I Really Did Find Shangri La in Vietnam

I spent the last five days at the Phong Nha Farmstay (which is not a farm but a lovely hotel in the middle section of Vietnam).  My room came equipped with balcony, hammock, great views of the rice paddies and spectacular sunsets.This is the first hotel I have stayed in that has bomb exhibits.  Everyone is extremely pleasant and friendly (in the whole country)– their smiles are contagious. I have learned how to say Hello, Goodbye and Thank you.

From this base I was able to venture out and explore the countryside and the National Park that is very famous for it caves.  The first day I availed myself to a complimentary bike and decided to venture to a “valley” about 5 kilometers away. I didn’t get more than 1/2 mile and the sun and 92 degree heat forced me back to have lunch and read by the swimming pool.

The next day I got boulder and signed up for a National Park Tour. My first suspicion that there was trouble ahead was– of my 17 other travelers the oldest was 33. Our first stop was to Paradise Cave. It was truly amazing with miles of stalactites and stalagmites. The challenge was the 517 meter trek UP HILL to the entrance. I took my time and didn’t hold the group up (too much).

Our next adventure was a 45 minute trek into the jungle. Doesn’t sound too bad except for the 30 foot single track steep dirt hill in and out. The guide held on to me and I was glad for his help. After our march in the jungle we came to a clearing by a cute little creek where some other guides had cooked lunch. We had casual eating with piles (on the floor) of rice paper rolls and ingredients: grilled pork and tofu, lettuce, cukes, bean sprouts, rice, peanuts and the best ground ginger and coriander sauce—yummy.

Lunch was great but this nightmare wasn’t over yet. We had to don life jackets and helmets with head lights for the next leg of the tour. This was a 600 meter swim in a pitch dark cave. The worst part was a climb over a giant pile of jagged boulders to get to the water. I thought I would fall and possibly really hurt myself. I really really hung onto the guide.

The best part was climbing (with help) out of the jungle and receiving a standing ovation from my group—- I took a bow. Don’t believe our that poster where it says “easy” and a six year old could do this–that is totally propaganda and would be child abuse in the States!!!

The next day I decided to take it easy and sit in a dragon boat for my cave excursion. The only problem was I had to get a motor scooter taxi to the boat. I held onto my driver so hard I wrinkled his shirt. I took a car taxi back to my hotel.

The countryside is very pretty

I stopped for some nachos and beer (the food here is salty and sweet vs hot) before heading back to my hotel.

For my last day I thought I would try the bike trip to the valley. Well this time I was 50% successful……I made it to The Duck Stop. This is a great place to play with ducks, have a duck foot massage and throw a duck into a pond.

 

After all that duck excitement I biked on to The Pub With Cold Beer– my kind of place. I could have taken a swim in the river but it was too hot to put my suit on so I ditched the bike and took a motorcycle ride back to my hotel for a lunch of rice papers filled with noodles and prawns, chili sauce and glass of white wine at the swimming pool. What a wonderful way to spend 5 days in the middle of Vietnam!!!

I am off to Ho Chi Minh city to meet up with my tour of the rest of Vietnam.