Trekking in the rainy season: when passion exceeds safety limits

waterfall 1 — A group of young people organized trekking on sunny days at May Treo waterfall (Hai Van ward).

Spontaneous and adventurous

Da Nang is not only famous for My Khe beach, Son Tra peninsula or Hoi An ancient town that lights up every night. Few people know that this place is also a "paradise of waterfalls", from May Treo waterfall, Ba Do Pho waterfall (Hoa Bac), Khe Lim waterfall (Dai Loc), Hoa Phu Thanh waterfall, Lang Van waterfall, to Khe Me stream, Luong stream...

All are attractive trekking spots, where young people find their way back to wild nature, enjoy the feeling of trekking through forests and streams, and camping in the quiet mountains and forests.

It is this richness that makes Da Nang an ideal destination for those who love adventure travel . However, behind the “virtual check-in” photos are a series of potential risks, especially during the rainy season, when just a sudden flood can sweep everything away.

According to the reporter's records, most of the trekking groups today are formed spontaneously. They are friends, colleagues or students, contacting each other via social networks, inviting each other to plan a few days.

No professional guide, no terrain survey, no preparation of adequate protective equipment… is a worrying situation.

In fact, there have been many tragic incidents in Da Nang and the central provinces when groups of young tourists recklessly crossed streams during the rainy season. Many risks, some people were stuck for hours in the forest, forcing rescue forces to intervene.

Vo Xuan Hieu, a third-year student at Duy Tan University who has participated in many trekking trips in the Hoa Bac and Dai Loc areas, shared: “Many young people love to conquer and explore nature, but the rainy season is a time with many potential risks. Many people are subjective, thinking that only a raincoat and a backpack are enough. In reality, upstream floods can come suddenly, and the water level can rise rapidly in just a few minutes. If there is no professional tour guide or a lack of understanding of the terrain, the consequences can be unpredictable."

Hieu believes that in the summer when the weather is more stable, trekking will be safer if accompanied by an experienced person, and carefully prepared with tools such as ropes, life jackets, medical supplies, and forest maps.

“Safety must come first, because any journey is only meaningful when we explore and return safely,” Hieu emphasized.

Warning from insiders

Ms. Hong Nhi, a medical staff at an educational facility in Da Nang, is a lover of adventure travel, often spending weekends climbing mountains and going to the forest.

“I have witnessed streams rising within minutes after a heavy rain. The water was murky and flowing rapidly, and no one had time to react. Therefore, I am completely against organizing trekking trips during the rainy season. No matter how passionate you are, you must respect nature. Just one small mistake can cost you your life,” said Nhi.

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Young people need to change their mindset that “adventure is the only experience”. Excitement is not always worth trying, especially when lacking survival skills and basic protective equipment.
Ms. Hong Nhi

Mr. Pham Ho, a tour guide in Da Nang with many years of experience leading groups on trekking routes, said that many locations in the mountainous areas of Hoa Bac, Hoa Phu, and Nam O are very beautiful but should only be exploited in the dry season.

“When it rains, the road is slippery, the rocks are covered with moss, and an accident can happen if you slip. Floods upstream are often unexpected, and no one can predict them accurately. Professional travel companies usually completely stop trekking tours from September to December every year, for the safety of tourists,” Mr. Ho shared.

Mr. Ho believes that if local authorities and tourism management units organize more courses to teach safe trekking skills, or build controlled adventure tourism maps, young people's passion for discovery will be more properly oriented.

Lessons from the "viral" images on social networks

Recently, the incident of a group of young people trekking in the middle of a storm was posted on social media, causing a stir in the online community. Every year, similar images cause controversy. Although most of them do not have serious consequences, they raise alarm bells about the safety awareness of young people when participating in adventure tourism.

No one forbids exploring nature, because that is how people connect with the earth and sky, finding balance after stressful working days. However, when passion exceeds the safety limit, when warnings are ignored just to have a "unique" photo, travel is no longer an experience but becomes an adventurous act.

Da Nang is aiming to develop sustainable eco-tourism, including trekking, camping, and exploring forests and streams. But to make this a strength rather than a concern, it needs the cooperation of the people, tourists, and authorities.

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Trips with professional guides, planned plans, and safety equipment will provide a much more complete experience than “spontaneous” trips.
"Don't let beautiful photos become painful memories. A journey is only truly memorable when everyone returns safely."
Mr. Pham Ho, tour guide

Source: https://baodanang.vn/trekking-mua-mua-khi-dam-me-vuot-qua-gioi-han-an-toan-3308350.html