Pù Luông Natural Reserve is located approximately 130km from Thanh Hoa City and about 160km from Hanoi, blessed by nature with a harmonious blend of cool climate and picturesque landscapes. Often referred to as a green gem in the western mountains of Thanh Hoa, the Pù Luông tourist area is situated within the Pù Luông National Reserve (Bá Thước District, Thanh Hoa). In addition to its year-round cool climate, the rich cultural heritage of the local Thai and Muong ethnic communities, coupled with the terraced rice fields, creates a distinctive identity for Pù Luông.
Pù Luông showcases its most breathtaking beauty during two particular occasions: the ripening season when the fields turn lush green and during the water flooding season as preparation for the upcoming new crop. In Pù Luông, the local farmers engage in two main rice crops, one in May and the other in October. After harvesting, they take a month-long break to allow the soil to replenish its nutrients for the next season. During this time, the farmers carefully select and prepare the rice seeds for planting.
Selecting Rice Seeds
Carefully selected rice varieties have large, uniform seeds that are resistant to diseases and natural disasters. In Pù Luông, traditional rice varieties continue to be favored by local farmers. In many other places, rice varieties distributed by the government undergo testing before being used for cultivation. Once the rice seeds are obtained, farmers sow them in a small plot of land before transplanting them to the fields.
Planting Rice
When the terraced fields in Pù Luông are filled with water, it marks the beginning of the new rice planting season for the locals. These terraced fields, cultivated by generations and passed down through the ages, represent the ingenuity and resilience of the people, becoming a source of pride for the highland residents. To create the mesmerizing, picturesque terraced fields, locals employ manual methods, using hoes and shovels to dig, pile, and shape the land for months on end. Bundles of harvested rice are neatly tied for convenient transportation.
The terraced fields
The terraced fields vary in width, narrowness, length, and height, extending from the hilltop to the foot of the slope. The divisions between fields are constructed with earth embankments or stones. From the mountain peak, visitors can marvel at the sunrise with sea clouds drifting over lush forests, clouds embracing traditional stilt houses, and clouds floating across the terraced rice fields, creating a mystical and enchanting landscape.
The terraced fields
The ground is leveled to prepare for rice planting, and after clearing the land, the remaining grass roots are meticulously removed to ensure optimal conditions for rice growth. The beauty of the planting season is also reflected in the communal rice planting efforts, where the strong support the elderly and vulnerable, fostering a sense of unity that is characteristic of the lives of the Thai ethnic community.
Happy Local People
Despite the strenuous labor, the people of Pù Luông always carry smiles on their faces, exuding a spirit of joy and camaraderie.
The terraced fields will forever be a cherished asset that the people of Pù Luông preserve and enhance, especially as the area is becoming a community tourism hub.
