Story: Pham Minh Quan
Photos: Amachau, Trong Khoi, Van Chien
Explore Thanh Hoa’s pristine heartland.
One morning, a group of travelers left the city while mist still lingered on the roadside trees. Our westward journey into Thanh Hoa led to a green land where nature and people still move at a slow, unspoiled pace. Thanh Hoa is often associated with the sea and historical heritage, yet beyond that familiar horizon lies a fresh, pristine landscape. Every step of our “green journey” brought a sense of connection, along with many quiet surprises.
Our first stop was Ben En National Park. Often compared to a “freshwater bay” in the heart of the forest, its beauty is best appreciated from a small boat gliding across Song Muc Lake. The water lies deep green and mirror-still, mirroring stretches of primary forest and more than 20 islands rising from the lake. A gentle breeze stirred, and birdsong echoed in the distance, creating a quiet rhythm that invited us to slow down and reflect. Ben En points to a clear direction for eco-tourism in Thanh Hoa, where nature itself forms the heart of the experience.
Leaving the lake behind, the road leads toward limestone slopes where May Waterfall lies hidden in the green forest. The waterfall tumbles down tier after tier of rock, forming white cascades. According to local legend, nine fairy maidens once stopped here, creating the waterfall’s nine levels. Cool water runs over the rocks while sunlight filters through the forest canopy, casting shimmering streaks of light. In this setting, people feel smaller and lighter, as though returned to their most natural state.
Not far away is Cam Luong Fish Stream, a place both ecologically significant and closely tied to local spiritual life. Clear water flows from a cave, where thousands of fish gather in dense layers. This site is special because it’s protected by local people: no one catches or harms the fish. Watching them glide beneath the crystal-clear water, travelers can sense the close bonds between people and nature, sustained by belief and responsibility.
From there, we continued to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, regarded as the heart of community-based tourism in western Thanh Hoa. The landscape is peaceful, with stilt houses tucked against the mountainsides and terraced fields following the land’s winding contours. One morning in Don Village, as clouds drifted across the peaks, the whole landscape appeared wrapped in a thin veil of mist. The sound of roosters crowing, streams running, and the scents of ripe rice and wild grasses blended into a feeling that is hard to name.
In Pu Luong, travel is not just about sightseeing. Visitors can follow local people to the upland fields, learn about weaving, bathe in the waters of Hieu Waterfall, or sit beside rhythmic bamboo water wheels spun by the current. Each activity offers an intimate experience of local life. The stilt houses become places to stay, where stories are shared beside the fire, and people meet in an atmosphere of simplicity and warmth.
The mountain cuisine of Thanh Hoa is an essential part of the journey. In the kitchens of the Thai and Muong people, meals are prepared from ingredients closely tied to the forested landscape. Co Lung duck, grilled stream fish, rock snails, bitter bamboo shoots, and cups of warming rice wine all carry distinct local flavors. The dishes are simple yet rich in rustic character. Around the table, through the warmth and generosity of their hosts, we came to understand that these meals are not only about enjoyment but also about sharing life and preserving cultural identity.
With every stop, western Thanh Hoa reveals another layer of its landscape – the grandeur of mountains and forests, the softness of flowing water, and the depth of community culture. This land is gradually shaping a clear path forward through “green tourism,” where nature is protected, culture is preserved, and people remain at the heart of the experience.
