Where is Pu Luong?
Pu Luong is a village located 160km southwest of Hanoi. It is located in the Thanh Hóa Province. One of the best things about Pu Luong is that it is not extremely well known. There are similarities to Pu Luong and Sapa regarding rice terraces, but the local people are completely different.

How do I get to Pu Luong from Hanoi?
There are a few options from Hanoi to Pu Luong. The first is a public bus which will be similar to a van or minibus. It should take around 5 hours, so plan to leave early in the morning. Another option is renting a motorbike, but be prepared for winding roads and some crazy drivers along the way.  Finally there is a semi private bus that will be filled with other tourists or locals wanting to go to Pu Luong. You can find this bus in the Old Quarter and you should pay around 17usd per person, each way.

Where should I stay in Pu Luong?
Pu Luong is known for tourists participating in home stays. This may not be the most luxurious option, but it will be an amazing experience. You will stay in a simple house with a local family. They may not speak much English but the locals are known to be very kind here, and can also supply your meals. This should only cost $5-$10 USD per night with a few dollars extra for your meals. There are other options such as the Pu Luong Retreat, if a homestay does not interest you.

What time of year should I visit Pu Luong?    
The best time of year for Pu Luong is known to be between February-April or September- November because these coincide with the rice harvesting. The weather in this time should be around 18-30 degrees celsius depending on when you visit. This is also considered the dry season, so trekking is much more pleasurable. Make sure to bring warmer clothes if you plan to visit in the winter months and prepare for a bit of rain and fog if visiting in the summer months.

What is there to do in Pu Luong?
There are many activities to do in Pu Luong. Just know that it is a quite, calm place to go for a thoughtful time and to relax.

1.    Rent a motorbike and drive around
One fun activity after first arriving is to rent a motorbike and drive around to look at the village in its entirety. The roads are windy and people drive quickly so it is important to be cautious. Make sure you wear a helmet as well, but this is really nice to check out your surroundings and enjoy the weather.

2.    Trek
Trekking is a very popular activity in this part of Vietnam. There are a few popular treks to go on, one is to hike to the popular waterfall called  Thác Hiêu. You can bike here, but park your bike before the small bridge as it can be dangerous. The actual hike takes 2 hours in total and the scenery is beautiful. You will pass by local houses, rice fields and finally all of the waterwheels. These waterwheels are generally what Pu Luong is known for. Once you arrive to the waterfall you can jump in and swim, so make sure to bring a swim suit if this interests you.

3.    Picnic
If you enjoy having a picnic, this is a lovely thing to do during any of your hikes in Pu Luong. Bring food, play some cards or a ball game, and just enjoy nature.

4.    Yoga
If you happen to be a yoga enthusiast this is a wonderful place to practice your yoga. Lay out on any grassy area and breath in the wonderful pure air.

5.    Rafting and other water sports
The Pu Luong Retreat is the only large hotel in the area, and they offer many different activities such as rafting.

6.    Visit a Thai village
Phu Luong has a small minority community of Thai people made up of the White Thai and Black Thai. These people are very skilled at wet rice cultivation and they live in stilt homes. Staying in one of these homes on a homestay can be very interesting and a different experience from the rest of the country.

7.    Join a craft workshop
There are local people who do craft workshops which can be very fun. There are different options to do weaving, embroidery, basket making and bamboo furniture making. Take a piece of culture home with you.    

8.    Do nothing
One wonderful activity to participate in while in Pu Luong is the act of doing nothing. Listen to the sounds of the wilderness, talk with local people, and just enjoy the act of relaxation.

What is the food like in Pu Luong?
Since the locals are traditional hill tribe people, the food is influenced by Vietnamese food as well as Western food. The hill tribe food is traditionally local smoked pork, ginger spiced chicken or snails dipped in fish sauce. Vegetables are usually offered depending on what season, but spring rolls, tofu, tomatoes and some type of meat are always common in meals. French fries are also often served and sometimes with added garlic. Rice wine is a typical accompaniment to every meal as well.

If I decide to participate in a homestay, what should I expect?
The homestays will normally be at a traditional house of local families. They are usually made out of food and there are not many windows. The bedrooms for tourists are usually built additionally on to the house and offer a bed, mattress, pillow, mosquito net and a blanket. These are very basic rooms and the style of the homes have not been changed for around 100 years. Always make sure to take off shoes when entering a local house, you will be given plastic sandals to wear. Do be aware that the bathrooms are usually squat toilets. You may brush your teeth with the water but only drink local water that has been boiled.

