Updated: 23 Oct 2020

Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Off The Beaten Track.

Pu Luong in Thai language is the highest peak. Pu Luong Nature Reserve belongs to Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa districts and Thanh Hoa. It has an area of ​​more than 17,600 ha and rich flora and fauna. With the untouched beauty of the rainforest. This place is one of the North West tourist attractions that attracts many visitors.

Why Puluong is attractive and off the beaten track now?

In the past, Pu Luong was only attractive to a small group of people in the dust tourism community. Because it was a difficult place to travel, and in the past few years Pu Luong is more famous because of the pictures of the area. To make it easier for you to explore Pu Luong, We would like to share some usefull information about Pu Luong.

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is 25 km from Cuc Phuong National Park. It’s connected to the tail of Cuc Phuong National Park with two rows of gray limestone mountains running parallel. In the middle are rice valleys. North and northeast of Pu Luong reserve is adjacent to Mai Chau , Tan Lac and Lac Son of Hoa Binh province. Stretching from the west to the south of the reserve is the Ma River. It’s begin from the border point of Quan Hoa district to Mai Chau district ( Hoa Binh province). ) through Quan Hoa town down near Canh Nang town (Ba Thuoc ).

Primary forest in Pu Luong nature reserve is a seasonal evergreen tropical closed forest. The five main forest subtypes exist as a result of elevation diversity and substrate levels: lowland broadleaf forest on limestone mountains (60–700 m); lowland broadleaf forest on schist, sandstone and clay (60-1,000 m); broad leaf forest of limestone mountain foot (700–950 m); Coniferous forest of limestone mountain (700–850 m) and broadleaf leaf forest of Bazan mountain (1,000 – 1,650 m). The reserve also has secondary forest cover. Such as bamboo forest, shrubs and agricultural land. Located not far from Cuc Phuong National Park. Pu Luong has a high similarity to flora and fauna compared to Cuc Phuong.

The two potential sites for exploitation into the resort are Son Ba Muoi (Lung Cao commune) and Pu Luong peak with 1,700 m height in Thanh Son commune area.

When Is The Best Time To Travel To Pu Luong Nature Reserve?

As a highland area surrounded by primeval forests, the climate in Pu Luong is quite pleasant even among hot summer days. If you want a complete trip, we would like to suggest some toursto Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Before you go, check this one. 

  • At the end of May and early June: Beautiful with green terraced rice fields.

  • In September and October: Harvest Season with yellow terraces. Highly recommended. 

puluong-rice-fields
Pu Luong Rice Fields

How To Go To Pu Luong Nature Reserve?

There are no direct bus routes to Pu Luong. So if you want to use public transport to get here. It is quite hard, if you want to ride a bus, you will have to use a combination of different types of vehicles. . To be your convenience, you can join our daily bus tour from Hanoi ( Only bus: Hanoi-Mai Chau-Pu Luong). We will pick up at your hotel in Old Quarter Hanoi and rent go directly to your place in Pu Luong. If you want, you can join our tours also. The best way, but of course, more expensive, you can use our private transfer services: Such as motorbike rentals, private cars from Hanoi. So you can drive or we will drive you to Pu Luong.

Where To Stay In Pu Luong Nature Reserve?

Until now, there are many new homestays/ resorts opened in Pu Luong. The most popular type of accommodation is the homestay provided by local people. (Thai & Muong ecthnic minority). You will experience the life of the local people, eat and enjoy the specialties prepared by the people here. But Pu Luong is big and there are several villages, you must plan first and then stay at your convenient place.

What to see In Pu Luong Nature Reserve?

1. Kho Muong Village

Kho Muong is a valley located deep in the core zone of Pu Luong nature reserve. It’s less affected by human impact, so it retains its inherent wild and poetic features. This is home to 60 Thai households, with 230 people. Kho Muong village is separated from other villages in the region, about 2km from Thanh Son Commune People’s Committee. But the road to the village is not easy. The bumpy road is a challenge for many people who like to explore here.

Kho-Muong-Village
Kho Muong Village

2. Kho Muong Cave - Bat Cave

Kho Muong Cave is one of the caves with attractive beauty in the population of caves discovered in Pu Luong Nature Reserve. The limestone stalactites formed about 250 million years ago. The cave has a connection with the underground river system with a length of about 2.5 km. The river and stream system that flows in the cave is a common feature of the Kart rocky areas, which creates a connection between the valley by the flow of the streams.

Kho Muong Cave is also home to many bats. There are 4 species of bats reside in this cave at different times of the year. Going deeper into the cave, visitors will be able to see and admire stone blocks and stalactites with strange shapes. Such as human figures, trees, beast… full of different colors, blurry, all appear very vivid and unique. Entering a deep corner in the cave also has a very wide open field that looks like a natural volleyball court. This is one of the most highlights of the bat cave.

Bat-Cave
Bat Cave

3. Don Village

Don Village, the home of Thai ethnic people with population of 285 people (80 households). About 2 years ago, domestic and foreign tourists came to Don village more and more. Ban Don has peaceful space, beautiful natural landscape. But also enjoy the specialties of indigenous people. Such as: bamboo shoots, grass ducks, wild pigs, hill chickens,… especially the scenery and hospitality of the local people.

4. Son Ba Muoi Village

Son Ba Muoi is 3 upland villages of Lung Cao commune. It is about 130 km northwest of the city center and is considered a miniatureSa Padue to the year-round temperate climate, the average temperature in the year is from 18 – 22 degrees Celsius, sometimes the winter has snow, Summer night temperatures si also very low.

Son Ba Muoi is also known as Cao Son. It’s located on the top of Pha He, Pha Chien mountain ranges, running parallel to the majestic Pu Luong – Cuc Phuong mountain circuit. Cao Son belongs to the core zone of Pu Luong Nature Reserve and is adjacent to Ngoc Son – Ngo Luong Nature Reserve of Hoa Binh.

In particular, Son Ba Muoi is quite isolated from the outside, so far. There are many traditions of ancient Thai people, the stilt houses still retain the traditional mark, clearly showing the peculiarities not affected by those. Modern architecture from outside doped.

5. Hieu Village

Ban Hieu is a Thai village located on the bank of the Hieu stream. It’s originating from the Pu Luong peak. The village consists of more than a hundred rooftops scattered along both sides of the stream. Every time there is a beautiful waterfall, the floor roofs are thicker, creating a waterfall scene – a beautiful house on stilts. Both streams from the beginning of the village to the end of the village are only about kilometers. But there are 5 waterfalls, every waterfall is beautiful. Therefore, the people in the village called all the waterfalls as the Hiêu waterfall and loved to call that stream with the name “Hiêu stream”.

6. Doan Town Let Market

Doan street is the name of the market from the French colonial period in Lung Niep commune, Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa province. This is the place to trade goods and meet the people of Kinh, Muong and Thai ethnic groups in the communes around the region with people in Tan Lac and Lac Son districts … Hoa Binh province.

The unique of this market is exchanging by products. They dont trade in money. For example a chicken can exchange for two dozen eggs with a bunch of vegetables that both sides feel comfortable and happy. Just “a belly” is buying right away, rarely seeing the price, demanding.

What To Eat In Pu Luong Nature Reserve?

There are many famous traditional food here. If you stay at homestay, you should ask the local hosts to prepare for you.

Hope the information above you can find the useful information before travel Pu Luong. If you have any enquiry about this area let give us a mail to localtoursvietnam@gmail.com.

Pu-Luong-Nature-Reserve
Pu Luong Nature Reserve