VI
EN
Paragliding
Gliding is an adventurous travel experience that has existed worldwide for a long time and has developed strongly in Vietnam in the last 10 years. This sport relies on wind power to move through the air, flying over majestic mountains and forests to admire the beautiful scenery from above.
The cost for each paragliding flight ranges from 1,300,000 to 2,000,000 VND. To take a paragliding flight, you must prepare both physically and mentally by participating in a short course to learn how to take off using your feet and maintain balance while ascending with the wind. Paragliding is a fun and memorable experience, but it also involves many risks, so only those with sufficient courage can participate.
Before the flight, the pilot will provide step-by-step instructions to ensure your safety throughout the journey. They will also assist you with fastening your seatbelt, putting on your helmet, and conduct multiple safety checks before takeoff. During the flight, you can simply relax, admire the beautiful scenery below, and chat with the pilot.
In Vietnam, you can experience paragliding at Vien Nam Mountain in Hanoi, with a peak reaching 1,031 meters above sea level, offering panoramic views of lush green rice paddies. Bai Nha Mountain in Hoa Binh is also one of the most beautiful paragliding spots in the North, where you can fully admire the beauty of the verdant forest and enjoy the refreshing breeze. For those who love the beauty of terraced rice fields, head to Mu Cang Chai, especially during the golden rice harvest season. In the Central Highlands, you can experience paragliding at Con O Peak and Langbiang Mountain in Lam Dong. And in Da Nang, you can fly over Son Tra Peninsula to admire the city's beautiful green landscapes.
Zipline
Ziplining is also considered one of the most popular adventure tourism experiences in Vietnam. A zipline consists of one or two long cables, one end connected to a mountaintop or hillside to create elevation, and the other end attached to the lakeshore or land to provide a certain slope.
When participating in this game, you must wear protective gear, hang from a cable, and start from the highest point. During the slide, you will be able to admire the breathtaking beauty of nature, mixed with feelings of excitement and fear.
Major ecotourism destinations in Vietnam have gradually incorporated this adventurous tourism activity to cater to the needs of visitors. If you want to enjoy safe zipline experiences, you can visit Hoa Phu Thanh Tourist Area in Da Nang, Alba Thanh Tan Hot Spring Resort in Hue, Ho May Tourist Area in Vung Tau, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh, or Madagui National Forest in Da Lat. Each location offers ziplines of varying lengths and slopes, but all provide thrilling, exhilarating experiences.
The cost of ziplining is relatively lower compared to other adventure tourism experiences in Vietnam, ranging from only 250,000 to 300,000 VND per ride. Even so, it remains a memorable experience for tourists who enjoy thrill-seeking activities.
Exploring Son Doong Cave
Son Doong Cave, located in Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province, is the world's largest natural cave and has been listed by many international media outlets as a must-visit destination at least once in a lifetime.
Son Doong Cave is nearly 9 km long, with ceilings reaching up to 200 m high and widths up to 175 m in some places, capable of overwhelming anyone who enters. Geologists believe that Son Doong Cave was formed approximately 2-5 million years ago. Its size is comparable to an airport, capable of accommodating about 68 Boeing 777 aircraft simultaneously.
Besides its immense size, Son Doong Cave also boasts a vibrant flora, with ancient, lush, pristine, and majestic primeval forests. The cave has its own temperature and climate, completely isolated from the outside world.
Son Doong Cave attracts a large number of adventure tourists, with 98% being foreign visitors. To participate in a cave exploration trip, you need to register a year in advance, undergo several comprehensive tests of physical fitness and survival skills, and pay a fee of up to 3,000 USD.
The Son Doong Cave expedition includes main activities such as traversing 17 km of mountainous jungle trails, exploring 8 km of cave passages including both walking and rope climbing, crossing a 90 m wall of Vietnam, climbing an 800 m high slope, crossing an underground river inside the cave, and camping overnight right inside the cave.
During this journey, you will experience fatigue from long hikes, getting soaked while wading through streams, feeling dizzy from the intense sun while climbing mountains, potentially getting injured by sharp rocks, and having your heart race every time you cross a sinkhole. Nevertheless, the journey will provide you with unforgettable memories from beginning to end.
Scuba diving with oxygen tanks
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving that involves the use of breathing equipment. This allows visitors to dive deep to the seabed to explore the colorful underwater world.
Before participating in the experience, you need to attend a short class on basic diving knowledge, such as hand signals and how to use an oxygen tank to breathe. When going underwater, participants must wear lead weights weighing up to 14 kg and an oxygen tank weighing 9 kg, so even if you don't know how to swim, you can still dive to the deep seabed. You will wear a life vest connected to an oxygen tank; after diving, you empty the vest. When you want to surface, you simply inflate the vest with oxygen.
If you can't stay calm, exploring the seabed will feel like stumbling in a dream—unstable and prone to collapse. Conversely, if you calmly face the challenges and gradually get used to the water pressure, you will have an incredibly memorable time.
The cost for a scuba diving session is approximately 900,000 - 1,500,000 VND per person. Major coastal areas like Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, and Da Nang offer this type of adventurous tourism. Without a scuba diving certificate, you can only dive for a maximum of 30 minutes in waters up to 5 meters deep, accompanied by a professional instructor to ensure safety.
