Trek it , explore it and support it.

Mai Chau Trekking, Pu Luong, Vietnam tours, Adventure tours

Cuc Phuong National Park

“The Pu Luong – Cuc Phuong mountain range is the largest remaining area of lowland limestone forest in northern Vietnam, the Pu Luong range is no exception. Home to endangered animals, the mountain’s underground rivers, caves and caverns also harbour countless unique invertebrates. Its chalky slopes, too steep for cultivation, remain covered in rich forests with rare orchids. Close to Hanoi, Cuc Phuong is a favored destination for sight-seeing while Pu Luong and its traditional Thai and Muong communities are becoming the attraction for trekkers”

Pu Luong, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam

This morning I received an email from Heiwig, my Austrian travel companion, with regards to the picture of us taken during the trip to Pu Luong. My heart skipped a beat when thinking about Pu Luong and the great 4 day trip I joined with Heiwig and his “gang” from Austria.

A walk on the clouds

After leaving Hanoi behind on a cold rainy day, we arrived at the entrance of Pu Luong Nature Reserve area after lunch and started our walk to the village of Hang where we spent the first night. It was great to breathe in fresh air and discover the local life. It was still raining but the view of green mountains and deep valleys covered by a white blanket of cloud and fog make our walk like “ a walk on the clouds”. It didn’t take long to reach Hang Village, we settled in a Thai traditional stilt house, had dinner with delicious food and warmed up with a round of home made rice wine.

Trekking Pu Luong

The next morning we woke early, everybody was in high spirits as it had stopped raining. We said goodbye to our hosts and walked through Hang village and embarked the hillside path, crossed over a wild rocky stream. We passed several peaceful Thai and Muong villages along the green valley between two giant mountains.

Trek through village

It was a challenging trek from Ban Hang to Eo Ken on the second morning, trekking from the valley up to the secondary road C15. The cloud stayed low and it was humid. The day was full of surprises, after lunch we passed by Dong DiengVillage and got lost in the most breathtaking scenery ever. We walked on the red soil road, which lies like a king snake through the green mountain, when wind blew cloud away we could see deep into the forest – giant trees with their white smooth trunks and wild banana flowers blooming. In another second, the cloud closed up and we floated along the cloudy road again.

The highlight of the day was when the valley of Kho Muong appeared in front of us. It was the picture of a happy, peaceful village with a small river feeding water for all. We found Mrs. Be’s stilt house at the end of the village and were warmly welcomed into a relaxing household. We had a good rest and got ready to cross over the mountain the next morning.

The mountain was an exciting challenge. The rocks here are like sharp cat ears so they called it “cat ears rocky mountain”. We spent almost three hours hiking to the other side of the mountain. The feeling when you reach the flat land again is always great and we were very happy to see a cold beer when we reached our next village. As we continued trekking, we reached the biggest market in all over Pu Luong area and spent our last night at The Nature Reserve Office building. That night at Pho Doan market we shared a sleepless night with beers, songs and lots of stories we would bring home to share with our dearest friends.

We ended up our trip with an awesome “xe om” motor bike ride from Pho Doan to La Han ferry, where our driver was waiting for us. Holding on tight, I silently said goodbye to the mountain we were leaving behind.

Pu Luong is a destination I would love to return to and spend longer than four days. For Heiwig, his family and me, we shared an unique experience with Pu Luong in a time where the sky met the mountain and we walked in a dreamlike scene, Pu Luong – A walk in the cloud!

Arriving in Pu Luong Nature Reserve where there are immense green forests and green terraced fields, tourists seem to be lost in a valley, completely separated from the outside world, with many mysteries expecting to be discovered. 

With many foreign tourists, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is the interesting ideal for trekking trips  or cycling options. Biking in Pu Luong is one of the best ways to discover the natural beauty of the region and exotic culture of minority groups. 

Recommend Biking tour or Trekking tour in Pu Luong Nature Reserve  by ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA

Biking Pu Luong Nature Reserve: On biking tour we will ride on the first part of the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail and spend 3 nights in villages of Thai people.  

