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In the 2011 rice harvest season, the 15C road from Co Luong through Pu Luong Nature Reserve was almost finished, some sections were not paved, of course if it rained it would become a formidable challenge for drivers. The road through Dong Dien was no longer cobblestones mixed with grass, nor were there any pretty little paths winding on the grass like before. The road was so wide that, after less than an hour, our car arrived at the Pa Kha village intersection, a road that only a year ago, it took us 5 hours because of rain and broken cars.
Refusing the invitation of another group of backpackers who were planning to climb Pu Luong peak, we continued our journey towards Kho Muong. The road was no longer paved, it became steep, rocky, narrow and made the wanderer startled many times, even though he was very focused.
Kho Muong village is located in a fairly wide valley and is surrounded by mountains like a wall. The simple thatched roofs of the Thai people's stilt houses are scattered on both sides of the stream. Going along the stream, you will reach Kho Muong fields, where the rice is turning green, in about 2 weeks it will be golden yellow, people will be busy going to the fields to harvest and carry on their backs. At the end of the trail stretching across the rice fields is Bat Cave, a quite wild discovery site for many tourists. From Bat Cave, you can see the entire Kho Muong field amidst the green of the mountains. If you intend to explore Bat Cave, prepare carefully the specialized equipment. According to information from Pu Luong Forest Management Board, Bat Cave was formed by limestone blocks that developed 250 million years ago, in the cave there were at least 4 species of bats that used to live.
For many foreign tourists, Kho Muong is the ideal starting point for trekking trips across Pu Luong. We wandered in the fields, played and breathed in the fresh air with the scent of ripe rice and left before a heavy rain came, the heavy rain chased from Dong Dien through Kho Muong and caught up with the group right on the trail leaving the village. A rain in the Pu Luong forest.
The trail connecting Kho Muong to Ban Uoi - Pho Doan, about 7km long, took us nearly three hours of hard work because the road surface became slimy and slippery after the rain. We did not know when the rain stopped. My friends only gasped when they looked down from above at the fields of Ban Quan, the rice fields as soft as velvet, floating like waves, the strangely peaceful houses, the blue smoke of the afternoon lingering on the thatched roofs.
The afternoon sun gradually faded. The high mountains became dark and mysterious. The rice fields of Ban Uoi were golden yellow, a golden color of abundance and fullness. We walked as if floating in the sea of golden rice, truly feeling light, happy and peaceful. The afternoon wind after the rain was cool, the roofs of houses were hidden behind the areca palms, and the sunset was pouring color on the sky, bright pink, fragrant purple. How can I forget those moments, when my friends stopped the car and together boiled a pot of hot coffee while waiting for the sunset. The stories, the smiles, the faces… That moment, that minute became memories I will never forget…
Information:
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Pu Luong Nature Reserve is located in the West of Thanh Hoa province, in the two districts of Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa, and is a favorite tourist destination for many tourists who love to explore and experience. - The most popular way to get to Pu Luong is by motorbike and do short trekking trips depending on the time and schedule of the visitors.
- Pu Luong's specialties are "rice" and "villages". The best time to visit Pu Luong is in mid-June and October every year when the rice is ripe, life blends with nature to create a vivid and colorful picture of Pu Luong.
- Trekking routes: Ban Duom – Ban Hang – Eo Ken – Pa Ban – Dong Dien – Kho Muong. From Kho Muong, you can follow the route of 4 Muong villages: Ban Pon – Thanh Cong – Cao Hoong – Ban Kit. From Ban Nua (Ba Thuoc), you can go to Ban Cao, Ban Trinh, Ban Hin, Ban Bo. From these villages, there is a trekking route to Son – Ba – Muoi. From Dong Dien, climb Pu Luong peak, which is over 1,700 meters high.
- Accommodation: Sleep in the ecological stilt houses of the Thai and Muong people in Mai Chau (Lac village, Com Poong village). In the core area of Pu Luong, you can stay in villages such as Dong Dien, Kho Muong, Nua village, Cao Hoong or Kit village. Cost 40,000-50,000 VND/person
- Food and drink: Thai people in Pu Luong love grilled dishes to ensure the quality and flavor of the food. Remember to enjoy grilled chicken, duck, pork with sour bamboo shoots, bitter bamboo shoots, wild spinach soup, and bamboo rice.
- Estimated time: 2.5 days (weekend). Cost above, below 500,000 VND/person.
