A challenge that most Vietnamese backpackers wishing to do is to check in four most points (North/South/West/ East) and a summit (Fansipan) in Vietnam. So, when I was a junior student, I and my friend made a backpacking trip to the easternmost point of Vietnam.
Departing from Nha Trang, we biked toward the north, via Van Gia, to Dam Mon. The traffic in Vietnam was very chaos, as usual. You are likely to be frightened at first, but an adventurous traveler would be adapted very quick and love the freedom and danger are put together in the country.
Sand trail challenge
We reached the touch point of the very first challenge – sand trail. It was 10 o’clock and the sun was burning the ground. The beginning was nothing at all to us, which we could easily handle our bikes through soft off-road terrain, but when the sand was covered the whole surface, forcing us to step down and push manually vehicles passing it. It was, how can I say, hum, Hell on earth *LoL*
Directly exposed to the sun in long time (at least 3-4 hours), we were heavily dehydrated. One of my friend started to get sunstroke, and we had to stop for many times to regain our health.
Will is a must-have but your health is also very important, some travellers challenge themselves over their limit at such a very dangerous level.
When we were trying to get our bikes over sand, I noticed some travelers had given up and turn back. If you go solo with your bike, it’s extremely hard to manage to reach the homestay.
Finally we passed it and felt like in heaven. “Yeahhhh, we did it, did it” – we yelled, bursting into happiness.
Uncle Hai Lodge
Indeed, the lodge lies below a slope which is quite steep, just 30-40 degree, so some one would park in the lot by the trail, but because no one was in charge of securing our bikes, so we decided to get them down the slope. And it was such a damn decision. But teamwork was great and another victory was made!
The lodge was very eco-friendly, we had hammocks, roof of leaves, a view toward beautiful sea. Everything was so cool!
You’re likely to be served lemonade at first by the hostess. To be honest, we loved first moments there. But it was quite late (we’d been stuck too long in sand trail). So we decided to take part in the night trekking at 4 PM.
Trekking in the dark
So we packed 3 litre of water, a tent and some personal stuff in our backpacks. It took 4 -5 hour depending greatly on group’s stamina.
A savanna was what to face first, then a forest to cross and when we were out, it’s just a dark silence surrounding, we started to smell salty and hear sea growling gently.
The trail was very challenging, we had to stay sharp or we would be sliding downward. It’s noted that nowadays, you can rent a boat instead of the only trekking option, but the trek is still adventurous, worthy for a travel experience, I recommend using boat in case your health is not allowed for a trek.
We stopped and camped at a wide beach. We were separately working two group: set up camp and cooking. When the work was done, it’s dinner and I admittedly enjoyed one of the best food in my life. It’s a happiness you just feel after completing difficulties that you think you couldn’t do but finally you did it.
It was a cold night, the fog condensed water and wet our tent. I remember when I first got my hand out, I just drew back quickly because the low-temperature outside. It’s not experience for amateur after all.
Dawn at the easternmost point
4:00 AM and we were waken up. It’s such a cold dawn but the sky was beautiful clear, filled with millions of stellars. We packed few essential stuffs and got on the way.
There were two major difficulties: low-light condition and rock-climbing-jump was very exhausted. It took us nearly 2 hours to reach the pole. It’s a beach filled fully with rocks, small and big, stacked one another randomly. The landscape was gradually lit-up by early sunlight.
The pyramid – a sign of easternmost pole – was put on a big rock, requiring a rope climbing. I emphasize that this is a real dangerous action because of lack of safety equipment, and if you unluckily fall off, it’s likely that you get deathly hit on your body. So be careful.
After reaching the pyramid, we felt completely proud of ourselves, of what we had done to make the way to the pole. All the pain and fear turned into happiness. The landscape was as beautiful as heaven, and we quickly shot some photographs as memories. It’s pity that one of the team member got ankle aching and wasn’t able to climb to the pyramid.
The return
It’s a chance to see what we missed because of low-light trekking to see sunrise in time. The scenery was green, pure, splendid and majestic.
We took a short break at the lodge, swimming in cool water and wished one day to return for another leisure travel, a tent, few days off-the-grid, a complete slow experience.
Epilogue
We’re back to the sand trail. Sunset painted every inches on the ground and scenery. I’d never seen thing like that before. It’s very stunning, a memorable moment we would put in our heart forever.
The way back was easier than the first day, we couldn’t explain why it’d taken us so long to get over the sand trail, and we came up with an idea for the next time: it’d better leave your vehicle in local’s house (at a very reasonable parking fee ~10,000 dong/ night) and walk through sand to reach the lodge.
The road then turned fantastic, a blend of orange and blue, tree swinging in winds, peace touch on the water, in the way boat floating, happiness in people face.
Travel means you love every moments on road and stories to inspire yourself and people to backpack again, to enjoy your youth, challenging yourselves in new destinations with helpful friends.
