Some might define the perfect getaway from the city as a country retreat on the doorstep of a celebrated national park, with mountain biking, forest trekking, or kayaking along majestic rivers all as feasable options. So far, Chay Lap Village in Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province fits the bill, but we are in Vietnam, so what better way to top it off with than some cultural authenticity?The village offers tourists the chance to live the life of a Vietnamese farmer, sharing an old traditional house and helping farmers plant vegetables and feed the livestock. Visitors can fish in the river and plough the fields with a buffalo.
The homestay service was introduced at the village about a year ago and organized by the community with the Green Future Fund, which supports local people with capital and guidance. The project has a very altruistic side. Many of the families involved used to make a living illegally exploiting the forest around the heritage site for timber and wild animals. The homestays provided the farmers with an alternative means to subsidize their meager incomes. Now, most of the wooden houses in the village have been refurnished to welcome tourists.
Even when you want a break from working the land, a simple bicycle tour will find you retracing the steps of Vietnam’s history. One can follow a winding road past a forest management station and find themself meandering along a section of the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail, witness to many fierce battles during the American War, the scars of which can still be seen today. It is very humbling to look up from the historic trail at the timeless backdrop of mountains, unchanged for centuries.
After about 10km, the trail leads past a steep slope and into an immense field. You will find yourself at a river bank where a boat waits to take you back to Chay Lap. Those who like kayaking can explore the surrounding on a different route. Rowing along Chay River, you can visit Toi Cave and admire the breathtaking beauty of mountain cliffs and catch a glimpse of the many grey Langur (Voọc duoi dai) and other endangered animals and birds that live in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
A number of tour agents work with the village to promote their homestay service. Tourists can also organise their own trip with the help of Phuc Trach Commune’s Board of Community Tourism Management.
Enjoy some more pictures of the village, taken by photographer Jang Shilly
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét