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Post:Que Lan
Researchterrain, weather
Depending on your preferences, you and your family can choose to camp in high mountainous areas with ideal forest trails for hiking and cycling, or near lakes and streams suitable for boating and fishing. However, a prerequisite before proceeding is to carefully study the map and terrain of the area where you will set up camp. You can also find information about the nearest medical stations and support centers in case of emergencies.
No matter where you're traveling, you should monitor the weather regularly until the day before you leave. If there are unusual forecasts such as rain, storms, or landslides, you should postpone your trip and reschedule for a more suitable time.
Vehicle
Unlike planned trips, camping offers you the freedom and flexibility to plan and oversee your accommodation and meals throughout the journey. Whether the distance is near or far, driving is the best way to transport your belongings, luggage, and camping gear. Remember to check your vehicle before you leave, ensure you have spare parts, and bring all necessary documents, including your driver's license and car insurance.
Skin
Bringing more clothes than you actually need is a perennial problem for travelers. You should calculate just enough clothes for the number of days of your trip and your intended use. Layering thin clothing helps regulate body temperature, and bringing a jacket is helpful for avoiding getting caught in trees, protecting against insects and leeches, and preventing chills at night when temperatures drop and you're more likely to catch a cold. A scarf is absolutely essential in case of sudden cold spells. You should choose soft, comfortable canvas shoes that wick away sweat, with good grip or cushioning for easy hiking in the mountains and forests.
Tents, sleeping bags
The ideal home and bed for your trip is a tent and sleeping bag, protecting you from rain, sun, insects, and ensuring a good night's sleep. Before deciding to rent or buy, you must consider how often you will use it, understand the information about the size, style, fabric material of the tent, and the temperature rating on the sleeping bag. Each camping tent clearly states the number of people it can accommodate, but if you are carrying many backpacks and other personal items, you should consider and ask for advice from the supplier to make a wise choice. Sleeping bags should be chosen to suit the weather of the area where you will be staying; those made of synthetic fibers or down are lightweight, easy to carry, and won't cause allergies for sensitive skin.
Currently, the market offers a wide variety of specialized camping tents along with ground sheets and sleeping bags. However, when choosing a tent, remember that it must meet the criteria of being waterproof, breathable, and insect-proof. You should also pay attention to other factors such as the material of the tent poles, carefully check for tears or holes, and ensure the zippers are smooth before buying. Of the four basic tent types – A-frame tents, umbrella tents, dome tents, and wall tents – A-frame and umbrella tents are the most convenient and easier to assemble and disassemble. You should also practice setting up a tent a few times to get used to it before your actual trip.
Food and drinks
Besides all the other essentials you need to bring, you should prepare necessary and nutritious food by planning your meals in advance and preparing sufficient quantities. Always ensure you have enough clean drinking water for the whole day, or you can bring water purification tablets (aquatabs) or portable water filters in case you run out of water.
For day trips, ready-made and canned foods that are easy to store, such as bread, sausages, canned meat, instant noodles, cheese, chocolate, candies, and bottled water, are top choices. However, for longer trips of 2 or 3 days, more elaborate food preparation and cooking equipment are needed, such as a portable stove, lighter, pots, pans, bowls, chopsticks, pre-processed and marinated fresh meat, and an ice cooler. For picnics, grilled and hot pot dishes are popular due to their simplicity and the way they bring people together in a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Essential items
During a camping trip, you'll need to be proactive in arranging your own food and accommodation, so the items you bring should be simple and lightweight, but still sufficient for everyone in the group. Personal travel kits containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, mirrors, and combs, readily available in supermarkets in small sizes, are an ideal choice for short trips.
Additionally, you should prepare essential items such as firewood, ground sheets, raincoats, hammocks, folding chairs, knives, flashlights, lighters, plastic cups, a hammer for stakes and tent ropes, canvas or nylon ropes for drying clothes, plastic tarpaulins for protection from rain and sun, and a fishing rod if camping near a lake. A camera, phone, and a small notebook are also indispensable for a nature-based trip.
Health, medicine
Camping requires specific skills and knowledge to ensure health and safety when exposed to natural conditions. A basic first-aid kit with medications for colds, stomach aches, diarrhea, bandages, fever reducers, antiseptics, and pain relief balm is essential, in addition to any pre-existing medical conditions. When setting up camp, avoid insect nests such as ants. Since campsites often have many mosquitoes and insects, bring insect repellent to prevent bites and insomnia, and especially avoid using perfumes or scented sprays. Bring hand sanitizer and use it before eating, drinking, or personal hygiene.
Recreational activities
Every camping trip is an ideal opportunity for everyone to enjoy nature in their own way, while also strengthening bonds among members through group activities such as singing, dancing, magic shows, storytelling, and games after a campfire. For daytime outdoor activities, you can organize mountain climbing, cycling, or boating and fishing, which will also be very enjoyable. You can completely create your own games or find ideas online to suit the number of participants to bring laughter and relaxation to everyone in the group.
Safe for young children
One of the most important things to keep in mind when taking young children camping is ensuring their safety. Always supervise, observe, and remind children to stay close to the campsite and not stray too far or go alone when climbing, running, or playing to avoid getting lost in the deep forest. Bring light, loose-fitting, sweat-wicking clothing along with a jacket so children can play comfortably during the day while staying warm when it gets cold at night.
Some things that should be done
Set up camp in a safe location, close to populated areas, while it's still light. Consider building a large bonfire to keep the fire burning throughout the night.
To light a campfire, choose a safe, open area free of trees and dry leaves, with a radius of about 5-10 meters around the fire, and carefully observe the area above for any dry branches or flammable materials hanging down.
Food and snacks should be placed in sealed bags or coolers to preserve them and keep them out of reach of wild animals. When cooking, use the available grill instead of cooking over a campfire to avoid excessive cleanup and the risk of forest fires.
Please ensure that when clearing the campsite, you leave no trace of it, and avoid littering or disposing of waste into the environment.
Ideal locations for camping trips.
Near Hanoi, you can spend 1.5-2 days camping near Ham Lon Lake in Soc Son, 40km from Hanoi, nestled amidst pine hills, clear blue water, and pristine nature. You can combine camping with hiking up Ham Lon Mountain. Another option is Ba Vi National Park; Ba Vi district, 50km from Hanoi, is a great place to escape the heat and camp in the pine hills at Cot 400.
You could also plan a 1.5-day camping trip to Dong Cao Plateau, Bac Giang, 140km from Hanoi, or a camping and trekking trip on Co To Con Island, near Co To, Quang Ninh province, for 2.5-3.5 days. Further south, Ly Son Island is a fantastic camping spot, close to nature, suitable for a 3.5-4.5 day trip, or you could camp and have a bonfire overnight on Lang Bian Mountain in Da Lat.
