Kayaking on the Chay River is a must-do activity in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is home to the world's largest cave, Hang Son Doong, and the world's third-largest cave, Hang En. According to Howard Limbert, the leader of the British Caving Research Association, there are three main cave systems in this charming area: the Phong Nha caves system, the Hang Voom caves system, and the Mooc spring system (un-fully discovered).

Pho to by Mr Toan Bamboo
There are many spectacular limestone mountain ranges, as well as a network of interconnected rivers, the majority of which draw their water from the Laos border. The rivers here have contributed to forming a massive caves system in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. Because of the mineral calcite dissolved into the rivers, the water is so clear and blue that it looks like a blue lagoon. Brilliant!

Pho to by Mr Hai Phan
Our adventure today was kayaking on the Chay River. One of the outdoor adventure activities you should try is if you visit Phong Nha.

About 7 am, we went from our Homestay to the downtown and found a local restaurant named Thu Hue for breakfast. Chao Canh Ca Loc (snaked-head fish cake soup is made from rice flour and snaked-head fish meat, one of the most popular dishes in the Quang Binh area) was our choice. My friends recommended us to here for the typical food in Phong Nha.

We then rented motorbikes and went along with Ho Chi Minh highway to Chay Lap Riverside for kayaking. We expected to do this for 2 hours including swimming in the river. The weather today was a bit chilly but we were so excited for a long journey ahead. Kayaking cost 100 VND per kayak per hour, and we needed 11 single kayaks to accommodate our group of eleven. The staff at Chay Lap Riverside, Hoan, a friendly guy, provided us with kayaks, paddles, and life jackets, as well as for instructions on how to paddle properly.

Pho to by Nicky Tran
We began the adventure on the downstream river, which meant it was much easier at first, and we could also imagine how difficult it would be on the way back. The months of December to March are always ideal for outdoor activities in Phong Nha because the cool weather makes us more enjoyable.

Here we go, Chay Lap Riverside - Photo by Nicky Tran
Our first hour of kayaking demonstrated how Chay Lap villagers activities, such as farming and fishing, are carried out. We continued our journey, passing through a beautiful valley surrounded by magnificent limestone mountains resembling the terrain of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. Green cornfields lined both sides of the river, and village houses perched on the river's banks created a charming painting.

Kayaking On The Chay River Quote

We eventually arrived at a cool spot called " Bai Da Can," which became a popular hangout over the summer. When the water level drops in the summer, the beautiful rocks emerge, making it an excellent location for water activities such as swimming, paddle boarding, and, of course, kayaking. I attempted to step into the water, which was a little cold at first but was fine after 5 minutes as I began to adapt to the temperature of the water. Our group decided to spend an hour here swimming, drinking coffee, and photographing in one of the best views of the world. I highly recommend organizing a BBQ party here for a small group of ten people to enjoy the breathtaking sunset view.

Swimming Time - photo by Hoang Trung

we meet up with another group

Pho to by Nicky Tran

We returned to the Chay Lap Riverside in the same manner, but it was more difficult because we had to paddle upstream. It was, however, a lot of fun. We all enjoyed the chicken BBQ, so we ordered it again for lunch before returning to Phong Nha town and wrapped things up to finish the trip.

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