Pu Luong Nature Reserve in two provinces (Quan Hoa and Thanh Hoa), Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a pristine rural landscape that impresses with a mix of pristine forest and cultivated rice terraces. It makes for a fantastic trekking landscape and multi-day hikes are a popular activity here. There are also some secluded villages and homestays in the reserve, where you can experience a simple rural life that’s a million miles away from high-speed wifi and skinny soy coffee lattes.

The best time to visit Pu Luong is in spring and early summer, as the weather is warm but not unbearably hot. It’s also when the villages and their inhabitants are at their most vibrant, with local markets selling all manner of home-produced goods.

In terms of accommodation, there are dozens of homestays around the reserve, and you can expect to be well looked after by any one of them. Most are in ‘clusters’ in certain parts of the reserve, so if you’re planning to stay at a particular homestay it’s worth booking in advance.

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The food served at the homestays is simple but delicious, and will give you a taste of village life. Don’t miss out on the chance to try the bitter soup, made from leaves harvested from the jungle. It might be a little sour and bitter to start with, but once you get used to the flavour it becomes quite delicious. You can also sample the local speciality of stem wine, which is made from cassava and stream water.