Matt & Sarah's Big Trip: Caving and a farmstay in Phong Nha National Park

Two of our wedding presents were trekking and a homestay through Vietnamese rice paddies, which we've been really looking forwards to. The cities have been great so far, but we're enjoying getting out into the Country and exploring under our own steam. We had to slightly alter the wedding presents - hope that is OK with Zoe and James, Paul and Celine! We couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit some of the world's largest and most spectacular caves by kayak, bike and foot - meanwhile staying amongst the rice paddies in a farmstay. The location was amazing; surrounded on every front by rice paddies stretching out to the mountains. Every night we were treated to a stunning sunset whilst the farmers made their way home with their ploughs over the shoulder, oxen in front and a flock of ducks behind.

The view from the farm

Mooving back home

We had three nights in the national park and managed to fit in visits to three huge caves - Paradise Cave - the longest dry cave in the World, 30 km long (we were allowed as far as the first 1km) and with absolutely incredible rock formations, Dark Cave which we kayaked into, and swam through in pitch black with only rather dim headtorches (bit spooky) and Phong Nha Cave itself which was used during the Vietnam War as a hideout for the Vietnamese forces, and today can be visited by boat. All three were amazing to see, and completely altered our perceptions of what proper caves are like - we have nothing on this scale back home. It really is nature at its most awe inspiring being in a naturally made space which feels like a cathedral, filled with the most gravity and balance defying sculptures.