Peaceful Hieu Village in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

For those who love nature and regional cultural identity, Pu Luong Vietnam is an ideal stop on your trip to Vietnam. Pu Luong is a beautiful land that attracts tourists with its unspoiled natural landscape among majestic mountains and wild forests, immense terraced fields, quiet villages and idyllic indigenous life. In Pu Luong, there is a popular attraction for tourists, which is called Hieu village. So what is special about Ban Hieu, let's find out with us.

1. Glimpse about Hieu Village, Pu Luong

Being a tiny village located in Co Lung commune, Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa province, in the central area of Pu Luong nature reserve, Hieu village is situated on the banks of Hieu stream with more than one hundred scattered houses. It is also the main residence of the Thai ethnic minority. Hieu in Thai language means the uneven land, which juts out just similar to the topography where Hieu village and its waterfall are located. Visiting Ban Hieu village, visitors' first impression is the peaceful scenery, the traditional Thai stilt houses which are made entirely of natural materials such as bamboo, rattan and brocade patterns to create a cosy space.

Hieu Village

The distance from Hanoi to Hieu village is about 180 km away. There are many ways to get here such as buses, limousines, personal cars or motorcycles. However buses do not drop you off right at Pu Luong, they only stop at Canh Nang town, from where you need to hire a moto taxi or take a cab to reach Hieu Village, Pu Luong. If you choose to go to Hieu village by moped, the shortest route starts from Highway 6 - Xuan Mai town - Ho Chi Minh trail - Cam Thuy town - Canh Nang town - continues about 25 km across the wooden suspension bridge to get to Hieu village. The most convenient way is to visit Ban Hieu on a customised private tour to Pu Luong.

On the way to Hieu village, the green rice terraces together with the murmuring water of Hieu stream create a poetic scene that attracts tourists. Along the village, there are a total of 5 waterfalls, all of which are commonly called Hieu Waterfall.

2. Interesting things to see at Hieu village

Hieu Waterfall

Hieu Waterfall is the must-see attraction during your hiking route in Ban Hieu village. Recognized as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Pu Luong because of the wild scenery, the waterfall has a length of about 800m. Its stream falls from the top of the mountain, splitting into 2 branches that flow in 2 different directions and merge at the end of the stream. According to locals, water from the waterfall flows all year round and never runs out. It is even the water source for domestic use and irrigation of the local people and the surrounding area.

Hieu Waterfall

Amazingly different from other waterfalls, the Hieu Waterfall contains no mud or moss. Originating from the majestic limestone mountain range of the Cuc Phuong area, the cascade is an important type of global karst ecosystem topography and the only remaining lowland forest area of karst habitat in North Vietnam. The water in this stream contains a lot of limestone, creating the solidifications between the background and the banks of the stream, causing the petrification of trees and objects.

At the foot of the waterfall is a pool with a water level above 1m, allowing visitors to have fun and swim freely. Around Hieu Stream, an area of stilt houses, spacious and luxurious huts served to tourism can be seen, attracting more and more tourists to the waterfall every year.

Pho Doan Ethnic Market

Pho Doan ethnic market is a very famous market dating back to the French colonial period in Pu Luong. Discovering Hieu village, visitors have the opportunity to explore Pho Doan ethnic market, which is also known under the other name Pho Don. It is held only on Thursday and Sunday mornings. It functions as a place for cultural exchange among Kinh, Muong and Thai ethnic minorities. Its special feature is that exchanging and buying does not only use money, but goods of equal value can be exchanged.

Pho Doan ethnic market

3. Culinary specialties of the Hieu village

Co Lung Roast Duck

Co Lung roast duck is a popular dish of the Thai people in Hieu village, which is so tasty that almost all visitors would like to try it. This dish is made from the duck breed with short neck and stature. It is raised freely in the field so its meat is very flavorful.

Co Lung roast duck

After being cleaned, the duck will be marinated with spices such as salt, local seeds called Doi, Mac Khen and local leaves Mac Mat, then it is roasted over wood charcoal. When well cooked, it takes on the red brick colour and aroma stimulating the sense of taste.

Com Lam (sticky rice cooked in bamboo log)

Com lam is a culinary specialty of Hieu village, Pu Luong in particular and the northwest mountainous areas in general. It is a local dish always found in daily meals, on feast days and while working in the rocky fields. In Thai language, Lam means grilled, Com Lam means rice put in a bamboo tube and grilled over charcoal fire. The rice used to make Com Lam is carefully selected from freshly harvested upland glutinous rice with large, white, round grains. After soaking in water overnight, the rice will be placed in a bamboo tube lined with banana leaves and heated over the bamboo charcoal fire, wood fire, etc. Com Lam will be great if it is accompanied with a mixture of salt and sesame seasoning. It is really a simple but good food that tourists want to try when they come to Pu Luong.

Sticky rice grilled in the bamboo log

Bitter bamboo shoots

Bitter bamboo shoots are the compelling dish of Hieu village. Bitter bamboo shoots are harvested all year round, but they are most delicious in the rainy season. They are made into many different dishes such as fried bamboo shoots, pickled with chilli, boiled, etc. However, the most delicious is boiled bitter bamboo shoots served with salt and chilli mixed with Mac Khen seeds.

Bitter bamboo shoots

Hieu village’s chicken

Just like other typical dishes from the Northwest mountains, village's chicken will make you excited to try. In fact, this kind of chicken is freely raised in the fields and ravines, so it has a flavourful taste, totally different from the lowland chicken. The chicken is cooked with different recipes such as grilled chicken, boiled chicken, roasted chicken with lemongrass and chilli,etc. along with typical mountainous ingredients to create a delicious and irresistible taste.

Hieu village's chicken

Hope that with the above information about Hieu village, Pu Luong, travellers will get more inspiration to set out on your trip. To find out more about Pu Luong, you can see Best Time to Visit Pu Luong and Pu Luong tours.