Buzz
The Golden Season isn't exclusive to Mù Cang Chải, Sapa, or Hoàng Su Phì. There's another equally vibrant yet lesser-known destination. That's Pù Luông.
Pù Luông – Budget-Friendly Adventure with Plenty of Excitement
May – June and September – October: Prime Time to Explore Pù Luông
Pù Luông – the name of a national reserve spanning Quan Hóa and Bá Thước districts, Thanh Hóa province. Wanderers come to Pù Luông to savor the taste of pristine mountainous forests and terraced fields amidst the untouched wilderness.
When visiting, opt for the two best times of the year: May – June or September – October. May – June marks the start of the new rice season, with lush green paddies intermingled with golden fields, offering a refreshing atmosphere amidst the summer heat or gentle morning mist. September – October is the peak time for ripe rice, turning the tranquil mountains into a vibrant, rich landscape, seemingly adorned with an irresistible golden hue by nature.
To reach Pù Luông, it's advisable to travel by motorbike as the roads to the village are narrow and very steep, only allowing two motorbikes to pass each other, making it inaccessible for cars. Therefore, Pù Luông is often referred to as an affordable off-road travel destination with numerous challenges.
There are two routes to Pù Luông. The first route passes through Mai Châu, Bản Lác, to QL15C, then inquire about the route to Pù Luông. The second route starts from Thanh Hóa, through Cẩm Thủy, then turns onto QL15C to Pù Luông. Because there are two access roads from both sides like that, when going to Pù Luông, young travelers often go one way and return one way, as there are many attractions to visit along the way. If you have time, stop by the fairy fish stream in Cẩm Thủy; or when returning to Vân Đình, visit Quan Sơn if it's lotus season because Quan Sơn is a very beautiful lotus lake.
Challenging Route
The estimated time for the Pù Luông off-road trip is quite short, usually only 2 – 3 days. We departed from Hanoi at 6:30 pm on Friday, went to Mai Châu, had dinner in Lương Sơn, and stayed at a stilt house in Bản Lác – a famous tourist destination, located in the Mai Châu valley, about 140 km from Hanoi. Our group snaked along, winding along the roads in Cun pass, Thung Khe pass. If viewed from behind, the whole group looks like a red-spotted snake slithering.
We arrived at Bản Lác around midnight. If you are traveling in a large group and traveling at night, you need to strictly adhere to some road rules such as assigning a team leader, responsible for navigation and maintaining the stable speed of the group, and the tail person to ensure no one is left behind. Also, wear reflective clothing, stick reflective tape on backpacks, helmets, or bikes, equip safety gear, and maintain a 20m distance apart for safety handling in case of emergencies.
On the second day of the journey, you will have the opportunity to watch the sunrise in Bản Lác, eat chicken porridge, stroll around the fields outside the village, and take photos. Then, don't forget to fill up the gas tank before heading to Pù Luông.
The route for the second day will be: Ban Lac – QL15C – Poong Stream – Kho Muong – Pho Doan – Nua village – Cao Hong village – Kit village. After overcoming rough dirt roads and rocky streams, the midday stop will be at Kho Muong, at Mr. Ha Dinh Nech's house, surrounded by shimmering golden rice fields.
On the way to Pho Doan, don't forget to turn off to the Hiêu village waterfall. You will encounter a suspension bridge along with the characteristic water wheels of the Thai people. The road to Kit village is truly a challenge for silk riders, with narrow, steep paths; sometimes standing, constantly up and down, the bridge may just be a leaning tree trunk. Kit village is a remote area within the Pu Luong nature reserve. Rice fields in Kit village lie among the mountains, when the sun shines obliquely, forming rays of light, giving people a sense of reality and dreams.
A point to note when arriving at Kit village, after nearly two days of wandering on the 'iron horses,' remember to prepare enough food for the whole group because it's very difficult to find food and supplies in Kit village at night.
On the third day, you should return via the route Kit village – Pho Doan – Cam Thuy – HCM road – Van Dinh – Hanoi. From Pho Doan back to Hanoi, the road is easy to travel, with low traffic flow. The road is wide, empty, with rocky mountains dotted with interesting shapes. This could be considered the most relaxing time throughout the journey…
According to Traffic News
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourMarch 29, 2016
