Huu Lung Day 1

Go back to Cat Ba Day 5.
Go back to Vietnam.

Huu Lung

Entering the Huu Lung Valley.


The following morning a prearranged taxi picked us up and we drove 2.5 hours northeast to Huu Lung, a lush valley among large limestone karsts. Here, VietClimb (Hanoi climbing gym) have established a home stay for climbers. Specifically, they came to an agreement with a local family whereby they built what is essentially a climbers’ refuge on their property and the family now runs it. Seems like a win-win. Unlike Cat Ba, this rural area has no tourists and only a handful of climbers. In fact, outsiders are still very much a novelty item – lots of surprised stares and lots – lots!! – of friendly “hellos”. Here we met Lena, a Ukrainian expat who’s been living in Hanoi for some 6 years and who would be our “enabler” for two days. We burnt the afternoon on a 16 kilometer hike through the wet and swampy jungle and some villages with Lena; not to mention enjoyed some Crimea climbing stories and beta over beers.

Photos

Hanoi

By the flower market in Hanoi (Nov. 2018).

 

Hanoi

Nhat Tan Bridge in Hanoi (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

On the 2.5 hour drive north to Huu Lung (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Entering the Huu Lung Valley (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Not touristy at all (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Driving towards the climbers’ home stay (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Pretty comfy for a communal set up (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Starting out our 16km jungle hike with Lena (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Village traffic (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

We leave the village behind and enter the jungle (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Into the jungle (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Views back towards the village (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Large veggies (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Shirley and Lena (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

A lake – one of several – we encountered on the hike (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

A boulder field of sharp limestone (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Shirley hoping not to pick up an passengers (as in leaches; Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

An opening in the vegetation (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Jagged limestone, swamps, and dense vegetation (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Karst mountains including an arch (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

A close-up (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Some farmers (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Climbing potential perhaps (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Another lake (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Huu Lung hike (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

This obstacle was blocking our final stretch back to the country road (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Getting across (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

A somewhat surprising sight (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Back on the road with 8km left to the beer (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Karsts and valleys (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Roadside sights (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Through some small villages with curious kids (and adults as well; Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Wide load (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Sugar apples in a small market 20 minutes before the climbers’ home stay (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Shirley and Lena enjoying a couple of beers in the small market before getting back (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Rather large sausages being dangled at the market (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Back at the climbers’ home stay (Nov. 2018).

Go to Huu Lung Day 2.
Go back to Vietnam.