6 days trekking from Mai Chau to Pu Luong: Spectacular Landscapes and Rich Culture
Overview
Embark on a captivating 6-day trekking journey through Mai Chau and Pu Luong, where you'll be captivated by enchanting terraced hills, traditional Thai villages, and stunning karst formations. This meticulously crafted itinerary offers a diverse range of activities for nature enthusiasts, focusing on authentic encounters with local communities and a deep cultural immersion within the Pu Luong Reserve.
- Vibrant Mai Chau and Pu Luong Landscapes: Delight in the captivating beauty of Mai Chau and Pu Luong, where diverse landscapes—including terraced rice fields and exceptional karst peaks—await photographers and nature lovers alike.
- Off-the-Beaten-Path Treks: Embark on walks along lesser-known trails, fostering genuine connections with both Thai and Hmong villagers while immersing yourself in their rich cultures.
- Ethnic Pa Co Market: Immerse yourself in the cultural tapestry at the weekly Pa Co market, where different ethnic groups converge.
- Hands-On Workshops: Participate in a workshop to create traditional crafts such as batik or indigo-dyed fabrics.
- Culinary Exploration: Learn the art of making "Com Lam," a dish where sticky rice is stuffed into young bamboo shoots.
Itinerary Expand All
Day 1Hanoi – Hang Kia Pa Co, Immerse In Hmong Culture (L, D)
Walk through the Pa Co valley, participate in a Hmong batik workshop.
Coach trip to Pa Co. Lunch with a local family.
Afternoon: Embark on a 2-hour walk to explore the land of the Hmong, traversing tea hills and Hmong villages surrounded by plum gardens and passion fruit orchards. Participate in a workshop to learn traditional crafts such as creating handmade paper and dyeing with indigo.
Delve into the world of batik art practiced by the Black H'mong people. The resident artisan will explain how indigo color is fixed onto Hmong clothing using beeswax. This exchange will also be an opportunity to learn about Hmong life in this valley.
Day 2Pa Co Ethnic Market – Pieng Ve (B, L, D)
Early departure at around 7 AM to visit the weekly Pa Co market held every Sunday.
Engage with various ethnic groups including Kinh, Thai, and notably the Hmong. Explore the market on foot and consider acquiring a Hmong costume. Continue to Xam Khoe. Take a walk or bike ride through Thai ethnic villages and their expansive rice valleys. In the afternoon, partake in making "Com Lam"—sticky rice stuffed into young bamboo shoots—with guidance from a local. Dine and stay overnight with a local family in Pieng Ve.
Evening: Enjoy a traditional Thai ethnic song and dance performance.
Day 3Pieng Ve To Ban Hang (B, L, D)
Morning: Trek through the beautiful valley at the foot of low hills, passing through Kha, Pu, and Te villages.
Enjoy a hearty lunch with locals, filled with delicious delicacies from the region.
Afternoon: En route to Pu Luong, embark on a short motorboat ride across the Ma River. Take a walk to visit Ban En village, then continue your stroll along the riverbank to Pang rice fields. Drive to the village of Hang. Diner and stay overnight with a local family.
Day 4Ban Hang To Kho Muong Trek (B, L, D)
Breakfast with a local family. Begin your trek from Hang to the Thai ethnic villages of Eo Ken and Pa Pan.
Follow a flat path alongside the Pung stream, cross the stream, and trek through forests and terraced rice fields to reach the village of Eo Ken. Engage with local residents. After 2 hours of trekking, ascend to the 15C trail that crosses the park. En route to the village of Bang, make several stops at scenic viewpoints. Lunch with locals.
Afternoon: Embark on a tranquil walk to the isolated village of Kho Muong, taking serene paths. Witness charming landscapes adorned with terraced rice fields, palm trees, and bamboo forests. The trek leads to the secluded village of Kho Muong, inhabited by the Thai ethnic group. Following the trail along the mountainside to the valley floor will make you feel like you've entered a different world. Explore the village and Bat Cave, and interact with locals who greet you with smiles. Overnight stay with locals.
Day 5Kho Muong To Don Village Trek (B, L, D)
Trek through the forest and explore the beautiful Don Ngon Leo rice valley.
Start the day with breakfast. Trek through the forest with gentle ascents and descents for about 2 hours. Upon exiting the forest, encounter beautiful terraced rice fields to your right. Pause along the way to visit a family skilled in crafting colorful textiles. Lunch with locals.
Afternoon: Take a leisurely walk on paths bordered by tropical vegetation and stilted houses with palm-thatched roofs. Discover the captivating Don Ngon Leo rice valley, where the serene rural setting is complemented by terraced fields, ponds, and stilted homes of the Thai Noir people nestled against the mountains. Observe villagers' daily lives and agricultural activities. Seize this opportunity to engage with locals and capture stunning photographs. Dinner and rest in a homestay.
Day 6Ban Don - Chieng Lau – Hanoi (B, L)
Trek through villages and bamboo forests, discover water wheels, and enjoy a bamboo rafting experience.
Begin the day with breakfast at the homestay. Short vehicle transfer to the trek starting point. Commence the trek on a flat path through Thai ethnic villages, then through a bamboo forest along the Suoi Cham stream. After 2 hours of trekking, admire the impressive water wheels (noria) on the stream banks—symbols of Pu Luong. These colossal norias ingeniously irrigate rice fields by transporting water from the stream. Approach each wheel and discover the original irrigation method employed by the Thai ethnic group. Learn how water is directed from a river to bamboo aqueducts, facilitated by simple handcrafted installations of varying sizes.
Embark on a serene bamboo rafting excursion along the stream, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere and picturesque landscapes on both sides. Try your hand at paddling and steering the bamboo raft. Lunch with locals, then return to Hanoi.
Prices and Accommodation
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