Western tourists reveal the reason for "crossing forests and mountains" to bathe in Du Gia waterfall, Ha Giang

Myrthe Egberink, a Dutch tourist, said that when she arrived at Du Gia waterfall, she was quite surprised by the white, fast-flowing waterfall but the lake water was clear blue.

The first feeling when coming to Du Gia waterfall is "Wow"

Myrthe Egberink (23 years old, Dutch nationality) recently had a 4-day trip to Ha Giang. Here, she and 11 friends had a journey of discovery through familiar places such as: Sung La Valley; Dong Van ancient town; Ma Pi Leng pass...

On May 12, Myrthe Egberink and her group of friends were introduced to Du Gia waterfall (Du Gia commune, Yen Minh district) by a local tour guide. "This person said this is a pristine waterfall, very cool and a favorite place for foreign visitors when coming to Ha Giang. I was quite excited and immediately agreed," Myrthe Egberink said.

Around 10am, the Dutch girl arrived at Du Gia waterfall. The first feeling that made Myrthe Egberink exclaim "Wow!" was because the air in here was extremely cool. Egberink said, it was like you had just rolled around in the hot sun and then stepped into an air-conditioned room.

Myrthe Egberink (right of photo) and friend take a photo at Du Gia waterfall (Photo: NVCC)

Her friends who were with her had similar feelings. According to Myrthe Egberink, they kept admiring, their eyes wide open and wanting to change into their swimsuits immediately to dive into the water.

"In our homeland, the Netherlands, everything is flat. The roads, landscapes and even the villages are all valley terrain, so when I came to Ha Giang and traveled by motorbike through the mountain roads and passes, I felt extremely excited. In the Netherlands, there are not many beautiful natural waterfalls like this," Myrthe Egberink shared.

At Du Gia waterfall, a Dutch tourist bathed and jumped from the top of the waterfall. Myrthe Egberink said she only did it once, and it felt "very good".

Du Gia Waterfall is a favorite destination for many international tourists when coming to Ha Giang, photo taken on May 24 (Photo: Hau Ha Giang)

After playing and taking pictures at the waterfall for about an hour, by 11am, many groups of tourists started to flock to the waterfall, mostly foreigners. The entire small lake was now packed with people, so Myrthe Egberink left to continue her journey to explore Ha Giang.

According to Myrthe Egberink, Du Gia waterfall is one of her favorite destinations during her trip to Vietnam. Although it is just a small and wild waterfall, this is what creates its own attraction. In addition, when coming here, she also met many friends from many different countries, they were all very comfortable and happy.

"Canyoning" tour is popular with international visitors

According to Highland Sport Travel, an adventure tour service provider in Da Lat, 90% of their customers are international visitors.

In fact, freestyle waterfall jumping or ziplining is a type of adventure tourism that was introduced to Vietnam in 2014. To be able to operate this adventure tour, tour operators and travel companies need to go through many inspection stages.

Zipline tours over waterfalls are popular with international visitors (Photo: Highland Sport Travel).

Specifically, travel companies must ensure international standards and be licensed to operate adventure tourism by the General Department of Tourism and local Department of Tourism.

For tour guides, an international tour guide card with 4 years of experience is required. A certificate in rock climbing and ziplining techniques issued by the General Department of Tourism and the Department of Tourism, and an international certificate issued by a unit in Singapore.

Tourists' protective equipment such as: diving suits, safety belts, life jackets, gloves, helmets... and other technical equipment must be inspected and provided with public input invoices to certify the source of equipment supply.

Currently, the basic zipline tour has a total of 7 activities, with increasing levels of difficulty: ziplining (15m and 18m cliffs), zipline flying (adventure zipline), walking, water sliding, free jumping... Depending on the ability and experience desired by the guests, it will be implemented accordingly.

Before starting the tour, visitors gather at the assembly area, wear protective gear and are instructed on basic techniques by the tour guide. Training time is about 1 hour. Only when the tour guide assesses the visitor's technique is satisfactory, will the tour depart.

Visitors must wear full protective equipment before jumping freely into the waterfall (Photo: Highland Sport Travel).

During the challenge, in addition to the tour guide, there is also a technical team supervising the tour. These people will instruct the guests on where they can play, where they cannot play, where they must use the rope swing equipment, and where they can jump freely. This must follow the tour itinerary, and visitors are not allowed to do it on their own.

"In reality, all jumping routes such as beach games, swimming pool jumping, stream bathing... at a height of about 5m are normal, if jumping with protective gear such as life jackets or helmets. That is for single jumps.

As for double jumping, specifically hugging each other like the clip of two tourists in Ha Giang, this is quite dangerous. Hugging each other, not wearing life jackets, when entering the water, will be in the form of one person pressing on the other, creating great pressure on the water, causing direct danger to the person performing it," said a representative of Highland Sport Travel.

This person also warned that when performing waterfall jumping, especially free jumping, tourists need basic techniques, or must wear a life jacket.

Better yet, visitors should still choose reputable, licensed tour operators to ensure their safety with adventurous travel activities.

Previously, social media was abuzz with a video recording two Western tourists, a man and a woman, hugging each other and somersaulting three times from the top of Du Gia waterfall (Ha Giang). It is known that the height from the jumping position to the water surface is about 8m.

Some people think that jumping from such a high position is too dangerous, while others think that the tourist's jumping technique is experienced, and that he must have jumped many times before daring to do that move, and that the problem should not be taken seriously.

Local authorities later said that there were warning signs and signs prohibiting tourists from jumping in this area.

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