Quite likely the most random activity of our entire 6 months trip, The Duck Stop in Phong Nha was a truly unique experience!

Located in the countryside of Phong Nha, this crazy experience was such a highlight of our time in Vietnam. The local farm has cleverly adapted to draw tourists in by hosting an immersive experience where you can feed, hold and lead their noisy flock of ducks. I expected it to be chaotic and it was even more so than expected – get your camera ready for the most hilarious shots. 

To get to The Duck Stop, you’ll need a ped or some form of transport. We rented a bike from our guesthouse in Phong Nha and tied our visit in with a day exploring the botanical gardens, the pub with cold beer, and cruising around the lush countryside. We headed to The Duck Stop first on our day out because we just had no idea what to expect. Run by the loveliest family, when you arrive you’ll be greeted and given a nice refreshing cold drink which is included in the experience fee – only 100,000 VND, a whopping £3.10! 

Once you’ve enjoyed your cool drink, you’ll be given jelly shoes and a traditional Vietnamese hat before being taken to the ducks pen. Here the fun really starts! You’ll feed the ducks, experience a unique duck massage (so hilarious and I really questioned what was happening at this point), take turns to lead the ducks around and even hold one to then release it for good luck. 

After you’ve had your photos and enjoyed time with the ducks, you’ll get a full leg and arms wash down with some lovely antibacterials soap and a very refreshing hose pipe. I was a little worried about the hygiene aspect so I appreciated this thorough wash down, especially as I didn’t want to spend the rest of the day smelling like a very cute but slightly stinky duck. The last part of the experience is to enjoy some freshly cooked spring rolls made by the family’s mum. They were delicious and very appreciated as we had worked up an appetite! 

There really isn’t much more to say, especially as I don’t want to spoil it all, but I really hope you get a chance to experience The Duck Stop on your Vietnam travels & as always, and thanks for reading.