Adventures at mammoth cave

Son Nu Cave, stretching over 1.5 kilometers in depth, is adorned with an array of stalactites. The cave was recently unearthed by the residents of Truong Son Commune in Quang Ninh District, Quang Binh Province. The name "Son Nu" (mountain fairy) was chosen for the cave by the local residents. Hoang Trong Duc, chairman of the Truong Son Commune, revealed that Son Nu Cave lies deep within the heart of the West Truong Son (Annamite) forest area, and was discovered by foresters by chance. To reach the cave's entrance, one needs to embark on a nearly 2-kilometer journey along a meandering stream. The entrance to Son Nu Cave is near the Khe May Stream. To venture inside, both locals and visitors must equip themselves with standup paddleboards, flashlights, and life jackets. Navigating through the cave entails traversing numerous rapids, and while the underground waters remain crystal clear, accessing the cave during … [Read more...] about Son Nu Cave: Quang Binh’s newest natural wonder

Inside the freshly discovered cave. (Photo: VNA) Quang Binh (VNA) – A cave with magnificent and pristine limestone formations has been freshly discovered in the central province of Quang Binh, which is often dubbed the "kingdom of caves" in Vietnam. Locals in Truong Son commune , Quang Ninh district, are behind the discovery, and they call the area the Son Nu (mountain girl) cave, confirmed Hoang Trong Duc, Chairman of the Truong Son People's Committee. Located near such ecotourism destinations as Cha Rao and Cha Cung streams, the cave is approximately 1.8km long, with a width ranging from 20m to 50m and an average height of about 35m. To reach its location, people need to cross about 7km of convenient transportation and 2km of a trail alongside a stream. It features an underground stream originating from the Vietnam-Laos border. In summer, the water level inside the cave is not significant, allowing local residents to paddle through. The boat journey from its … [Read more...] about New cave discovered in Quang Binh

Mui Yen Cape, situated in Hoa Thang Commune within Bac Binh District of Binh Thuan Province, is 4 kilometers away from the Bau Trang sand dune. Unlike the lively Bau Trang with lots of tourists and colorful Jeeps, Muy Yen Cape remains untamed, with limited tourism amenities. The pathway, meandering through white sand dunes, guides visitors to Mui Yen, where hills reach out to the Hoa Thang Sea. With its gentle landscape, Mui Yen is an ideal coastal camping spot for wanderers who seek to embrace unspoiled nature. On the road trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Yen, visitors can witness lush dragon fruit orchards. In late August, a group of travelers from Ho Chi Minh City set off on a weekend camping trip to Mui Yen. They traveled about 240 kilometers, mainly using the Ho Chi Minh City - Dau Giay - Phan Thiet Expressway. Opting for a leisurely pace, they took their time, enjoying the picturesque views en route. … [Read more...] about Coastal camping adventure: a weekend getaway at Mui Yen

Vietnam is not about world-famous attractions! Speak to any expat and they all agree it is the unknown small things that make Vietnam such an amazing place to visit. But one place, Ha Long Bay (Vịnh Hạ Long), just east of Hanoi, bucks that theory with world-class wonder and beauty. Having used every excuse to avoid this international tourist attraction, fortune offered me the chance to spend a day doing the tourist thing and I took a tour from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province. Tours are run by operators for one to three days, with the multi-day trips having you staying on a boat that is a floating hotel. Prices for tours were reasonable and the whole operation from Hanoi and the return trip were well managed. A boat takes tourists around Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Ray Kuschert / Tuoi Tre News I took the one-day tour where we left our hotel in Hanoi around 8:00 am and returned about 9:00 pm at night. Tours can be … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay: World-famous for a reason

As Vietnam settles into the new visa regulations it launched in mid-August, many younger travelers are visiting the country to experience the coupling of modern Vietnam and its traditional beauty. Matthew Kuschert is one such tourist hoping to take advantage of the new visa regulations in order to explore Hanoi for the first time. Matthew is from Australia and is also my son. With the new visa system in place, he decided to pay me a visit, which we used as an opportunity to explore the north of the country for the first time. Hanoi was to be our focus along with one day in Ha Long Bay and a short stop in Vinh City on our way to run in a half-marathon. The first stop in Matthew’s adventure was Vinh City in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam. “I was surprised at how quiet this city was compared to the other major cities across the country,” he said about Vinh, the capital city of Nghe An Province. Matthew Kuschert (right) and his father pose in this supplied … [Read more...] about Where to go if you’re in Hanoi for the first time?