Highlights 

• Biking on the first part of Ho Chi Minh Trail
• Homestay in villages of Thai people
• Stunning scenery
• Traditional foot massage

Trekking in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Highlights 

• Unspoiled Pu Luong Nature Reserve 
• Friendly ethnic minorities
• Homestay in villages
• Beautiful trails
• All meals included

As a country with every terrain imaginable, Vietnam offers a memorable bicycling adventure for any and all peddlers, regardless of experience or condition. The flat expanse of the Mekong Delta grows to rugged mountains in the central expanse and then blends into the widest variety of difficulty north near Hanoi.

Traffic and Bicycle Laws

Along with standard laws like not causing traffic problems by racing or zigzagging, Vietnam has few laws targeted specifically toward the bicyclist. It is important to remember not to carry cumbersome loads, carry children over age seven with you or ride more than two abreast. No sort of helmet or lighting is required, but bicyclists are not allowed to ride with open umbrellas. One can only guess what happened to make this law.

Common Trips

For those interested in adventure and active trips, there are some routes that will take you through and explore the backcountry while providing some modicum of modern amenities. ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA_one of the travel companies offering cycling tours in Indochina_ is received good reviews of adventure travelers.

Biking Mekong Delta

The easiest of these is around the Mekong Delta. With a terrain nearly devoid of any rise, these trips are easier, but by no means less scenic, than the others. Traveling through the expanse of rice paddies dotted with the occasional copse of trees, the rider will be joined by children cycling to or from school or women returning from the market. People in the villages will be pleasantly surprised to see a foreigner riding into town and a circuit from Ho Chi Minh to any of the surrounding villages is an easy ride. With the flat terrain and abundance of villages it is easy to take a trip of any length, whether only a day or two weeks, a rider can tour without backtracking.

Biking Mai chau, Hoa Binh province

The northern area allows for more wooded scenery while still allowing for easier trips. For the more adventurous, the northern area provides a greater degree of difficulty through the hills surrounding Hanoi. This trip offers a great opportunity to see the two area of outstanding nature beauty; the North West highlands of Mai Chau and the limestone mountains of Ninh Binh. Biking is a great way to see this fascinating and visually stunning part of Vietnam, offering both physical activity and the unique opportunity to observe a way of life that has changed little over the centuries. As we ride in Mai Chau we encounter Muong and White Thai minorities and are guests in their traditional stilt houses allowing us to see firsthand how these minority peoples live. In Ninh Binh we explore the beauty of “Halong Bay on the rice fields” on bikes.

Biking Ho Chi Minh trail

A new trip for the adventurous would be along the historical Ho Chi Minh trail. The so-called Ho Chi Minh Trail is one of the most renowned legends of the American War. The complicated road system winds along the Truong Son Range, which that facilitated movement of soldiers and war supplies from North Vietnam to battlefields in South Vietnam. Now the historic trail is being turned into a highway and hotels and towns are springing up speedily beside it. The route is incredibly beautiful with new mountain views around every corner, very little traffic, and virtually no tourists.

Weather

Weather in Southeast Asia is a big consideration and it is recommended to go from Late September to December or March to late May. The weather in the southern area of Vietnam stays warm and humid averaging 26°C with its rainy season from June to September. BE WARNED: Vietnam sees monsoonal rains starting in June, peaking in August and tapering down in September. This season varies depending on location; Hanoi in the north generally has a rainy season that peaks earlier while Ho Chi Minh City may not see its rains slack until early October. Vietnam, especially central Vietnam, often floods and can hold up a trip for a week before the waters recede.

The hot season will see temperatures averaging 30°C, with the south staying warm all year round and the north seeing winter trends averaging 15°C. Depending on the time of year, it would be advisable to take a jacket to keep off the chill, especially if riding in the highlands, and a hat to protect against the sun.

Other Considerations

Visas must be applied for at least six months prior to entry date. Tourist visas are granted for one month, but may be extended after arrival in Vietnam, and only allow one entry into the country. Tourists must fill out arrival/departure papers and declaration papers, keeping both with the passport at all times. It is also recommended having a few extra passport-size photos with you as local authorities may request these and it is always a good idea to stay on the good side of authorities.

