Get VnExpress first in Google Search 
See more of the news you trust. Make VnExpress a preferred source to prioritise our updates in your Google search results
Andie, a traveler from Ho Chi Minh City, took a wellness trip for two to a resort on Quang Tri Province’s Son River in Na village, Phong Nha Commune, in early August. The 3-day, 2-night getaway cost VND11 million.
The commune is home to Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park that has numerous caves including the world's largest Son Doong.
The resort sits at the gateway to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, surrounded by mountains and forest. In early August, the area was still in the dry season, with light showers falling late at night or early in the morning. The weather remained ideal for outdoor activities.
Andie's package cost VND5.5 million ($210) a night. The resort offers the priciest tent at about VND10.5 million a night that comes with two bedrooms.
The rates include accommodation, three daily meals, wellness services, and accompanying activities.
The accommodations blend upscale camping with resort comforts. Each tent is 30-50 square meters and comes with air conditioning, wifi, a mini bar, a private bathroom, and an outdoor bathtub. The tents are designed with an open layout facing the Son River and the mountains.
Huynh Bao Tri, operations director of Auko Eco-Wellness Lodges Phong Nha, said the resort is built to minimize concrete by using materials like bamboo and repurposed boat timber. Its 30 tents are connected by bamboo bridges.
To cope with the flood season, the tents closest to the ground are equipped with barrels beneath their floors, allowing the structure to float upward when the Son River rises.
During her stay, Andie balanced free-form sightseeing, outdoor adventure, and wellness recovery. Each day she took part in 30-minute herbal foot soaks and massages. Guests can also opt for mud steam baths, a cliffside cold plunge (5-10 C), and yoga or meditation sessions.
The meals are served in a tent-style restaurant that seats 76 people. The space also hosts workshops, including coffee brewing and cocktail-making sessions.
The menu changes daily and favors specialties such as Son River fish and banana blossom. Drinks include juices, kombucha, and herbal teas. The dish in the image above is a shrimp and banana blossom salad.
On day two, Andie went trekking in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Botanical Garden, 12 kilometers from the Phong Nha tourist center.
The 40-hectare site offers short day trails of 2.5 to 4 kilometers past Gio Waterfall and Vang Anh Lake.
Andie said the $420 she spent was more than a homestay or hotel in Phong Nha would cost.
"The cost was worth it, offering a retreat immersed in nature."
One shortcoming is that, because of the open design and tented structure, soundproofing is limited, leaving the resort vulnerable to noise from rain and insects.
