PHONG NHA / KHE BAnG NATIONAL PARK
NATURAL STATE.
I started to understand the full scope of Vietnam once I came to Phong Nha. A Unesco World Heritage Site, this system of caves is made up of 400 million year old Karst limestone, the same kind of stones which line the labyrinths of the Arans Islands in Ireland. The town Son Trach offers young and cool hostiles which have an easy pizza or beer if you need, in addition to Vietnam’s finest pun t-shirts to indulge in. In 2009, the Hang Son Doong (Son Doong Cave) was declared the largest in the world which has its own eco-system due to its size, it is also the location where Kong Skull Island was filmed. However, the reality sits in the fact that this was where the war was fought. The jungle and mountains are scathed with bomb craters and inactive shells. They say there are plans to build trolley systems to funnel and crowd tourists into these caves….. sounds like a natural disaster. The outline of these hills will remain with me like a scar, but one that is necessary, one I learn from and reminds me to always know my surroundings.
STAY. PHONG NHA FARMSTAY
Heaven everlasting at this family run hotel. Borrow bicycles and bike into town before delving into the national park. Rooms are cozy and breakfast is awesome. The rice fields surround you and there is an outdoor cafe and billiards where live music is played.
Our adventure was a day trip, but there are 2-3 day treks which seem exhilarating.
You spend the day on a bus and visit walking caves and then hike and swim in dark caves with terrifying bat caves with lunch included
THE CAVE SWIM or THE DEEP DARK DIVE INTO YOUR PSYCHE AND YOUR HUMOR
im not praying or meditating in this photo, just blinking.. but that was a dope lunch
SHOP + EAT. STRAIGHT OUTTA PHONG NHA
Easy Tiger Hostel - Jungle Bar, Nhà bán vé và hàng lưu niệm., ĐT20, Phong NHA, Bố Trạch, Phong Nha, Sơn Trạch, Vietnam perfect hang out spot, pool, pizza, beers good crowd, on the main strip in town
Phuc Dat Shop - Souvenirs & Unique Clothings Store, Phong NHA, Bố Trạch District, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam get all the t-shirts with all the puns
Where I bought these Hot Pink Pants, across the street from Easy Tiger and slightly to the right you will find a lovely woman selling dresses and pants which she tailors herself, she can fix anything for you and has old fabrics under her desk. Found these amazing pink pants and then had them copied in Hoi An!
Took a four hour bus from Phong Nha town to Hue, filled with westerners was a cool experience… a lot of cuties, but all too young, I remember seeing someone reading a Philosophy for Beginners and thought to myself, ok thats as far as this goes… HEAD TO HUE!!!