What else should I know about visiting Pu Luong?
Be aware that the local people are very welcoming but often a bit shy. You can offer to help locals with things like cooking, working in the rice fields or ask for help on how to wear local attire. It can be wonderful to participate in local culture and learn. There are a few things to be aware of in terms of local customs. First is never to wear all white into the villages, and to never touch anyones head. Never take a photo of anyone without asking permission, and never take photos of infants even if you are told it is alright.

Pu Luong is a hidden gem of Vietnam. For now it is undiscovered by many tourists. As long as you obey the customs, have respect, and plan to spend a lot of time relaxing, you should have a wonderful time in Pu Luong.

Vivutravel believes that a good choice of accommodation will be the key factor for a successful holiday, and for many years of experience in tourism, we have created a list of the best hotels and resorts each destination that offer us both more benefits of competitive rates, early birds, guaranteed promotion and discounts with availability.

We pick the selected hotels for you as below:
Location: The hotels must be centrally – located, close to the main attractions and most convenient for you to enjoy your holiday.

Facility & Service Quality: Vivutravel only uses the hotels that are regularly and strictly inspected. The hotel must provide international standards and your every need is cared for by the hotel staff.

Variety in Choice: As Vivutravel offers different styles of tour such as honeymoon,, family, adventure, discovery, homestay,... so we will offer many styles and grades of hotels which are available for different budgets, tastes and culture backgrounds.

Hotel Information for planning your holiday and stay.
2 Stars - From US$35 - US$40:
We hardly use 2 star hotels for our clients but sometimes we have no choice if your trip is in the mountainous or remote areas. Basically, 2 star hotels will offer good size and clean guest rooms with AC, TV, hot water, shower and private bathrooms

3 Stars - From US$40 - US$80:
Offering basic needs for a comfortable stay, good size and clean guest rooms with Free access high speed Internet, Welcome baskets and drinking water, Telephone with international dialing, Electronic safe box in room, Hairdryer, Coffee and Tea, Wake-up service, AC, TV, hot water, shower and private bathrooms. On-site restaurants with breakfast included and lunch or dinner at your own pick up. A small fitness center, spa and swimming pool can be expected.

4 Stars - From from US$80 - US$130:
Offering a wide range of comfortable boutique hotels are available with shopping, dining and entertainment facilities nearby. Featuring quality service, fully furnished rooms, restaurants, fitness center with spa (and swimming pool in most cases), the hotels are expected to offer an above-average accommodation experience.

5 Stars - from US$130 - US$200 – US$ 300:
Offering an extensive range of facilities for an excellent accommodation experience. Multiple restaurants on site and a wide range of choice for buffet breakfast, good size of swimming pool, fitness center and concierge service round out the experience.

Tour guide and driver are Vivutravel's representatives and your travel companions during your travel in Vietnam and Indochina who take care of our travel services and make your holiday a memorable time. Understanding this, Vivutravel always selects the best tour guides and drivers for tours.

Private Guide & Transfer
Vivutravel's tour packages are private and tailor made so during your travel with us, you will have a private tour guide, private driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle escorting you at every destination you travel to. This will provide you with maximized personal care, security, and flexibility.

Tour Guide:
We do understand that a good tour guide will make your holiday a beautiful time and tour guides who work with us are well-paid, experienced with a university background, eager to exchange our culture, lifestyle, knowledge...with travelers, and have a great passion for their country and understand the personal touch.

Note: In Sapa or some mountainous areas, we may use local tour guides who come from the ethnic groups like H'Mong, or Red Dao as they know better than anyone else about their land, culture, customs and habits... and this is also the way that Vivutravel helps the local people a better life.

Vivutravel's requirements for a tour guide:
1 - Licensed at least for 4 years with working experience.

2 - Guiding does require more than just hanging out in the sun. Guides must be friendly and good with people, organized enough to keep groups or people on schedule, quick on their feet and ready for the inevitable snafus that arises.

3 - Must be an honest broker of their services and able to take criticism.

4 - Should be qualified at some level in health, health care or first aid.

5 - Able to relate to people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.

6 - Clear speech and good hearing.

7 - Must not be a alcoholic or No-alcohol during working time or anytime when on tour.

8 - Tour guide is a nurse to take care of visitors, a boss to keep the right itinerary, a teacher to give information, an ambassador to introduce our country, an entertainer

9 - Must be on time every time. Being late or delay is unacceptable.

