To get to Chieu Cave you must climb a staggering 1,200 stone steps, but once you arrive at its mouth you will be glad you made the effort. Filled with impressive stone structures, “Hang Chiều” is like the land before time. “Chiều”, meaning ‘afternoon’, is a name given to the cave by local people, because it is made even more magnificent in the afternoon when the sun fills the cave with sparkling jewels of reflected light.
Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a haven of nationally preserved land which stretches from Mai Chau to Cuc Phuong National Park in the southeast. It is located in the Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc districts of north-western Thanh Hoa Province, about 17km from Mai Chau. This large nature park is famous for its gorgeous scenery, featuring dense, rich forest, limestone ridges and beautiful flowing rice terraces. Home to the Muong people, a notoriously warm and friendly ethnicity, a visit to Pu Luong’s emerald green mountain passes and winding valleys is ideal for an immersion into authentic North Vietnamese way of life.
Surrounding Mai Chau is a wonderland of green. Journey on foot through wafting fields of yellow, and trek to Thung Khe Pass for a taste of true mountain grandeur. The gorgeous scenery, seclusion and fresh air of this lofty spot are well worth the climb. The Pass is also known for its striking weather changes throughout the day, which the locals compare to a day of changing seasons. Mornings are cool and hazy like the rain in a Vietnamese spring, the afternoon brings an autumn wind but the warmth of a bright summer sun, and winter beckons with fingers of ice in the evening.
