Hang Kia - Pa Co Nature Reserve

Hang Kia - Pa Co Nature Reserve is a protected limestone mountain forest spanning Hang Kia and Pa Co communes in Mai Chau District, Phu Tho Province, about 150 km northwest of Hanoi. Established to conserve evergreen and limestone forest ecosystems at 700-1,500 m elevation, it covers over 7,000 hectares. The reserve is notable for its biodiversity, cloud-covered peaks, and traditional Hmong villages within its buffer zone, offering nature and cultural tourism near Mai Chau Valley.

Visitors can expect a high mountain landscape of limestone karst, evergreen forest and grasslands often covered in sea of clouds, especially in winter and early spring. The reserve encompasses forested trails, viewpoints for cloud hunting and sunrise, and buffer-zone Hmong villages with stilt houses and terraced fields. There are no large built structures inside the core zone; exploration is via trekking paths and local roads with local guides, focused on nature observation, photography and cultural interaction.