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Rock the boat: Young people enjoy a rowing contest on Dong Mo Lake at Son Tinh Camp. — VNS Photos Thuy Hang
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This rowing contest is just one of the outdoor activities available to young people at Son Tinh Camp in Dong Mo area – about 40km east of Ha Noi's centre.
Surrounded by Dong Mo Lake and a man-made acacia forest, the campsite is an ideal weekend getaway for Hanoians.
Hidden under the trees' shadows, the 55ha Son Tinh Camp is the first place in Ha Noi to offer outdoor recreational activities, which are very popular in developed countries but are still considered ‘new' by Vietnamese people.
The campsite was founded by 28-year-old Vu Thanh Minh, who has worked in the tourism sector for 13 years already.
"I created Son Tinh Camp to satisfy my own dream about a place outside the city, where people can experience and enjoy nature. Besides, I also wanted to introduce this tourism model to Vietnamese people," he said.
Minh used only environmentally friendly materials to build the primitive campsite structures, including bamboo, wood and palm leaves.
Due to its isolated location, the campsite operates with a single electrical generator, which supplies the power for its basic facilities.
"Many people who are used to living in a modern environment are uncomfortable staying at the camp, but I won't adjust anything in the campsite to please those people.
"My intention is to spread a ‘new' tourism trend in Ha Noi and in Viet Nam generally," Minh said.
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Great outdoors: The campsite offers various activities for visitors. |
Opened to public in May last year, the campsite attracts a large number of visitors, especially the younger set.
Visitors not brave enough to try the zipline will find fishing, biking or rowing to be available and more relaxing alternatives.
Of course, the camp also has a fire pit, which can be the perfect ending to the day.
With a group of his high-school classmates, Truong Duc Trung, a student at the Social Affairs University, spent a weekend at the campsite, where his group joined in different team-building activities.
According to Trung, young people at his university mention the campsite quite a lot, which offers students a discounted visiting package priced at VND159,000. The package includes the entrance fee, team-building games, a lunch, and an excursion to the nearby Viet Nam Cultural Village tourism complex.
The owner Minh said that Son Tinh attracts about 500 people every week, of which 20 per cent are foreigners.
Besides outdoor activities, the camp also offers classes on life skills for children.
"Children in city nowadays have been pampered by their parents, and that can prevent them from mastering basic life skills. Our classes aim to equip them with necessary knowledge, such as how to cook or set up camp," he said.
However, the purpose of the class seems to be more than that. "Children will also learn about the importance of the environment and why we have to protect it," Minh said.
Eight-year-old Tran Phuc Thanh was quite excited to join some staff members planting vegetables that supply the camp's restaurant.
Nguyen Quoc Thang from Ha Noi decided to take his family to Son Tinh Camp last weekend after he saw it featured on a television programme.
He said he was sceptical of how nice the show made Son Tinh seem, but he still wanted to find out for himself.
"My family of eight adults and seven children had a pleasant weekend at Son Tinh Camp, where we found greenery and fresh air. The children especially were excited because they could practice riding their bikes, and it was the first time they'd ever slept in a tent," he laughed. — VNS
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