Kho Muong village

Located in the bufferzone of Pu Luong natural reserve in Thanh Hoa province, Kho Muong is one of 24 villages where Muong and Thai people reside along the valley and mountainsides. However, it is pretty seperated from other villages and stituated far deep in central zone of the reserve. Moreover, most of the local inhabitants in Kho Muong Village belong to White Thai ethnic group with about  300 people in 65 households.

The history of this village began when a group of animal hunters were lured by the amazing beauty of green valleys that were full of water provided from an extensive structure of streams and moved all of their families to settle down. The name of the village, Kho Muong, originates from this myth: according to the local dialect, “Kho” is translated to “Origin” and “Muong” is understood as “Village” so “Kho Muong” represenst a location where a group of people first settled.

Regarding the trekking route, the most viable option is to begin from Ban Sai, where 15A and 15C roads meets each other. During the trip, tourists are treated with one of the most stunning scenery that mother of nature can create: one one side, there are huge steep cliffs  covered by immense green forests that spread over the horizon;  on the other,  ethinic minorities’  unique feature of rice terraces and a long string of villages stay side by side. The beauty of the scene is worth all the efforts that tourists had to make through all of climbings and walkings.

A thorough plan of where to go need to  be made beforehand because the list of must-see attractions in this location is prettly long. For convenience, Kho Muong Cave should be the first destination to visit before go rafting in Ma River. After that, a journey to hospitable Thai villages and taking a camp in Pu Luong mountain worth a try. The trip may end after visting Pho Doan Market but tourists are welcomed to go to other locations in case there is spare time available.

Not only the beautiful scenery but local specialties will also make visitors amazed: they can relieve their hunger after spending a whole day to enjoy the beauty of nature by taking typical dishes of rice, forest banana flower salad, boild duck meat and corn liquor, especially the latter which will make ones not keen on drinking other kinds of alcohol anymore. The accomodation is also typically ethinic  one of stilt house, which is an exicting experience for whom  has never stayed in it despite being a litte bit uncomfortable for strangers.  Additionally, typical convenience like hot water to take a shower and bedding to sleep are still available for guests to rest after exhausted trips.

In order to organize the best trip to Kho Muong, it is highly recommended that tourists choose private vans as their  primary means of transportation. It takes only about 3 hours for visitors to reach the homestay of Kho Muong Village from central Hanoi when travelling by van