QUICK DETAILS:
Route: Hội An→ A Sơ→ Prao → Tây Giang → Hội An
Distance: 300km (Offroad avaiable)
Duration: 1 night 2 days trip
Scenery: Mountains, jungle, rivers, valleys, waterfalls, Rice Fields, Tribes
Attractions: spectacular views, freshwater bathing, Wildness;
Road Conditions: smooth, paved roads, Light Traffic, dirt roads, broken roads
Best Time: April-September ( Avoid Rainy season)
PARTS:
Part 1: Hoi An→ Prao | ~150km
Part 2: Prao → Hoian | ~150km
Authentic West Hoian
Part 1: Hoian to Prao
This journey was decided rather quickly. I am about to lead a tour group on the Golden Loop Tour and it has been a while since I last visited this area, so I also want to do a survey trip. The weather at this time is still the dry season. It is hot and sunny, but I heard that there is some thunderstorm activity starting in the mountains. The night before, I checked the schedule and found that I had some free time, so I called 2 of my friends to join. They were also available, so they agreed to go right away... without much preparation as this is just an overnight trip.
The next morning, even though we had agreed to depart at 8 AM, due to preparing the vehicle and waiting for my friends, we only started our journey at 10 AM.
Fortunately, the sky was cloudy, so the weather was quite cool. We headed westward towards Hoi An, along the Thu Bon River, to trace its source. After driving for about an hour, the river branched off. I decided to take a smaller road that led around the back of the mountain, towards the An Diem Prison. This road was quite winding and steep, with many sections under construction, making it a bit difficult to navigate. From this point, there were fewer and fewer people, with just a few scattered houses along the road. After a while, we reached the "Dong Giang Heaven's Gate" and unfortunately, my rear tire had a puncture.
At this point I haven't realised that the tire is flat.
In misfortune there is fortune, I was able to find assistance right here in this tourist area. (I had prepared tire repair tools and a patch kit, but I had forgotten to bring a tire pump. Luckily, there was a pump available in the tourist area, so I was able to fix my motorcycle. If you're going on a long trip, remember this. Prepare your repair tools carefully, even if you don't know how to fix a vehicle, most people in the mountains have those skills. As long as you have the necessary tools and replacement parts, they will help you.)
I must also say a bit more about this tourist area. A few years ago, when I came here, it was not a concreted-over tourist area like it is now. A stream flowed through the mountain, creating a beautiful cave. Going deeper in, there would be a few waterfalls as well... It was a very natural and beautiful place, but now they have developed it for tourism, concretizing most of it... This has provided more jobs for the local people... The scenery is still quite beautiful, but it has been traded off against the natural state of the forest and the stream... I did not go inside, just stood outside and looked, and continued on my journey.
Somehow it's beautiful, but I have been here before when nothing was there, only nature. So I still feel regret about this place...
After going less than 10km more, I came to a three-way intersection. We stopped and rested at a roadside cafe called "Chân Trời Góc Bể". This cafe also had some quite nice bungalows along the hill, an ideal place for you to stop and stay overnight. This area was already at an elevation of 400m above sea level.
Nice Buggalow and coffee shop in the middle of nowhere
The climate was very cool and fresh. By the time we arrived, it was already past 1pm and we were quite hungry. One of my friends ordered instant noodles to have something to eat temporarily, as he is a vegetarian. As for me and another friend, we decided to move a bit further to find a proper restaurant. This turned out to be a mistake, as we found that there were only a few restaurants in the area, and they had all closed after 12pm...
Sometime we just need something to fill the stomach
After driving around a bit, we realized that this area did not have many amenities, just some local houses with limited services... we had to go into a small grocery store, buy a few snack packs to eat on the go, and continue our journey towards Prao. The clouds were moving very quickly across the sky, including some dark clouds, and the raindrops began to fall... The entire forest and road suddenly changed, but for me these were still very enjoyable experiences... After going a distance, the rain started pouring down harder. Luckily we were able to turn into a nearby hydroelectric power station to take shelter from the rain. Sitting under the eaves, we admired the mountains, the forest, and the rainstorm... I felt everything was so alive and vibrant.
About 10 minutes after the rain had subsided, we continued on our way... Prao was only about 20 minutes away by motorbike at that point... The road was becoming less crowded, and suddenly, through a gateway, we had arrived in the town of Prao. It seemed quite lively and well-equipped with amenities...
The first thing we did was go to a guesthouse that I had stayed at during a previous Golden Loop trip. It was called Chung Thuy Guesthouse... This guesthouse was quite clean, and the proprietress was very friendly. I had also asked her to cook dinner for us that evening...
This is a picture of that Hotel I found on internet
After checking into our rooms, freshening up, and resting, we took a spin around the town. We then went up to the town's memorial monument to take in the panoramic view and enjoy the peaceful, pristine atmosphere of the evening sunset...
The nice monument of Prao. the highest point where you can see the whole village
Clouds cover the town
A colorful bridge in town
After a while, the rain started pouring down again, and it was also time for dinner. The guesthouse owner had called to let us know the meal was ready. When we arrived back at the guesthouse, a sumptuous meal had been prepared for us. We were all quite hungry, so we quickly sat down, grabbed some cold beers, and began eating... The guesthouse owner had cooked the meal very well - the table was full of delicious, clean dishes... It felt so complete and joyful.