10 - Check flight tickets, train tickets, meals, weather... to make sure things are in order and inform local office if any changes that might effect the tour.

11 - Solve problems with care when there is dissatisfy. Argument should be averted by courtesy.

12 - If any change of itinerary is needed for unexpected reasons, your private tour guides will be more than accommodating in suggesting alternatives to ensure that you always have a wonderful experience.

Transportation:
Vivutravel guarantees to offer the best means of transport during your holiday in Vietnam and Indochina. The safety, comfort and security of our customers come first. We use only the latest modern cars, vans, coaches and all our drivers are full time workers, government licensed in the tourism industry with at least 5 years driving experience. We are fully in control of our quality and service as we own our vehicles.

Vivutravel's requirements for a tour driver.
- Our drivers must be good drivers with at least 5 years of experience

- Our drivers must keep the vehicles clean,

- Our drivers are not allowed to hear cell-phone or smoke, chat, drink when driving.

- Our drivers must be friendly, helpful.

- Our drivers are not allowed to take you to shops unless you ask for.

- Your vehicle in each destination is air conditioned, insured, clean, and regularly maintained.

Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory, but expected by your tour guide and driver.  We advise you to tip as below:

- US$10 - $15 per day for tour guide
- US$7 - US$10 per day for driver

- Tipping can be more or less or nothing that depends on how big is the group? And how do you enjoy our services?

- Other tipping for tuktuk, sampan boat, cyclo,... please check with your tour guide during the tour.

Vivutravel believes that a good choice of accommodation will be the key factor for a successful holiday, and for many years of experience in tourism, we have created a list of the best hotels and resorts each destination that offer us both more benefits of competitive rates, early birds, guaranteed promotion and discounts with availability.

We pick the selected hotels for you as below:
Location: The hotels must be centrally – located, close to the main attractions and most convenient for you to enjoy your holiday.

Facility & Service Quality: Vivutravel only uses the hotels that are regularly and strictly inspected. The hotel must provide international standards and your every need is cared for by the hotel staff.

Variety in Choice: As Vivutravel offers different styles of tour such as honeymoon,, family, adventure, discovery, homestay,... so we will offer many styles and grades of hotels which are available for different budgets, tastes and culture backgrounds.

Hotel Information for planning your holiday and stay.
2 Stars - From US$35 - US$40:
We hardly use 2 star hotels for our clients but sometimes we have no choice if your trip is in the mountainous or remote areas. Basically, 2 star hotels will offer good size and clean guest rooms with AC, TV, hot water, shower and private bathrooms

3 Stars - From US$40 - US$80:
Offering basic needs for a comfortable stay, good size and clean guest rooms with Free access high speed Internet, Welcome baskets and drinking water, Telephone with international dialing, Electronic safe box in room, Hairdryer, Coffee and Tea, Wake-up service, AC, TV, hot water, shower and private bathrooms. On-site restaurants with breakfast included and lunch or dinner at your own pick up. A small fitness center, spa and swimming pool can be expected.

4 Stars - From from US$80 - US$130:
Offering a wide range of comfortable boutique hotels are available with shopping, dining and entertainment facilities nearby. Featuring quality service, fully furnished rooms, restaurants, fitness center with spa (and swimming pool in most cases), the hotels are expected to offer an above-average accommodation experience.

5 Stars - from US$130 - US$200 – US$ 300:
Offering an extensive range of facilities for an excellent accommodation experience. Multiple restaurants on site and a wide range of choice for buffet breakfast, good size of swimming pool, fitness center and concierge service round out the experience.

Indochina holiday to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand offers you some of the world's best food and it is really the highlight of your travel. Vivutravel tends to include meals where necessary and when special. Other meals are at your own choices.

Breakfast:
Breakfast is included at all hotels and is buffet breakfast with Asian and Western food.

Lunch
Lunches (if included) are usually set menu at handpicked local restaurant with comfortable dining environment where you can rest assure to taste the local flavor. All restaurants are carefully selected and highly recommended.

If allergic to some food
We suggest you to list any food or ingredients that you are allergic to and let our travel consultant know. Then your travel consultant will mark them in the guide’s itinerary, so that our reservation's team and tour guides in different cities can make some preparations and arrangements in advance.

Dinner
Dinners are only included if you stay overnight in a homestay, overnight on cruise in Halong Bay, Mekong Delta or at some special occasions such as welcome dinner, farewell dinner or on requested. So dinners are at your own choice and arrangement, but Vivutravel's tour guide will always give you good suggestions based on your preferences.