I Conquered A Caving Expedition In Vietnam

Despite my many misgivings about the trip, I faced my fears about adventure travel. It was as difficult as I imagined.

- SAMANTHA DAVID

It took my adventurous travel buddy Ming two years to convince me to join her caving in Vietnam. She also happens to be my former boss, and someone I’ve always looked up to.

My reasons for not taking her up on her offer were endless: It ranged from me not being very “adventurous” when it comes to food, to being embarrassed that I might not be able to catch up with her. She’s well over 50 and incredibly fit – and here I am, in my mid-30s, unable to climb a flight of stairs without getting out of breath.

I was no stranger to outdoor activities like diving, but I was getting injured a lot in recent years, and so the thought of caving, which is a very physically strenuous activity, worried me. Personal hygiene is also something that I’m very particular about, and the idea of not showering for days was daunting.

But when Ming spoke about the trip again late last year, I said OK. Looking back, my change of heart might have been sparked by the realisation that I was not getting any younger. If I wanted to truly push my limits, the time is now.

And so I finally caved and went caving in Vietnam.

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable

Ming and I signed up to explore the Tu Lan Cave System with Oxalis Adventure, a travel company that specialises in caving and jungle tours in Northern Vietnam.

The Tu Lan Cave System comprises over 10 unique wet (meaning caves with an underground river) and dry caves, some of which were originally discovered in 1992. To date, authorities are still uncovering parts of the entire cave system.