Delicious Meal from the Hotel
After eating a full meal and drinking beer to our fill, we returned to our room to watch a movie and went to bed early. It was quite surprising that the total cost for both dinner and the overnight stay was only about 600,000 VND ~ 10usd for all three of us The next morning, we woke up at 7 AM. With plenty of time before heading back to Hội An, we went into town for breakfast and coffee. The morning scenery in the town was very peaceful... everyone had already started their day quite early. Part 2: Prao to Hoian
The coffee shop name "Prao coffee" Might be the best one here
While having coffee, I did some research and found out that there is a Co Tu village near the town. Everyone decided to go there to explore.
The village is located about 3km from the main road, next to a stream... The road to the village runs along a stream; although it is a concrete road, it is quite steep and winding. Surrounding the area is dense primary forest interspersed with the cultivated areas of the local people. The inhabitants there are Co Tu people, who have been connected to the forest, mountains, and streams for generations. In each community, they often build a central house in the middle of the village called the Gươl house for community activities. The villagers then construct their homes around this main house. This reflects the strong connection within the community. Most of the people there rely on each other and on nature. They work together and share the fruits of their labor.
On the way to Cơ Tu Village
We parked outside the village and then walked through it down to the stream. By chance, we witnessed the work of the Co Tu people here. They were harvesting bamboo right by the stream. The bamboo was cut from deep in the forest and then floated down the current, where everyone gathered to collect it and take it home. These bamboo poles would be tied together to make floors, roofs, and more... Very useful. The children, only 5 to 10 years old, were bathing in the deep stream; they swam very well and even helped their parents push the bamboo to shore... The people here have lived this way for thousands of years. In their eyes, I still see a glimmer of joy, and smiles are always on their lips. Life may be difficult, but they remain cheerful and happy.
Guol House - the Community house
House of Cơ Tu People
The way down to stream
We followed the stream deeper into the forest to enjoy the scenery. The locals here cultivate various crops like rice, sweet potatoes, and cassava along the stream. Indeed, this forest, this stream, and this nature have sustained them for generations.
The Co Tu people seem to have blended harmoniously with nature...
Never get bored of the nature's beauty
Seeing the sun rise higher, we turned back to continue our journey... Continuing along National Route 14 (Ho Chi Minh Road), we headed towards Tay Giang District.
The scenery along the way remained the same, surrounded by towering mountains. Just endless greenery, fresh air, and few people.
After about an hour of driving, we arrived in Tay Giang District around noon. Here, if you head up to the traditional Co Tu village, you can stand there and admire the entire district. Nearby, there’s a café with a beautiful view. We stopped there to rest
The traditional Co Tu village in the district is essentially an area with Guol houses built by the government. Occasionally, during special events or tourism promotions, they invite ethnic people to gather and organize local cultural events. Here, you can admire the space and architecture of the local ethnic community. Additionally, the Co Tu people do not live here; they reside in the villages we passed earlier. After resting and enjoying some coffee, we continued our journey around the A Vương hydroelectric lake, returning to the intersection where we had stopped the day before.
Along the A Vương hydroelectric lake, the scenery is truly stunning... The villages of the Co Tu people are still present; they are determined to cling to the forest and the streams, preserving their rich cultural heritage for generations.
The road is mostly paved, but there are some areas that have collapsed and sections that are eroded. Please be careful when traveling through here.
We crossed over the hydroelectric dams and beautiful suspension bridges spanning the lake... It seemed we never grew tired of this, driving and enjoying the scenic route. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered, and a heavy downpour hit. Fortunately, we spotted an abandoned cow shed along the way, so all three of us took shelter there temporarily. The rain lasted for an hour before easing, but it didn’t stop completely. With a long journey ahead and the sky turning to dusk, we decided to continue on through the rain.
Never get bored from this trip
Despite traveling in the rain, the scenery remained quite special. The sound of raindrops pattering on our helmets brought a sense of peace from within... The landscape and the people here made me feel truly at ease.
The journey down the mountain was quite long, lasting until dusk began to set in. We reached the Sông Bung hydroelectric dam, where we found only a small drink stall. The owner, a man, shared that he had left everything in the city to come here and plant trees six years ago. It had been very challenging, but he had persevered through those years. In a few years, he would be able to harvest the fruits of his labor. We promised to return when he was ready to harvest his fruit. When we left, the rain had eased, but it was getting dim. We carefully drove toward the plains... Once it was fully dark, feeling quite hungry and tired, we stopped at the foot of the bridge in Ái Nghĩa town, where we found the famous bánh xèo that we decided to try. Indeed, the bánh xèo and other dishes like nem lụi were fantastic. All three of us devoured them, and the plates of bánh xèo were gone in no time. Everyone's spirits were lifted, and we continued our journey toward Hội An... Around 8 PM, we arrived in Hội An, marking the end of this wonderful trip. We will definitely return again.
Vietnamese Banh Xeo. That one was great!
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Trace Travel Team
Trung
