Chan May was our last stop in Vietnam and we were seeking quiet and solitude. Since arriving to Southeast Asia, we’ve visited many cities with populations over 5 million and a couple over 10M. In our future, we’ve got Hong Kong, Taipei, Kyoto and Tokyo, the second most populace city in the world. So that is where our mindset was when we booked this tour by Shore Excursions Group.

After a 15-minute walk to the port entrance, our guide picked us up in a nice 10-person van. The air was muggy and smoggy and visibility wasn’t great. We were headed to Than Tai Hot Springs, a wellness park located in the UNESCO Hue Mountains, a one-hour drive from the port. We really had no idea what to expect but hoped that this day would be relaxing and rejuvenating.

We arrived to the park mid-morning and proceeded to the locker room where we stowed our clean clothes and valuables. After traversing walkways and steps, through lush foliage and rocks (some real, some fake), we arrived to a series of hot pools. Some were very hot, and some were cold, but most were a pleasant temperature. There were birds, butterflies and dragonflies circulating about, and calm music played from well-hidden speakers. Initially, we were the only ones there but eventually, several others arrived. There were “bubbling beds” to lay on and we just hung out for a while. The heat and humidity were for sure a distraction. We kept saying how enjoyable this would be if the air temp was cooler.

Eventually, we were led to a golf cart that took us to another part of the park. Here we had the option to take a mud bath, which we all agreed we needed to try for the experience, not knowing at all what we were in for. Along the way, we passed dozens of concrete bathtubs; some were very large, and some looked like they would hold only one or two persons. We arrived to our three tubs, all filling with a thick brown water, and we could not stop laughing. Each couple piled in and we were told we had 20 minutes before we had to shower off and move on to lunch. Once we settled down from our giggles, the muddy water was actually very relaxing. The concrete tub was cold, but the water was warm, and it was a great combination.

After our soak, we were pointed to a shower where we all attempted to rid ourselves of the mud. It was a ridiculous sight and an arduous task. Would the bathing suits ever come clean?

Back in our street clothes, we were directed to a restaurant that presented a large buffet of traditional Vietnamese food. We had worked up an appetite and we enjoyed the food very much. The restaurant was full of families and local tourists, as the park also hosts a hotel and a water park for young people.

To say that this might be the strangest tour we’ve ever done would not be an over-statement. Yet, we somehow felt that it provided that small break from the big cities and something different, which we were seeking.

Tomorrow: Sea Day