Have you really been to Phong Nha without paying a visit to the Duck Stop? This strange, but entertaining tourist attraction is highly rated on Google reviews for good reason.
Besides, if you love ducks, or not, you’ll find this activity to be quite the experience!
The Duck Stop is a unique attraction where visitors pay a small fee to get the chance to interact with ducks housed near a family home in Phong Nha. You can feed them, play with them, throw them into the pond, and enjoy other activities with the ducks.
This one-of-a-kind experience is totally worth participating in, especially if you’re spending time in Phong Nha. And, it makes for the perfect end to the day after exploring other parts of the national park!
How Much Does It Cost?
This unique experience will set you back around 50k VND ($3 AUD). Though, I think it’s totally worth it and ensures the ducks receive optimal care.
Besides, this small fee supports the family and ensures the ducks are receiving plenty of food and a safe place to call home.
Keep in mind, you will need to rent a scooter to reach this location. Or, feel free to pay a driver to take you to this spot. However, the scooter can be used for other activities for the rest of the day!
Nonetheless, the small fee is entirely worth the experience!
Read more: 10 Cheapest Backpacking Destinations: Tips for Travelling Broke
Where Is the Duck Stop?
The Duck Stop is easily reachable via a scooter. And, you will need to ride along a small dirt road to reach this hidden gem.
It’s roughly a 15-minute drive from the town centre and I found it reasonably easy to reach. However, I recommend taking it easy on the dirt and gravel roads as it’s easy to make a small mistake.
Nonetheless, it is quite an adventure, and the ride is reasonably easy. Once you reach the property, head into the small dirt parking area and notify one of the owners that you have arrived.
Then, they will take you down to visit the ducks’ area and you can spend some time with them.
Address: Hưng Trạch, Bố Trạch District, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam
Why You Should Visit the Duck Stop
I can almost guarantee that this strange tourist attraction will have you retelling the story on how you spent some time with a bunch of ducks in Vietnam for many years after your trip.
Not only is this a strange attraction, but it’s absolutely hilarious; The ducks really have prominent personalities! And, you’ll get to experience being up close with the ducks.
You can pick a single duck up, and then do a guided toss of the bird into the pond down below. You’ll hear it honk and watch its wings flap as it lands in the water below. The ducks actually love this and come back for more.
Additionally, you will receive a bucket of food to share among your group to give to the ducks. So, you can choose to hand feed them or throw the pellets on the ground and watch them go wild.
Finally, the hosts are extremely friendly and will make you feel more than welcome to spend some time with their ducks. They have a lot of fun with tourists and make the encounter that much better!
So, be sure to pay the Duck Stop a visit while spending time in Phong Nha. You won’t regret it!
Is This Activity Safe for the Duck’s Welfare?
Understandably, many people care about the welfare of animals, especially in developing countries like Vietnam. And, I’m pleased to report that these ducks appeared to be well looked after and in a safe location.
Besides, I think the level of care these ducks receive is much higher than many other animals, unfortunately, don’t receive in many parts of South East Asia. You can tell that the owners truly love their ducks and enjoy their happiness. And, they love sharing the encounter with tourists.
All of the ducks appear healthy. Moreover, none of them seem to have any wounds, abrasions, scars or even missing feathers. They all look comfortable in their environment and are more than happy to greet their owners and visitors.
Not to mention, they receive multiple visits a day so they are always looked after by tourists and their family. And, you’ll notice that their enclosure is very clean, (especially considering how rough and messy they can be!).
Tip: Be mindful of where you step in the enclosure as there will be loads of ducks surrounding you. Regardless, if you get a little too close, you’re bound to hear a loud HONK!
Other Activities in Phong Nha
Phong Nha is an incredible town in the central region of Vietnam. With that being said, there are a tonne of other activities that you can enjoy while visiting this fascinating place.
Firstly, the town is located within the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. And, this national park is known for its extensive array of caves with around 500 insane locations. However, only 30 are made accessible to the public, but that is still an incredible amount of underground locations to explore.
Nonetheless, some of the additional activities I’d recommend checking out include:
- Paradise Cave
- Motorbike Tour
- Suoi Nuoc Mooc
- Phong Nha Cave
- Dark Cave and zipline
If you want to discover more about the history of the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, I highly recommend checking out this website here.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, the Duck Stop is one of the best activities for travellers to enjoy in Phong Nha. Besides, it’s quite a unique attraction that you may not get to experience again.
And, it supports this small Vietnamese family and encourages tourism to the Phong Nha region. Therefore, making it great for business around this tiny and rural Vietnamese town.
Finally, I couldn’t recommend a visit to this location enough! It makes for the perfect, fun-filled afternoon with plenty of laughs and quacks. So, be sure to add it onto your list of places to visit as you wouldn’t want to miss out!
Not to mention, if you would like to read more about my adventures and travels in Vietnam, then I highly recommend checking out this section of my blog for loads of content from Vietnam.
I’m constantly refreshing the posts, keeping them up to date, and adding new content to the section. Besides, it’s your one-stop spot for everything Vietnam related! Happy reading!
Read more:
Hai Van Pass, Vietnam: The Ultimate Vietnamese Road Trip
Vegetarian Food in Vietnam: How to Eat Vegetarian in Vietnam
