It has been exactly one year since the Hang Va expedition - one of the journeys that I will always remember because of the majesty and uniqueness of Quang Binh's underground. A year later, I packed my backpack and hit the road again, this time to Da Giang - Hoa Binh, with the mindset of a weekend chill trip because I heard that the water is clear blue, the scenery is poetic, the experience is gentle and romantic.
But I was "tricked" spectacularly. Tricked by the incredibly beautiful nature, tricked by the difficult route and tricked by myself - the person who thought that with 5 km of running every day, light trekking would be "normal". But it was not at all normal, it was the trip that made me exclaim the most so far and it was even more difficult than Hang Va!
Dreamlike scenery in Hoa Binh
Almost canceled the tour at the last minute
The night before departure, it rained heavily, thunder and lightning were rumbling, signaling a day of trekking in the rain and wind. In my mind, I was still thinking that tomorrow I would have to brave the rain, or even the tour would be canceled. But then, early the next morning, I opened my eyes at 5am, the sky was still dark. The anxiety continued to haunt me until I arrived at the meeting point: the sky was blue without a cloud, the air was strangely fresh. A perfect start!
Starting from the pick-up point in Hanoi, we moved to the suburbs and had breakfast. Then the journey began to Hoa Binh. The starting point was Ngoi Hoa port, we took a boat to the other side of the river and took our first steps in Suoi Hoa commune, Tan Lac district. It was very pleasant, the weather was cool, the scenery was beautiful, and I felt cheerful. But then the sun rose high, the sun was blazing, and I started to gasp for breath. That feeling is not strange if you do not exercise much, but I am a person who still maintains a regular jogging schedule and sometimes still feel exhausted when having to climb continuously in the midday sun. It is true that going to the forest or the mountain is not like walking in the park or running on the street.
Ngoi Hoa Port - the gathering point of the whole group
Take a boat to get to the starting point of the journey
The big plus is that every time I stop to rest, I just need to look up and see a dreamy scene: lush green forest trees, murmuring waterfalls in the distance, patches of sunlight shining through the foliage like sprinkling gold. So beautiful that I can’t help but exclaim “oh”, “ah”, “my god, how beautiful!”
The journey took me and the group to two caves that had not been officially named. Therefore, with the privilege of pioneers (or maybe because we were too lazy to remember the name), the whole group humorously called the first cave “Vat Cave” because it was so hard to get in. This cave had a tiny entrance, but inside it was quite spacious, cool, with many marbles and strange stalactites.
Ngoi Hamlet, Suoi Hoa Commune - where tour guides disseminate information on how to move during trekking
The second cave was named “Va Cave” because the path down there was so slippery that it almost made everyone slap their faces on the ground. The heavy rain the night before had made the mud so slippery that each step seemed to be dancing with gravity. But when they got through, the reward was a clear blue lake, a moment that made the heart beat faster, not because of fear but because of overwhelming emotion.
Memories of blood, leeches and flies
While I was enjoying the beautiful scenery, I suddenly bent down and discovered... blood was flowing. I had no idea when, only when I got home and reviewed the photos and videos did I realize that I had been "eaten" by leeches. The last time I went to Hang Va, I didn't get leeches, but this time I got "caught" too early!
After exploring the “Va” cave, the group planned to have lunch in the cave but ended up moving outside to the hut for some fresh air. Thinking they would be able to chill out in the middle of nature, they were surrounded by flies and mosquitoes as if they were having a buffet. Laughing to tears, we ate quickly and then quickly went back into the cave to rest.
Porter for the journey to conquer Da Giang
The road after lunch is the part I remember the most, although I don’t have any photos or videos because of the heavy rain. It suddenly started to rain heavily when the group had just left the cave. The rain made everything dark, the road was slippery, and visibility was greatly reduced. But that’s why the emotions were so high: hanging down the slippery rocks, clinging to each step over the sharp rocks, feeling like living in a dramatic adventure movie.
It was only 3pm but the sky was already grey, everyone was anxious because they were afraid that it would be too dark to get out in time. But then, like a miracle, the lake appeared clear as rumored, even though it was still drizzling. We took a few photos, shot some videos, then quickly got on the boat and returned to the starting point.
Conquering caves on a trekking trip
Back on shore, everyone threw away their wet shoes and clothes and rushed straight to the city for dinner. Tired but happy, exhausted but satisfied. The sky then turned yellow as a congratulation for the successful journey. It was not an easy trip, but it was an experience worth every penny spent. In fact, if we say we spent 10, we would get at least 20 in return - it was truly a "profit"!
A trip you should try at least once in your life
I don’t know if the tour company “compensates for the loss” because the service is so good, the itinerary is standard, the porters are enthusiastic, the scenery is unquestionable. But for those who need a breath to get away from the city, need an experience that is both adventurous and romantic, Da Giang is a name worth putting on the “must try” list.
Must try tour - Da Giang, Hoa Binh
Of course, be physically prepared, wear sturdy shoes, mosquito-repellent clothing, waterproof gear and... a little blood for the leeches if needed. But trust me, you will not be disappointed. Because what appears before your eyes - from mysterious caves, clear lakes, slippery rainy roads to moments of sitting huddled in the rain with teammates - are things that no photo can fully convey. You have to go, you have to feel with your own feet and heart. And at that time, you will also exclaim: "Oh wow"!
