Blogs from Phong Nha Ke Bang, Quang Binh, North Central Coast, Vietnam, Asia - page 2

heute zeigt sich vietnam so, wie man es sich vorstellt. mit endlosen reisfeldern unter durch eine milde brise durchbrochener schwüle und abwechselnd bewölktem himmel. in aller frühe kommen wir mit unserem open bus in dong hoi an und stärken uns gleich mal mit wunderbrau frisch gebrautem vietnamesischen kaffee. dieser wird in eigenen kleinen aufsetzen direkt in die gläser gefiltert und schmeckt herrlich karamellig. mit händen und füßen verständigen wir uns mit dem cafe-inhaber und schlussendlich bringen wir ein zielführendes telefongespräch mit unserer homestay lady zu stande. wir werden abgeholt und durch herrlich grünes landleben zum pepperhouse homestay gebracht. das sehr authentische homestay (betten sind nur durch vorhänge getrennt) inmitten von pfeffer, reis und bananenfeldern ist unter vietnamesisch-australischer führung (die chefin hat einen australier geheirate... read more

Right around 4 am I was rustled awake and took a few seconds to get my bearings - 'Dong Hoi' one of the employees said softly, 'this is Dong Hoi.' I shook Tara awake and we looked around the sleeping town a bit disoriented. The maps in guide books or even on google maps easily provide that false sense of security, looking at it from above it all seems so easy - until you are dropped down into the streets and suddenly it all falls apart - completely unfamiliar from those simple lines on the pages. While the rest of the bus dreamed, huddled up tight in their blankets, their destination of Hoi An a few more restful hours down the high-way, Tara and I gathered our luggage and trudged out into the dark streets – ... read more

On December 4, Scott and I left Hue via local bus for the rural and remote Phong Na Farmstay located just outside of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in north central Vietnam. Taking the local bus, we found out, is quite different from booking a trip with a private company. For example, if you were to take one of these buses, here's what you might expect: 1) it's more of a van than a bus, 2) it runs on Vietnamese time - if you get to the station at 10:00 a.m. thinking the bus leaves at 10:30, be prepared to wait a few hours, 3) it's used primarily by locals, so verbal communication is going to be pretty difficult, 4) there may be a stack of styrofoam boxes in the front, the contents of which is ... read more

That Ninh Binh is not a destination in itself was no suprise, as it is the attractions around it, like Hoa Lu, Chua Bai Dihn and Tam Coc that draw tourists here. But we were mostly just excited (after the super-touristy Halong Bay) to finally be making our own way, and to be on the road on a local bus. Local buses in Vietnam (as in much of the developing world), always have room for one more passenger (a tiny plank with a cushion on it fills in the aisle gap, and voilá, a seat), and serve as a cheap alternative to the mail system for the locals. Also, they have few official stops (making it of course hard for foreigners to find the buses) and sometimes do not come even close to coming to a ... read more

Dong Hoi to Phong Nha Dong Hoi had a relaxed and friendly feel, the streets were lined with trees and we enjoyed our tastiest bowl of Pho. Tender juicy bits of beef; yum. We cycled the 40kms inland and arrived at Phong Nga farmstay that overlooks paddy fields with large hills as a backdrop. The farmstay is aimed at Westerners and is publicised throughout Vietnam. The owners are very friendly but are overstretched, ruining that 'homestay' feel. We enjoyed chatting to other tourists but were a little disappointed about the food (slightly expensive and of variable quality). Tomorrow we are off to explore the caves. Phong Nha Caves Phong Nha lies just north of the narrowest part of Vietnam and boasts some beautiful mountains and national parks. There are also still remnants of the real Ho ... read more