Where is Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Vietnam?
Situated around 160km (99 miles) southwest of Hanoi, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a hidden gem offering serene landscapes, stunning trekking, and rich cultural values. This place is still a hidden gem to travel in Vietnam.
How to get to Pu Luong from Hanoi?
To travel to Pu Luong Nature Reserve from Hanoi, travelers can get a private car for the shortest drive, use a tourism bus, or drive a motorbike for adventure. It takes roughly 4.5 hours to travel from Hanoi to Pu Luong. The timing can be slightly different depending on the traffic.
Besides, if you wish to visit Ninh Binh before or after the getaway in Pu Luong Nature Reserve can drive or take local buses to travel between the 2 destinations without returning to Hanoi.
The best time to visit Pu Luong Nature Reserve
With moderate weather, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is good to travel to all year round. Its peak seasons are the 2 rice crops of the year, when the landscape is covered with stunning terraced rice fields. If you plan to see the rice fields in Pu Luong, you can travel from March to May and from July to September.
How long to stay in Pu Luong Vietnam
With its impressive scenery, delicious cuisine, Pu Luong has gradually become a weekend getaway for domestic travelers. To see the best of Pu Luong, it’s suggested to stay there 2 to 3 days. Meanwhile, some travelers make a half-day trek in Pu Luong when driving from Mai Chau to Ninh Binh. Only a 1.5-hour drive from Pu Luong Nature Reserve is Mai Chau Valley, an idyllic and peaceful valley for trekking and cycling to the local villages. You can combine these two destinations for a Mai Chau Pu Luong 3 days 2 nights tour from Hanoi.
Things to do in Pu Luong Nature Reserve Vietnam
Trekking
The terrain in Pu Luong is suitable for trekking. There are different routes that a traveler can decide to go from a couple of km to 20km, depending on their level. There are local villages of some minority ethnic groups in Pu Luong for trekking, such as Don village, Hieu Village, Kho Muong Village, etc.
During your trek in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, you can explore the pristine jungle, pass by the cool streams, visit plunging Hieu waterfall, and visit local families to learn about their daily life. Pu Luong Peak, at 1700m high, is also a challenge for your conquer if you’re an adventurer at heart. The Pu Luong Summit hike is truly an off-the-beaten path in Vietnam.
River Rafting
While trekking in Pu Luong Nature Reserve Vietnam, you can make a stop for river rafting over the Cham River. A local person will take you along the river. For your safety, the rafting distance can be different depending on the water current on the day.
Observe the waterwheels in Pu Luong
Walking through the rice fields, you will find a system of waterwheels in Pu Luong and learn about the traditional way of pumping water in rice fields.
Must-try local food when traveling to Pu Luong
Besides the landscape, travelers also have impressions of the local cuisine in Pu Luong. Here are some indigenous local dishes for your taste:
Co Lung Grilled Duck
Ducks are raised naturally in Co Lung village and marinated with forest herbs before being grilled over charcoal. The taste, therefore, is smoky, tender, and savoury.
Grilled Stream Fish
Visitors can enjoy freshwater fish caught from local streams in Pu Luong. The fish, sometimes wrapped in banana leaves to retain its freshness.
Wild Boar Meat
Free-roaming boars from the mountains are yielding lean and with a flavorful taste. The meat can be grilled, stewed, or steamed with local herbs, which is a unique signature of the Pu Luong region.
Bamboo Shoots
Wild bamboo shoots are found in the jungles by the locals while on their way to the fields. The bamboo shoot is a typical and tasty dish that is favoured by both locals and travelers. The most common way to cook the bamboo shoots is to stir-fry or boil.