With over two-thirds of its roads unpaved and those paved roads sporting an abundance of potholes, the road conditions almost require a mountain bike. 

The lush landscapes and warm hospitality provide anyone with a good biking tour of Vietnam. Take the time to look around and smell the proverbial “roses”.

The houses-on-stilts nestled between the mountains, the yellow terraced fields and green primitive forests., white cloud around…making a natural and wild picture dream. That is scenery you may see when arriving Nature Reserve (NR) Pu Luong.

Pu Luong Natural Reserve, Vietnam

Located in the two districts of Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc in the northwestern area of Thanh Hoa Province, Pu Luong Natural Reserve has preserved a primitive landscape and plentiful and diversified flora and fauna. With the above natural values, it has now become a fascinating destination for those who love to discover the beauty of nature.

Pu Luong Natural Reserve, covering an area of 17,662ha, is the largest low area of limestone mountain forests left in the north of Vietnam with three major forest types: thick forests on low land and low mountains; forests on limestone mountains and floristic compositions of bamboos, Neohouzeaua and bushes.

According to the statistics of Pu Luong Nature Reserve’s Management Board, the reserve has 1,109 species of vascular plants, under 447 branches and 152 families. There are 42 special-use varieties of plants of Vietnam and four species listed in the World’s Red Book. Furthermore, it is the place where there is the second largest population of Vooc mong trang (Trachypithecus delacouri) in Vietnam with 31-38 individuals, after Van Long Nature Reserve in Ninh Binh Province.

In Pu luong, tourists have different choices for their tours, such as discovering the beauty of the natural landscape, ecological forests with plentiful fauna and flora or learning the simple and interesting customs and habits of the Thai and Muong people.

Ahamlet of the Thai people with wonderful terraced fields

Day life in Pu Luong

During their trip, tourists can see immense terraced fields and learn the traditional farming methods of the ethnic people or discover mysterious caves in Hang and Kho Muong Hamlets. One of the destinations that tourists should not miss is Hieu Hamlet. Following a path, not far from Pho Doan Town, tourists can see many water wheels, a typical tool of the Thai people. After crossing over a suspension bridge and climbing a slope, tourists finally arrive in the place where two waterfalls rush noisily. From afar, tourists can hear the rumbling sound of these waterfalls. Here, small branches of a stream run around the hamlet, through houses-on-stilts at the foot of staircases, to paddy fields and then merge into two grandiose waterfalls.

Ahamlet of the Thai people with wonderful terraced fields

Water wheel_beautiful image in Pu Luong

After a day discovering Pu Luong, tourists can stay in airy and spacious houses-on-stilts of the local ethnic people. It is a form of eco-community tours that has strongly developed in the locality. The tours are held by the local people based on nature and culture with the aim of improving the living standards and protecting the environment. Sitting near the fire, both the host and the tourists can enjoy delicious dishes, such as Com lam (sticky rice cooked on bamboo tubes) and a salad of banana inflorescence. They can drink Can wine and enjoy traditional dances and songs of the ethnic people.

Trekking Pu Luong

Arriving in Pu Luong Nature Reserve where there are immense green forests and green terraced fields, tourists seem to be lost in a valley, completely separated from the outside world, with many mysteries expecting to be discovered. 

With many foreign tourists, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is the interesting ideal for trekking trips  or cycling options. Biking in Pu Luong is one of the best ways to discover the natural beauty of the region and exotic culture of minority groups. 

Source : Vietnamtourism

Recommend Biking tour or Trekking tour in Pu Luong Nature Reserve  by ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA

Biking Pu Luong Nature Reserve: On biking tour we will ride on the first part of the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail and spend 3 nights in villages of Thai people.  

Highlights 

• Biking on the first part of Ho Chi Minh Trail
• Homestay in villages of Thai people
• Stunning scenery
• Traditional foot massage

Trekking in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Highlights 

• Unspoiled Pu Luong Nature Reserve 
• Friendly ethnic minorities
• Homestay in villages
• Beautiful trails
• All meals included