Everything You Need to Know About Pu Luong

When it comes to the mountainous regions in the North of Vietnam, tourists are likely already familiar with destinations such as Mai Chau, Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, Ha Giang, and Ba Be. However, did you know that there is also a wild, beautiful, and majestic area near Hanoi called Pu Luong? If you have not yet heard of this place, it is worth exploring, as it is sure to leave a lasting impression. In this article, we will provide you with detailed information about Pu Luong, so you can add it to your Vietnam itinerary and discover it for yourself.

1. Where is Pu Luong?

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a protected area located in Thanh Hoa province. Covering more than 17,000 hectares, Pu Luong is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. The reserve is also a cultural hub for the Thai people community. This off-the-beaten-path destination is just 150 km southwest of Hanoi, 65 km south of Mai Chau, and 125 km northwest of Ninh Binh.

Travel map from Hanoi to Pu Luong, Mai Chau and Ninh Binh

2. Reasons to travel to Pu Luong

In the past, only the brave "adventurers" dared to conquer the land of Pu Luong due to its difficult terrain and poor services. However, in recent years, Pu Luong has gained popularity and become an increasingly attractive destination for tourists, both Vietnamese and foreigners. There are several reasons why Pu Luong is so attractive, but the following three are the main ones.

2.1. The majestic, pristine nature and the beautiful terraced fields

Pu Luong possesses a wild and rustic beauty that captivates many tourists. When visiting Pu Luong, you will be immersed in the natural beauty of the area, which includes the vast terraced fields, green jungles, ethnic villages surrounded by rolling hills and mountains, charming waterwheels by the streams, romantic waterfalls, and of course, the lovely local people.

It's worth noting that, similar to Mai Chau, Pu Luong has two rice seasons in a year. Therefore, from March to October, you will always have the opportunity to witness the breathtaking terraced rice fields. What a wonderful natural picture it is!

2.2. Peaceful and less tourists

Pu Luong is a hidden gem nestled in the Northwestern mountains and forests. For a long time, people have been accustomed to visiting famous tourist spots like Sapa, which makes it easy to miss a place like this. As a result, Pu Luong doesn't attract too many tourists and is free from the hustle and bustle of crowds while still retaining its inherent tranquility and natural beauty.

There are not any tall hotel buildings in Pu Luong. Instead, you can find sleeping places in the form of homestays, lodges, and other similar structures that blend in with nature. This means that Pu Luong's stunning landscape remains unspoiled, unlike many other mainstream places.

Furthermore, the ethnic villages in Pu Luong have not yet experienced much tourism. The local people are so kind, hospitable, and proud of their unique cultural identities.

Pu Luong scenery in November

2.3. Convenient transportation and travel from Hanoi

Pu Luong is located approximately 150 km away from Hanoi and can be reached after a 3.5-hour drive. In recent years, the road leading to Pu Luong has been significantly improved, making transportation to the area much easier. Additionally, Pu Luong is near other popular tourist destinations, such as Ninh Binh and Mai Chau, allowing visitors to easily add it to their itinerary.

Are you a nature lover? Do you yearn to explore ethnic villages, and terraced fields, or simply crave a peaceful space? Pu Luong, located in the north of Vietnam, is one of the best options for you.

3. What is the best season in Pu Luong?

Pu Luong is a highland area that is surrounded by primitive forests. The climate here is quite pleasant, even during hot summer days. Between April and August, the temperature can reach up to 37°C during the day, and drop to 27 to 29°C at night. In winter, the temperature can drop to 7-8°C, sometimes accompanied by fog.

There are two rice seasons in Pu Luong from March to October, which makes it almost always possible to see rice on the terraced fields. You will be easily captivated by the beauty of Pu Luong at any time.

The most beautiful time to visit Pu Luong is during the ripe rice season, which occurs at the end of May, the beginning of June, and the end of September through the beginning of October. During this time, the terraced fields on the hillsides turn a vibrant shade of yellow, contrasting beautifully with the lush green forest. You may also witness the local farmers harvesting the rice in the fields. The rolling hills of yellow rice create a stunning brocade, resembling the traditional costumes of the ethnic people. All of these elements combine to form a vivid and memorable image of Pu Luong.

However, it's possible to travel to Pu Luong at any time of the year. In April, the weather is usually cool and pleasant, with occasional light sunshine. The forest and rice fields of Pu Luong are covered in green, and the sky is blue. Walking through this lush green space can be a very peaceful experience. Even when the rice isn't growing on the terraced fields, like in November to January, Pu Luong is still a beautiful destination as the green color covers the mountains and forests. It's important to note that there may be cold winter days or foggy weather that obscures the view.

