Tucked beside a tributary of the Son River and surrounded by acacia-covered hills, a 1.3-hectare farm 30 km from Dong Hoi City of Quang Tri Province has been drawing visitors since opening three months ago.
It is two kilometers from the Ho Chi Minh Highway and 10 km from the center of Phong Nha.
The farm in Bong Lai 1 Hamlet, Bo Trach Commune, is divided into zones: fruit orchards on the hillside, rice paddies, fish ponds, and areas for raising ducks and buffalo below in the valley.
Tran Quoc Hoan, 35, owner of Duck Farm Phong Nha, says activities such as feeding ducks and riding buffaloes have become popular with foreign guests.
To experience the duck "massage", visitors scatter feed around their feet. At Hoan's call of "quack quack", the ducks come rushing over, clustering around them.
"The ducks are trained from a young age, and so they're friendly and not afraid of people," he explains.
Foreign visitors experience ducks giving them a "massage." