Van Long

A small meaningsless road leads to our nice backyard homestay at Minh's family in Van Long.

Visitors - mainly day-trippers - mostly come to Van Long for one reason: to enjoy it's nature reserve. Especially the boat rides one can do are the highlight.  

But let's begin with Van Long itself: it's really small and totally surrounded by green - really beautiful!

 

For the sunset we plan a boat trip.

 

 

This is us with our "captain"... 

(The request for a good or more tipping can be so annoying!)

 

But it' so beautiful!!!

 

Luckily we see a lot of monkeys as they're active at this time...

The Delacour's Langurs

We also entered a cave...

Enjoying nature to the max!

 

 

And of course, Alfredo had to lend hands! (And of course, hands on for Alfredo! ;)

The next day we rent a scooter and visit the biggest temple site in Vietnam: Chua Bai Dinh.

Just the gates are immense...

  

 

 

A huge Stupa!

Ok, now serious...

Buddhas are everywhere...

 

 

The old Pagoda...

A map so you can imagine how big it is: from one side to the other there are over 2 km... Other countries have amusement parks of this size...

Trained little trees everywhere... ;)

 

The third day in Van Long we start really relaxing with a late, big breakfast. After that we chillax and later we undertake a bike tour. Landscape is so wonderful here.

Our tour takes a twist as Alfredo's pedal breaks off. We walk the bikes home... :(
Back at our lovely bungalow (we have a late checkout :) we get ready for our next trip: we go to the Phong Nha National Park by nightbus...