Pu Luong Scenery in December

Additionally, there may be a risk of storms during the summer months, usually in August.

4. How to get to Pu Luong?

4.1. Renting a car

Pu Luong is a newly developed tourist destination, so if you want to have a complete and safe trip, it's best to use the private car services of a local tour company. A good driver will ensure your safety and that of your loved ones throughout the journey. The estimated price is 90 USD/ way Hanoi—Pu Luong (7-seater car).

4.2. Shuttle bus

Alternatively, you can take a shuttle bus. Shuttle bus from Pu Luong Retreat, Pu Luong Eco Garden costs around 21 USD/ 2 ways Hanoi – Pu Luong – Hanoi.

Pu Luong Retreat and Pu Luong Eco Garden are two hotels that offer shuttle bus services from Hanoi to Pu Luong at reasonable prices. You don't necessarily have to book a room at either hotel to rent a car. They will pick you up from your hotel in the Hanoi Old Town and drop you off at either Pu Luong Retreat or Pu Luong Eco Garden.

4.3. Local public bus

There is no direct local public bus available to reach Pu Luong from Hanoi. However, you can take a bus from Giap Bat, Nuoc Ngam, or My Dinh bus stations in Hanoi. The popular bus route to Pu Luong is via Hanoi - Ba Thuoc - Thanh Hoa, and the ticket price for this route is approximately 8 USD/person.

The bus will arrive in Canh Nang town, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa. Then, you can take a taxi (about 15 USD) or a motorbike taxi (about 4 USD / person) to Pu Luong.

4.4. Motorbike

If you are a young tourist who loves adventure, renting a motorbike might be an option for you. From Hanoi, you can rent a motorbike in the Hanoi Old Quarter. To reach Pu Luong, you can ride along the Ho Chi Minh trail to Cam Thuy, turn right, and then proceed straight to Canh Nang Town. Turn onto road 15C and ride for another 10 km. This journey is approximately 170 km and takes around 4.5 hours to drive. Alternatively, there is another road that passes through Mai Chau - Hoa Binh, but it is slightly further, at 185 km. Please note that the mountainous roads in Vietnam are very challenging to ride, even for Vietnamese. Therefore, you must consider this plan carefully before deciding.

5. Transportations in Pu Luong

5.1. Walking – trekking

Trekking in Pu Luong is the most popular activity, and like all mountain tours, trekking is the best way to explore ethnic villages, immerse yourself in wild nature, and see the daily life of the local people. There are several trekking paths to choose from based on your abilities. If you have limited time and can't walk much, you can opt for the villages close to where you stay and walk for about 2-3 hours per day.

For those who enjoy trekking, you can spend an entire day exploring the villages and venturing deep into the Pu Luong Nature Reserve's core zone to discover more unspoiled beauty. If you plan to travel without a tour guide, you can always hire a local guide to take you on the trek. Please note that the local guide may not be fluent in foreign languages, but they will guide you along the route according to your schedule. The reference price for a local guide is 17 USD per day.

5.2. Motorbike, Motorbike taxi

If you plan to explore Pu Luong on your own, renting a motorbike is a great option. Motorbike rentals in Pu Luong typically cost around 7 USD/ day. However, renting a motorbike at the resort may be a little bit more expensive. To get a good price, I suggest checking with homestays in Pu Luong. On the other hand, if you need a guide to explore Pu Luong, renting a motorbike taxi is a better option. Motorbike taxi drivers are local and knowledgeable about the area. They can take you to the most beautiful places in Pu Luong. The cost of moto-taxi is around 14 USD/day.

6. What to see in Pu Luong?

6.1. Visiting Don village

Ban Don, also known as Don Village, is situated in Thanh Lam commune, which is located at the center of Pu Luong Natural Reserve. The majority of the local population comprises Thai ethnic groups. The village has preserved its cultural heritage, including its unique stilt house architecture with palm leaf roofing. Ban Don is also renowned for having the largest terraced fields in the region.

Ever since the establishment of Pu Luong Retreat in Don village, Pu Luong's popularity among tourists has been on the rise. Despite the increasing number of visitors, this area remains peaceful and far from being crowded, unlike many other tourist destinations. Most tours to explore Pu Luong begin from Don village, which serves as the starting point.

6.2. Visiting Kho Muong Village

Kho Muong Village is located in the Thanh Son commune, which is considered one of the most beautiful and unspoiled valleys in the Pu Luong nature reserve. The village has been home to the White Thai people for a long. Visitors can admire the beautiful natural scenery surrounded by terraced fields, green mountains, and forests. Due to its isolation from other villages in the region, Kho Muong is a favorite destination for adventurous travelers who love trekking.

