Film inspires new tourism venture in Vietnam.
If King Kong were not a figment of some moviemaker’s imagination, there’s a very good chance he’d have climbed up out of the wilds of Vietnam, where producers of Kong: Skull Island filmed much of the soon-to-debut movie.
That’s why Exotic Voyages is leading a discovery tour of otherworldly settings in actual Vietnam where much of the movie was shot.
“There are natural settings in Vietnam, off the beaten tourist path, that are as raw and unbelievable as King Kong himself,” said Andrew Carroll, global head of sales and marketing at Exotic Voyages. “That’s why the filmmakers came here. That’s why so many travellers come here.”
Launched this month, the ten-day trip, “Kong’s Vietnam,” ventures into the depth of Vietnam from Quang Binh Province to Halong Bay, where dramatic limestone karst mountains provide a primeval backdrop for Kong’s adventures. In Quang Binh, the exploration plumbs the massive caverns of Phong Nha and Paradise Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Indeed, the UNESCO World Heritage site claims some of the top caves in the world, holding records for the longest underground river, the highest and longest cave, the broadest and most beautiful fine sand beaches within a cave, and the most spectacular stalagmites and stalactites. Paradise Cave, at 31 kilometres long, is also the longest dry cave in Asia.
Also in Quang Binh travelers will visit Nuoc Mooc stream for a picnic lunch, surrounded by dense tropical jungle and celestial limestone karsts.
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay, another major shooting location for the film, is also on the itinerary. Here guests see the towering karsts and teal waters as King Kong would have — from high above. A scenic seaplane tour gives a bird’s eye view over the 1,600 isles and islands that pepper the Gulf of Tonkin, and an overnight cruise on the bay immerses visitors in its raw beauty.
The country’s two largest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, round out the agenda.
Kong’s Vietnam is the latest installment in a series of packages that deliver travellers direct to the sites of their favourite movies. In September last year Exotic Voyages launched “A Modern Take On Classic James Bond,” inspired by the 1974 flick and its locations in Thailand and Hong Kong.
Prices begin from US$2055 for the ten-day trip, exclusive of flights, meals not mentioned in full itinerary and drinks during meals. The package is available from now until December 10, 2018. For more details visit the website.
