Camping on a cliff

Lying on a bed suspended along a cliff, reading your favorite book, sipping a beer and watching the clouds in Lan Ty valley, Lang Son, is an experience few people have.

For 10 consecutive days at the end of April, Ms. Thuy Duong, living in Hanoi, went on two cliff camping trips. This is a type of tourism that is not very popular in Vietnam and there are no separate tours. She learned about cliff camping and learned about it 5-7 years ago through foreign travel information sites but only now has she been able to do it.

Her first trip took place in Lan Ty valley, Lang Son. In addition to familiar activities such as trekking in endemic forests, ziplining, and exploring caves, Ms. Duong and her group of friends experienced a new challenge of camping on a cliff near the top of Mat Than mountain. The camping site was suspended in the middle of Lan Ty valley, surrounded by mountains and forests.

"The journey to the campsite on the cliff was quite difficult. The first night of setting up tents in the valley, it rained heavily and thundered loudly, but the final result was completely worth it. I was able to lie on a bed hanging along the cliff, read my favorite book, sip a beer, enjoy the night sky and welcome the first rays of sunlight of the day to the fullest," said Ms. Duong.

Fascinated by this form of adventure tourism, Ms. Duong continued her trip just a few days after returning from Lan Ty valley. The second place Ms. Duong chose was Phi Lieng waterfall, in Dam Rong district, Lam Dong. The place for cliff camping is a cliff in the middle of a 115 m high waterfall.

The two trips Ms. Duong participated in were both licensed adventure tours and cliff camping was a small activity on the schedule. The organizer provided full safety equipment for camping on the cliff and had experts accompanying them to provide technical support.

Ms. Duong shared that both trips were memorable and brought her experiences that she had cherished for many years. Among them, the cliff camping trip at Phi Lieng Waterfall left the most impression on her.

"I will always remember the feeling of waking up while hanging on a cliff, welcoming the first rays of sunlight, with a majestic waterfall flowing behind me," Ms. Duong said about her long-standing wish that has now come true.

To go camping on the cliff at Phi Lieng waterfall, Ms. Duong and the group members had to bring 30 kg of safety equipment and beds from Hanoi to Lam Dong. The items were packed so they could be brought on the plane.

This waterfall is located deep in the jungle, the road leading to it is always wet due to the effects of fog and rain. Many sections have muddy puddles formed from the tracks of tractors. To reach the waterfall, Ms. Duong's group had to carry equipment on their backs and trek dozens of kilometers of forest road. Upon arrival, the group set up a tent on a flat surface to store their belongings, then swung ropes along the wall to hang beds for the night.

The location for hanging the bed must be a vertical cliff with a surface that is suitable for driving stakes. The location must be open, spacious, and have a panoramic view of the surrounding area for sightseeing.

The bed used is a hanging bed, weighing 15 kg, also known as a portaledge. The bed can be folded, disassembled, and is convenient to carry during transportation. The most important factor is the sturdiness to ensure safety and comfort for the person lying on it. Depending on the camping terrain, the bed has different designs.

"The bed used during the Phi Lieng waterfall conquest was also used when camping at Mat Than mountain. To have this bed, the experts in my group had to spend a lot of time researching and calculating the most reasonable joints, weight, and lining of the bed," said Ms. Duong.

The bed is covered with ropes, secured with iron chains and some other specialized equipment to maintain balance and ensure safety at high altitudes. When lying on the bed, visitors will tie their bodies to a safety rope.

"Always attaching yourself to safety devices until you are out of the danger zone is a mandatory rule. Inconvenience is inevitable, but that is not a problem compared to safety. I have practiced and gotten used to these devices continuously for many months so that moving in and out of bed is not an obstacle," Duong said.

Safety is always the top priority in cliff camping trips. All equipment is carefully checked before use. Each piece of equipment has a replacement or backup plan. Participants always have 2-3 pieces of protective gear on them and are accompanied by experts to supervise, so the risk is almost zero. Ms. Duong said she carefully considered the risk before deciding to participate. Because for her, passion still comes after responsibilities and obligations to her family.

Before the trip, Ms. Duong carefully researched the information and how to use each device. She had to practice using the device with experts twice a week for several months to master the operation. Thanks to more than 5 years of experience climbing and trekking nearly 15 peaks in Vietnam, Ms. Duong "did not get dizzy when hanging on a rope or standing in a high position". In previous mountain climbing trips, the female tourist had used some similar safety equipment, so she did not feel too confused.

Cliff camping was developed by professional climbers around the world to enhance the experience of exploring nature. According to CNN , the concept of cliff camping was first known in 2015, when Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorges completed the feat of climbing the "Dawn Wall" - one of the most difficult cliffs in the world in El Capitan (California, USA). Cliff camping also became popular in Yosemita National Park (California (USA), Estes Park (Colorado, USA) and gradually spread to China, Canada and Colombia. This type of camping is selective of participants because it requires good physical strength and climbing techniques. Those who are exposed to it for the first time are prone to dizziness.

In Vietnam, cliff camping is not popular because there are few locations with suitable terrain. In addition, there are not many adventure travel companies operating this service.

"To experience this activity in Vietnam, tourists must go through licensed professional travel companies, fully equipped with safety equipment and accompanied by experts. These trips are private, tailored to the needs of the guests, so the costs vary," said Ms. Duong.

Bich Phuong

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