In Kho Muong, visitors can immerse themselves in a cultural exchange and experience the traditional practices of the Thai ethnic minority. You can also indulge in the region's traditional specialties. Additionally, visitors can explore the Bat Cave, a beautiful cave that houses various types of bats. The cave is adorned with unique rock formations and stalactites with distinctive shapes.

6.3. Visiting Hieu Village

In the Co Lung commune, there's an intriguing Thai village that's worth a visit. It's called Hieu Village featuring over a hundred traditional stilt houses that are located on both sides of the Hieu Waterfall. Although it's only 4km away from Pho Doan market, the road to Hieu Village is quite dangerous. Cars aren't able to get into the village, so visitors must either go by motorbike or on foot. Riding a motorbike taxi is a thrilling challenge. The driver will take you on a trail for about 2 km where there is a cliff on one side and a deep valley on the other. The natural scenery is truly awe-inspiring. However, if it rains, the road can become muddy, which makes it quite dangerous to ride a motorbike taxi.

If you want to explore Hieu village without retracing your steps, you could take a motorbike taxi to the village and then walk down the main road towards Hieu waterfall. There are several local houses in Hieu village where you can stay as a guest. If you're looking for more comfortable accommodation, you might consider Ban Hieu Garden Lodge or Les Bains de Hieu Ecolodge.

6.4. Visiting Hieu Waterfall

Hieu Waterfall, located in Hieu village, is renowned for its exquisite beauty in the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Although not as grandiose as other North Vietnam's waterfalls like Silver Waterfall or Ban Gioc Waterfall, it stretches down from high mountains. The waterfall is nestled among the lush greenery of the mountains and forests, weaving through cliffs and tree stumps, creating a serene and rustic natural scene. In the middle of the waterfall, there is a deep pool of water that is perfect for swimming.

During the summer, tourists flock to Hieu Waterfall to immerse themselves in the cool water, which is extremely refreshing. As you walk down the Hieu Waterfall, you'll discover a picturesque countryside, with houses on stilts hidden among the mountains and forests' greenery, waterwheels, and ethnic people working in the fields.

6.5. Going to Pho Doan Market

Fair markets are an interesting aspect of Vietnam tours to the mountains. They are not only places for buying, selling, and exchanging goods but also for ethnic minorities to meet and exchange ideas. For them, visiting the market is akin to attending a festival. They wear traditional and colorful dresses and set out early in the morning for the market. By visiting these fairs, you get to interact with people from diverse ethnic backgrounds and learn about their lifestyle, culture, and local products. Pho Doan market is held every Thursday and Sunday. If you visit Pu Luong on these days, don't miss out on the opportunity to visit the market!

6.6. Visiting Son Ba Muoi village

Son Ba Muoi is a beautiful village located in Lung Cao commune, at an altitude of around 1,180m above sea level. This village is a great place to admire the immense and poetic Pu Luong. Although the road to Son Ba Muoi is quite difficult, it can be an exciting challenge for adventurous people. One of the unique features of Son Ba Muoi is its isolation from the outside world. As a result, the village still retains many traditional aspects of the ancient Thai people. The stilt houses in the village still showcase the imprint of traditional architecture, unaffected by modern construction techniques from the outside.

6.7. Exploring Pu Luong Peak

Pu Luong in Thai language means the highest mountain peak. The summit of Pu Luong stands at an elevation of 1,700 meters above sea level, making it an ideal destination for adventurous trekkers. From the top of Pu Luong, visitors can take in the stunning views of the surrounding mountains, lush forests, and the vast valley of rice fields below.

7. Places to stay in Pu Luong

There are 2 types of favorite accommodation in Pu Luong: Homestay and Lodge.

7.1. Homestays

The experience of staying overnight in Pu Luong's house is truly authentic. As there are very few new accommodations available for tourists, you will be sharing a house with your host family. The living conditions are simple, but you will have the opportunity to observe their daily life and enjoy their rustic dishes prepared from locally available ingredients. You can relish a delicious meal of a grazing duck in the field, some fish in the pond, and some vegetables in the garden. The cost for an overnight stay in a local house is approximately 15 USD per person, which includes dinner, breakfast, and a sleeping mat on a shared floor.

Most of the homestays are in Co Lung, Thanh Lam, Thanh Son, and Lung Cao in Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa.

