On our way to the infamous Pub With Cold Beer in Phong Nha, we chanced upon what was soon to become my favorite stop in my three month journey through South East Asia: The Duck Stop! Here we embraced our inner duck leaders and led a small army of 40-50 waddling ducks around behind us and fed them food out of our hands and our feet, and even off our knees. It was too much fun. This is my full guide to the Duck Stop in Phong Nha. 

Duration: 1 hour

Commute: 20 minute drive

Cost: 100k VND ($4 USD)

WHAT IS THE DUCK STOP?

Definitely one of the weirdest attractions in South East Asia. It is a duck farm where you spend 20 to 30 minutes with a small army of ducks. You feed them (be prepared for an intense tickling sensation as like 15 ducks rapid-fire gobble food from your hands, feet, and knees), hold them for photos, and lead them as they waddle along behind you (this was my favorite part). After hanging out with the ducks, you will be shown back to the picnic tables at the entry area and served savory farm pancakes. Not to worry, they don’t serve duck 🤣. 

HOW TO GET THERE

The Duck Stop is located here, just a short 10-15 minute drive from the main town area of Phong Nha. The quickest way to get there is to take Ho Chi Minh highway. Once you turn off onto the country backroads, its all dirt roads (and if it’s raining, slippery muddy roads). As such I recommend renting a motorbike from the town to get here like we did, but taking a taxi should be fine as well. 

HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST?

The entire experience costs a whole…$4 USD (100k VND)! Just like most things in Vietnam, this experience is absurdly cheap for what you get out of it. That’s definitely one of my favorite things about this country; it’s easily one of the cheapest I’ve ever been to in terms of food, alcohol, lodging, and experiences. 

MY EXPERIENCE

We arrived at the Duck Stop soaked in our raincoats, fresh from our crazy farm-to-table lunch experience at The Pub With Cold Beer. (Read more here.) A friendly worker from the farm offered us cokes and then showed us some of the natural peppercorn trees they grew here. He explained the cultivation process and picked some off the trees for us to taste.

Soon enough, a few more people arrived to join our group, and it was our turn with the ducks! After being asked our respective shoe sizes, we all changed into sandals that they offered. Then we were led down a path to this enclosure area where 50-some white ducks were all waddling around.

Our guide explained that he was the duck leader, and that today we would all become duck leaders. Then he procured a big metal pail of duck food and demonstrated what we would do as he led the ducks in a circle, tossed them food, and fed them from his hands. We all took turns following his lead as the army of ducks waddled behind each of us. Feeding the ducks from our hands was incredibly ticklish when ten or so ducks all tried craning their necks in to rapid-fire gobble up the food all at once. 

Then we were led to a long bench at the other side of the enclosure where we all sat down, and our guide put food on our feet and knees. It was both the weirdest and funniest sensation as the ducks fought their way to get close to us and gobble up the food. 

After we finished with the ducks, we were led back to the picnic tables at the entry area where we hosed down our feet (they were pretty muddy at this point), put our original shoes back on, and sat down as we were served savory farm pancakes. The pancakes were served in rice paper and made of pork, bean sprouts and fried onion. They were delicious. 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Overall this was one of the most unique experiences I had during my travels in South East Asia, and it was easily one of my favorites. I highly recommend this to anyone who is passing through the Phong Nha region in Central Vietnam.