Immense terrace fields in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

A hiking trip in Pu Luong offers you to discover the beauty of the natural landscape, along with ecological forests with plentiful fauna and flora as well as to experience the unique and interesting culture, customs and habits of the Thai and Muong people living there. Apart from the immense terraced fields and mysterious caves in Hang and Kho Muong Hamlets, Hieu Hamlet is also one of the “must-visit” destinations during the trip. Following a path not far from Pho Doan Town, you can catch the image of many water wheels, which are typical tool of the Thai ethnic people. Continuing crossing over a suspension bridge and climbing a slope, you reach the place where two waterfalls rush noisily. Listen! You can hear the rumbling sound of these waterfalls from afar.

Hiking trip in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Good news for adventurous traveler, a five-hour-tour to climb to Pu Luong peak must be a perfect choice! With an altitude of 1,700 meter, the peak is ranked as the highest mountain in the area and will bring visitors lots of unforgettable moments, especially when you see the grandiose beauty of Pu Luong Valley at the mountain peak.

A day tour hiking in Pu Luong finishes at an airy and spacious houses-on-stilts of the local ethnic people. Sitting near the fire, you are invited local delicious dishes, such as Com lam (sticky rice cooked on bamboo tubes) and a salad of banana inflorescence. Drinking Can wine and watching traditional dances and songs of Thai and Muong, all are lasting memories of each visitor.

A tidy room for home-stay in Hieu Hamlet

In conclusion, Pu Luong endowed with immense green forests and green terraced fields will completely treasures many mysteries expecting to be discovered. Up to now, Pu Luong Nature Reserve has become an ideal destination for not only domestic visitors but foreign ones as well.

(Source VNP)