Things to do in Pu Luong

1. Trekking and Hiking: Pu Luong is known for its scenic hiking trails through lush forests, rice terraces, and ethnic minority villages. You can explore various trekking routes of different lengths and difficulty levels. Popular treks include the Pu Luong Bamboo Waterwheel Trail and the trek to Hieu Waterfall.

2. Homestay Experience: Stay in traditional Thai stilt houses in local villages. This provides an excellent opportunity to interact with the Thai ethnic communities, experience their culture, and savor traditional meals.

3. Cycling: Rent a bicycle and explore the picturesque landscapes of Pu Luong at your own pace. There are both flat and hilly routes suitable for cyclists of various skill levels.

4. Bird Watching: Pu Luong is a haven for birdwatchers due to its diverse avian population. Bring your binoculars and explore the forested areas to spot various species of birds.

5. Visit the Local Markets: Check out the local markets in Pu Luong to witness the daily life of the ethnic communities. You can shop for handmade crafts and local products as souvenirs.

6. Relax by the Rivers and Waterfalls: Pu Luong has beautiful rivers and waterfalls where you can relax, swim, or have a picnic. The Hieu Waterfall is a popular spot for swimming.

7. Photography: The stunning landscapes of Pu Luong make it a photographer's paradise. Capture the terraced rice fields, traditional villages, and lush greenery.

8. Explore Pu Luong Nature Reserve: Learn about the diverse flora and fauna of the area. Guided tours are available for a more in-depth understanding of the ecosystem.

9. Traditional Thai Dance and Music: Some homestays offer cultural performances, including traditional Thai dance and music, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local culture.

10. Cooking Classes: Participate in cooking classes to learn how to prepare traditional Vietnamese and Thai dishes using fresh local ingredients.

11. Relax and Unwind: Pu Luong is a tranquil destination. Take some time to relax, read a book, or simply enjoy the natural surroundings.

Remember to respect the local culture and environment while visiting Pu Luong, as it is a protected nature reserve and home to various ethnic groups. Enjoy the serene beauty and rich culture of this hidden gem in Vietnam.

Hiking

There are some beautiful country roads that you can climb to the hilltops in Pu Luong. On the way, you can visit small villages and walk through villagers’ plantation areas. The views of mountains and the valleys are breathtaking. Early birds will be the ones who catch up with the sunrise on the hilltops. Seeing a thick mist around the mountains being chased off by the sunlight is what will make the hike worth it.

Biking

Unlike the bustling streets in the city centre, visitors will occasionally see a local on a motorbike in Pu Luong. The main means offered here is bicycles. Riding a bicycle around the pretty decent road around Pu Luong, get in fresh air and the tranquillity. There are certain mountain roads that may challenge cyclists to conquer. Homestays in Pu Luong often offer bicycles free of charge.

Visit ethnic villages in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Pu Luong Nature Reserve, one of the country’s lesser-known ecotourism and trekking spots. Pu Luong Nature Reserve was established in 1999 to protect the area’s biodiversity. With a total area of more than 17,600 ha and a diverse flora and fauna system, you will find not only a mix of pristine forest and cultivated rice terraces, but also cute little villages of ethnic people. This destination is the residence of the Thai and Muong people. On your visit, you can admire their built-on-stilt houses, observe them harvesting crops, working on the terraced rice fields and enjoy ethnic typical cuisine. Pu Luong peak, Don Village, Son, Ba, and Muoi Village are some featured spots to explore in Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

Homestay Experience: Stay in traditional Thai stilt houses in local villages. This provides an excellent opportunity to interact with the Thai ethnic communities, experience their culture, and savor traditional meals.

Explore Pho Doan market

Visitors can take time to pass by Pho Doan market to experience the local market of ethnic people. It is located in Lung Niem Commune, Ba Thuoc District, Thanh Hoa Province. There take place trading activities, purchasing local products of Kinh, Muong, and Thai minorities from surrounding areas such as Tan Lac District, Lac Son District (Hoa Binh Province)... They are quite simple but prevalent in kinds of products such as traditional silk costumes, tube wine, mountainous vegetables, and fresh fruits,...

Admire the full-range scenery on Pu Luong mountain peak

Challenge lovers will love to conquer the peak at 1,700 metres high. Clouds floating at the peak of the mountain with dotted stilt houses, and terraces in the valley on the mountain foot are the combination that you may get a dreamy moment, everything stays still, nothing moves, time stops, just the quietness of the landscape exists.

Hieu waterfall

Hieu waterfall in Hieu Village in the Co Long Commune is a community-based ecotourism destination. The waterfall consists of five small waterfalls. The water has a beautiful blue-green colour and it can be enjoyed year-round. You can occasionally swim here.

Rather than that, you can see bamboo water wheels that appear around Pu Luong. They are a symbol for the area as well as Thai ethnic people. The water wheels play an important role in agricultural development in Pu Luong. They are used to extract water from the streams and rivers to irrigate the surrounding rice terraced fields.

.