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Paragliding is a recreational yet competitive aviation sport. It's a form of free-flying, taking off with your feet. The pilot sits in a seat made of strong straps (seat harness) beneath a fabric parachute wing, which is inflated to maintain its aerodynamic shape by the air pressure entering the "parachute chambers" as the parachute moves.
Since 2020, young people have become aware of this sport through photographs of nature taken from altitudes of over a thousand meters. In addition, a number of newly emerging flying destinations offer this type of service in many places such as Da Nang, Ninh Binh, Yen Bai, Hoa Binh, etc.
A thrill-seeker
"Watching the older students paragliding, I was a little scared at first, but when it was my turn to fly, I wasn't afraid at all," Van Anh, a young person living in Hanoi, shared with Travellive.
Sam Dinh went paragliding with his poodle.
Last autumn, Van Anh witnessed a paragliding demonstration in Hoa Binh and longed to experience it herself. This year, while in Mu Cang Chai, Van Anh fulfilled her wish. She signed up for the service and flew with a renowned Nepalese pilot, one of the top 50 pilots in the world.
"I felt reassured by the service because they prepared and instructed me very carefully," Van Anh said.
Sam Dinh, an office worker in Hanoi, believes that paragliding is the most worthwhile experience for the money spent. Sam only learned about this sport in April 2022. She had previously registered to paraglide and watch the sunset at Paragliding Hill (Hanoi). However, the weather was unfavorable that day, so Sam had to postpone her flight. Afterwards, she registered to experience paragliding in Mu Cang Chai with Sabby, Sam's poodle.
A certificate issued upon completion of the flight.
Perched precariously at an altitude of over a thousand meters.
"Before the flight, I didn't need to prepare much. I was only worried about Sabby's mental state and safety equipment. They gave me an extra harness and also gave me thorough instructions on the flight rules," Sam Dinh said. Fortunately, during the flight, the poodle remained calm and showed no fear. Sam had prepared Sabby mentally by showing her many paragliding demonstrations beforehand.
"The flight only lasts 20 minutes. This sport is suitable for those who are not afraid of heights and love thrills. It's a great feeling to admire the sky from above," said a tourist after experiencing paragliding in Mu Cang Chai.
Things to note when paragliding.
According to Sam Dinh, you don't need prior training to fly if you follow the instructions of your flight instructor. Sam said that during the takeoff run, you need to concentrate and catch the wind. She recounted that at Doi Du Parachute Hill, she witnessed a tourist who had to run five times before finally taking off. Meanwhile, Van Anh succeeded on her first attempt. She shared that you just need to run downhill and take about 2-3 steps to catch the wind.
Based on her personal experience, Van Anh advises that before paragliding, you should dress neatly in sportswear, athletic shoes, and make sure your shoelaces are tied securely. Most of the preparation involves running and landing on your feet, so sandals and high heels are not allowed. In addition, tourists should research the flight location and weather conditions, as wind speed and weather play a crucial role and directly affect the quality and safety of the flight.
Paragliding has been a sport in Vietnam for a long time.
The price for a paragliding experience ranges from 2 to 3 million VND. This is an affordable price and sufficient to satisfy the needs of young people who are passionate about this adventurous sport. One paragliding tourist shared that they spent about 2.2 million VND to enjoy soaring through the blue sky and admiring the golden rice fields in Mu Cang Chai.
"I feel it was worth the money and I've come back here to visit about 2-3 more times. If I had more money and time, I'd fly here dozens more times," this tourist excitedly told Travellive.
Paragliding was introduced to Vietnam in 1995 by two foreign pilots. Pham Duy Long was the first person in Vietnam to learn from them and established a paragliding club. Currently, many clubs dedicated to this sport have been established throughout the country. In particular, moderately high hills with clear skies and gentle slopes are ideal and safe locations for tourists to experience this exhilarating sport.
