Camping on a sheer cliff

VnExpress•28/05/2023

Lying stretched out on a bed suspended along the cliff face, reading a favorite book, sipping a can of beer and gazing at the clouds in the Lan Ty valley, Lang Son , is an experience few people get to have.

For 10 consecutive days at the end of April, Thuy Duong, a resident of Hanoi, undertook two cliff camping trips. This type of tourism is not very common in Vietnam and there are no dedicated tours for it. She learned about cliff camping and researched it 5-7 years ago through foreign travel websites, but only now has she been able to experience it firsthand.

Her first trip took place in the Lan Ty Valley, Lang Son province. Besides familiar activities like trekking through endemic forests, zip-lining, and exploring caves, Duong and her group of friends experienced a new challenge: camping on a cliff near the summit of Mount Mat Than. The campsite was perched precariously in the Lan Ty Valley, surrounded by mountains and forests.

"The journey to the campsite on the cliff was quite arduous. The first night setting up the tent in the valley was marked by heavy rain and thunder, but the final reward was completely worth it. I got to lie stretched out on a bed suspended along the cliff, read my favorite book, sip a can of beer, enjoy the night sky, and fully bask in the first rays of sunlight," Ms. Duong said.

Intrigued by this form of adventure tourism, Ms. Duong embarked on another trip just a few days after returning from Lan Ty Valley. Her second destination was Phi Lieng Waterfall, located in Dam Rong District, Lam Dong Province. The cliff camping spot was a cliff situated between the 115-meter-high waterfall.

Both trips Ms. Duong participated in were licensed adventure tourism tours, and cliff camping was a small activity on the itinerary. The organizers provided all the necessary safety equipment for camping on the cliffs, and experts accompanied the group to provide technical support.

Ms. Duong shared that both trips were memorable and provided experiences she had long dreamed of having for many years. Of these, the cliff camping trip at Phi Lieng Waterfall impressed her the most.

"I'll never forget the feeling of waking up suspended on the cliff, basking in the first rays of sunlight, with the majestic waterfall cascading down behind me," Ms. Duong said, speaking about her long-held wish that had now come true.

To carry out the cliffside camping trip at Phi Lieng Waterfall, Ms. Duong and her team had to bring 30 kg of safety equipment and beds from Hanoi to Lam Dong. The items were packed compactly so they could be taken on the plane.

This waterfall is located deep in the old-growth forest, and the path leading to it is always damp due to fog and rain. Many sections have muddy puddles formed from the tracks of farm vehicles. To reach the waterfall, Ms. Duong's group had to carry their equipment on their backs and trek dozens of kilometers through the forest. Upon arrival, the group set up a tent on a flat area to store their supplies, then used ropes along the cliff face to hang beds for the night.

The location for hanging the bed must be a vertical cliff with a surface suitable for driving stakes. The position should be open, spacious, and offer panoramic views of the surrounding area.

The bed used is a 15 kg suspended bed, also known as a portaledge. It can be folded, disassembled, and easily carried during transport. The most important factor is its sturdiness to ensure safety and comfort for the user. The bed design varies depending on the camping terrain.

"The bed we used during our trek to Phi Lieng Waterfall was also used when camping at Mount Mat Than. To create this bed, the experts in my team spent a lot of time researching and calculating the most suitable joints, weight, and fabric lining," Ms. Duong said.

The bed is enclosed by ropes, secured with iron chains and other specialized equipment to maintain balance and ensure safety at high altitude. Tourists lying on the bed will tie their bodies to a safety rope.

"Always securing yourself with safety equipment until you're out of the danger zone is a mandatory principle. Inconvenience is unavoidable, but that's not a problem compared to safety. I've been practicing and getting used to these devices continuously for months so that getting in and out of bed is no problem," Duong explained.

Safety is always the top priority on cliff camping trips. All equipment is thoroughly checked before use. Each piece of equipment has a backup or replacement plan. Participants always carry 2-3 pieces of protective gear and are supervised by an expert, so the risk of accidents is almost zero. Ms. Duong said she carefully considered the risks before deciding to participate. For her, passion must take a backseat to her responsibilities and obligations to her family.

Before the trip, Ms. Duong thoroughly researched the information and usage of each piece of equipment. She practiced using the equipment with an expert twice a week for several months to become proficient. Thanks to her more than 5 years of experience climbing and trekking to almost all 15 peaks in Vietnam, Ms. Duong "didn't feel dizzy when hanging from ropes or standing at high positions." In previous mountain climbing trips, the female tourist had used some similar safety equipment, so she didn't encounter many difficulties.

Cliff camping, developed by professional mountaineers worldwide, aims to elevate nature exploration experiences. According to CNN , the concept of cliff camping first emerged in 2015 when Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorges completed the feat of climbing the "Sunrise Wall"—one of the world's most challenging cliffs in El Capitan, California. Cliff camping also became popular in Yosemita National Park (California), Estes National Park (Colorado), and gradually spread to China, Canada, and Colombia. This type of activity is selective, requiring high levels of physical fitness and climbing skills. First-time participants are prone to dizziness.

In Vietnam, cliff camping is not yet popular due to the limited number of suitable locations. Furthermore, not many adventure tourism companies operate this service.

"To experience this activity in Vietnam, tourists must go through licensed professional travel companies that are fully equipped with safety equipment and have experts accompanying them. Private trips, tailored to the client's needs, have varying costs," Ms. Duong said.

Bich Phuong

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