PU MAT NATIONAL PARK – ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION IN WESTERN NGHE AN
Pu Mat National Park has the most diverse flora and fauna ecosystem in the Central region, with 2,494 plant species and 1,746 animal species, including the first saola individuals discovered in Vietnam.
The wild beauty of Pu Mat National Park in the Biosphere Reserve World West Nghe An. – Source: Vietnam Pictorial
Pu Mat National Park is an appealing destination for tourists who enjoy exploring and experiencing new things due to its abundant natural resources, numerous rare animal and plant gene sources, and unique indigenous culture.
Pu, in Thai, means “mountaintop.” Pu Mat refers to the area’s highest mountain peak, which stands 1,841 meters above sea level. The National Park is named after this mountain peak.
Wild sunflowers dye the roads yellow in the Western region of Nghe An Province.
Source: Collected
Every year at the end of November, wild sunflowers bloom in bright yellow along the Vietnam-Laos border. Visitors can experience the beauty of the mountains and forests by viewing wild sunflowers on Western Nghe An’s roads.
Pu Mat National Park, located at 18o46′ North latitude and 104o24′ East longitude in Nghe An province, has a core area of 94,804ha and an 86,000ha buffer zone spread across three districts: Tuong Duong, Con Cuong, and Anh Son of Nghe An province.
Pu Mat National Park has the most diverse flora and fauna ecosystem in the Central region, with 2,494 plant and 1,746 animal species. The Vietnam Red Book lists a large number of animal and plant species. This is also the first location where Saola individuals were discovered in Vietnam.
Source: Collected
Visitors to Pu Mat National Park will be delighted and amazed to see pheasants, sun bears, saola, chamois… There is also a 100-hectare ancient sandalwood forest, with trees reaching 50 meters in height. The nature here is wild and mysterious, but also poetic and majestic, giving visitors a unique experience.
Pu Mat is beautiful in the grandeur of the green forest, in its primeval appearance, seemingly unaffected by human intervention. Visitors to Pu Mat will be able to admire the wildness of Vietnam’s primeval forest, which has the highest biodiversity and many outstanding landscapes.
Rows of majestic ancient trees with a vast canopy, or intertwined vines that form mysterious forest patches. Along with that are the chirping sounds of hundreds of species of forest birds… All have created brilliant colors of the natural picture amidst the vast beauty.
Khe Kem Waterfall is a destination that visitors cannot miss when coming to Pu Mat National Park – Source: Collected
Attracting visitors right at the foot of Pu Mat peak are many beautiful landscapes with year-round shade of the isolated forest; with a waterfall pouring from a height of 150m creating white foam of Khe Kem waterfall; with the cool clear water of Moc stream, or Ma Nhai stele – a unique historical site dating back to the 14th century, Tra Lan citadel – a place that marked the resistance war against the Ming army; or Ong Trang’s cave, where more than 600 years ago, Bung Phung Khac Khoan was exiled…
Thais call Kem waterfall as Bo Bo, which means white silk strip. Looking up from the waterfall’s base, you will get the impression that the stream is flowing endlessly in strips of white foam, much like an endless strip of white silk.
On the way to Kem waterfall, the impression that remains in visitors about the beauty of Pu Mat is the sound of flowing water at the Pha Lai dam (flower of heaven), the red color like a poinciana on the trees on both banks of the Giang River ( about 20km from the administrative area of the national park).
Source: Collected
Visitors to Pu Mat National Park, in particular, should not miss the opportunity to explore the romantic Giang River, which is a “specialty” of Western Nghe An.
Pu Mat National Park is surrounded by a 100-kilometer-long river. Visitors can relax on the waves and take in the wild and majestic beauty of Western Nghe An’s mountains and forests. Sparse stilt houses are interspersed among the green corn and rice fields of the villagers at the downstream end; mountains as far as the eye can see; ancient trees grow huts on cliffs extending towards the river. There is a section where the river water is so clear that you can see schools of fish swimming around freely.
Adventurers can enjoy the thrill of sailing up the Giang River, which includes some extremely exciting rapid crossings.
Source: Collected
At the end of the tour and travel adventure on the Giang River, tourists can experience Thai ethnic life. In addition to learning about the traditional activities of the Thai ethnic people in the upper reaches of the Giang River who live by farming and brocade weaving, visitors from far away can enjoy ethnic dishes such as bamboo-tube rice, banana porridge, and cool fish, grilled chicken, participate in lighting campfires, drink wine, dance Lam Vong, and sing songs about the mountains and forests.
With appealing tourism potential and investment from industry and authorities, Pu Mat National Park will undoubtedly become an ideal destination for domestic and international tourists in the future, contributing to the acceleration of Nghe An tourism development; at the same time, it creates a foundation for the protection of biodiversity and rich natural resources in the area.
