Mountains, caves, rivers, lakes, jungle, exotic wildlife and plenty of adventure, Phong Nha has it all. The scenery is spectacular, the caves are phenomenal, the people are friendly and no matter how long you stay we guarantee you will never see all that Phong Nha has to offer. However, it is remote rural Vietnam, so it is good to be cautious and be aware of some of the facts.
Health & Safety
Unexploded Ordnance
During the American conflict in Vietnam, Phong Nha in particular was one of the most heavily mined and bombed areas during the war, and unexploded ordnance (UXO) is still a problem in the area including the National Park itself. Due to this, we strongly recommend that you do not head out into the jungle by yourself! If you want to explore “off the beaten track”, if you want to get deep into the jungle, then please go with a licensed guide on an organized tour.
You can learn more about UXO at the Phong Nha Farmstay where they have a display on the subject and its effects and clearance locally by the NGO, MAG, The Mines Advisory Group.
The Jungle
When it comes to adventuring in the jungle, you need to wear long pants, a long sleeve t-shirt, long socks and decent shoes, all of which may be obtained at Phong Nha the market in the Village. Covering your body as much as possible is recommended to protect you against sharp and poisonous plants found in the jungle, as well as deterring mosquitoes, leeches and other insects. Be sure to bring plenty mosquito repellent with you. You can walk in the jungle at the Botanical Gardens, but otherwise the rest of the National Park is off-limits unless you join an organized tour or on the National Park Loop.
Renting Motorbikes
Some of the caves can be seen by yourself, without taking part in an organised tour. It is possible to rent a scooter locally, download the map or grab one from a hotel, and go exploring! Before you do this though, please make yourself very aware of a few things:
- The Vietnamese have very different road rules to western countries, so you must be very careful when driving. One example is with junctions – Local drivers generally will not stop, or even look at junctions, so don’t assume that they will! A simple rule is to expect, and prepare, for the unexpected. Its also illegal to ride a motorbike without a license.
- You need to remain constantly aware of chickens, dogs, children, cyclists, buffalo, larger vehicles etc., on the road (or suddenly running into the road) – the road is as much theirs as it is yours, and there is no “right of way” here.
- The roads can have sand, gravel, water and other things which can make areas of it quite hazardous – always keep your speed low.
- Many of the scooter rental places in town rent pretty bad, run-down, and unmaintained scooters. Please make sure that you check them over before you agree on a rental and depart – check that the lights are working, that the brakes are working, and that it feels smooth to drive.
- This is an obvious one but very important – wear a GOOD helmet and wear shoes that cover your toes, and if you can, cover up the rest of your body as much as possible as well.
If you want to explore the area by motorbike, but don’t want to drive one yourself, you can rent a motorbike with a driver very easily and for reasonable prices. We recommend Phong Nha Riders, a hand-selected group of folks that are on hand to use their significant local knowledge on the roads to keep you safe, make sure you don’t get lost and to help you see the sights of the area safely. They will watch the road so that you can appreciate the scenery, take photos and enjoy the ride.
Medical Care
There is only one small local clinic in Phong Nha Village. Unfortunately, the medical staff here speak little-to-no English and won’t be able to take care of you if you have a serious injury, but they will be able to help you with cleaning and dressing minor cuts, scrapes or burns properly. Otherwise, we highly recommend that you go straight to the nearest hospital in Dong Hoi City, around 40 minutes drive from Phong Nha.
Food & Water
Whilst in Phong Nha, you definitely should not miss out on the delicious and unique local food. However, please take extra care with (or avoid entirely) eating street food because it’s simply not safe enough for foreigners who aren’t used to eating it. Please try to eat at recommended restaurants only. In terms of drinking water, generally it is not safe to drink the tap water in Vietnam in any significant quantity. Always use bottled drinking water for any liquid consumption, including boiling water for hot drinks. For travelers, it is best to err on the side of caution and also use bottled drinking water for brushing your teeth.
Emergency Contacts
In the case of an emergency, you will mostly likely require an English-Vietnamese translator to help you make emergency calls and reports, and you may need an English-speaking chaperon in the case of a medical emergency. The fluent English-speaking Vietnamese staff members at both Victory Road Villas and Phong Nha Farmstay will be able to help you. In these emergency situations, please use the following phone numbers and clearly state that it is an emergency and that you need help.
Victory Road Villas: (+84) 0232 367 5699
Phong Nha Farmstay: (+84) 0232 367 5135
Didn’t find what you were looking for?
If you have any further questions or need advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Otherwise, please check the Frequently Asked Questions page.