Here is the list of homestays for your reference in Pu Luong:

• Manh Cuong Homestay | Add: Thanh Son, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa| Tel: 097 758 12 64
• Ngoc Dau Homestay | Add: Co Lung, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa| Tel: 0327 111 547
• Hong Ly Homestay | Add: Kho Muong, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa | Tel: 039 280 2218
• Thai House Tai Dam Pu Luong | Add: Hieu village, Co Lung, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa | Tel: 037 732 1982
• Tho Ha Homestay | Add: Thanh Son, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa | Tel: 0372 499 636
• Ha Dinh Nech Homestay | Add: Kho Muong, Thanh Lam, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa | Tel: 0237 38690293 - 0945 801 124
• Son Bá Mười Homestay | Add: Lung Cao, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa | Tel: 038 888 8817
• Nguyen Lan Homestay | Add: Thanh Son, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa | Tel: 038 316 4319
• Huy Thục Homestay | Add: Thanh Lam, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa | Tel: 097 377 95 88

7.2. Pu Luong Lodges

There are no building hotels, the lodges in Pu Luong are built in harmony with the wild landscape of the region and do not disrupt the natural landscape. In the lodge, you also have 2 options: either stay in a stilt house with other groups, which is low price, or stay in private bungalows or private rooms, which is a higher price. The average price of sleeping on stilts is usually 15 USD / pax, including breakfast.

No hotel in Pu Luong is built in a conventional style. Instead, the lodges here are built to blend in with the wild landscape of the region and do not disrupt the natural surroundings. When you stay at the lodge, you have two options: you can either stay in a shared stilt house with other groups at a reasonable price or opt for private bungalows/rooms which are more expensive. The average cost of sleeping on stilts is usually 15 USD per person, which includes breakfast, while fee for bungalows as below.

Here is the list of lodges for your reference in Pu Luong:

• Pu Luong Retreat
  • Add: Don village, Pu Luong Natural Reserve, Ba Thuoc Dist, Thanh Hoa
  • Web: Puluongretreat.com
  • Price: From 90 USD/night (including breakfast)
• Pu Luong Ecogarden (Swimming Pool available)
  • Add: Bang village, Pu Luong Natural Reserve, Ba Thuoc Dist, Thanh Hoa
  • Web: Puluongecogarden.com
  • Price: From 35 USD/night (including breakfast)
• Pu Luong Natura Bungalow ( Swimming Pool available)
  • Add: Don village, Pu Luong Natural Reserve, Ba Thuoc Dist, Thanh Hoa
  • Web: naturabugalow.com
  • Price: From 55USD/night (including breakfast)
• Pu Luong Home ( Swimming Pool available)
  • Add: Don village, Pu Luong Natural Reserve, Ba Thuoc Dist, Thanh Hoa
  • Fanpage: Puluong-Home
  • Price: From 40USD/night (including breakfast)

• Pu Luong Tree House
  • Add: Don village, Pu Luong Natural Reserve, Ba Thuoc Dist, Thanh Hoa
  • Web: puluongtreehouse.com
  • Price: From 50 USD/night (including breakfast)
• Ban Hieu Garden Lodge
  • Add: Hieu village, Pu Luong Natural Reserve, Ba Thuoc Dist. Thanh Hoa
  • Fanpage: Ban-Hieu-Garden-Lodge
  • Price: From 45 USD/ night (including breakfast)
• Les Bains De Hieu Ecolodge
  • Add: Hieu village, Pu Luong Natural Reserve, Ba Thuoc Dist. Thanh Hoa
  • Fanpage: www.facebook.com/lesbainsdehieu
  • Price: From 90 USD/ night (including breakfast)

8. What to eat in Pu Luong?

While in Pu Luong, it's common to have your meals at the place you stay, whether it's a Lodge or a homestay. The cuisine in Pu Luong is largely influenced by Thai dishes with grilled and steamed dishes, as well as the use of many mountain spices.

Some of the most popular dishes include grilled Muong pig, freshwater fish, hill chicken, and Co Lung duck. A meal at a homestay typically costs around 7-8 USD per person for lunch or dinner, while at the Lodge, the price is usually between 10-12 USD per person for the same meal.

9. How to organize a tour of Pu Luong?

You can easily organize tours from Hanoi to Pu Luong or combine Pu Luong with other destinations: Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, Da Bac, Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.

To see more tours of Pu Luong Nature Reserve, visit our Pu Luong Tours for the best programs and quotations. IZITOUR also helps to customize private tours, so please send your inquiry to sm@izitour.com to get a free proposal. 

When discovering Vietnam, make sure to visit Pu Luong for an unforgettable experience!

See more:

• Pu Luong Rice Terraces - True Nature Beauty in Vietnam
• Peaceful Hieu Village in Pu Luong Nature Reserve
• Best Time to Visit Pu Luong
• Your Next Off-the-beaten-track Destination: Da Bac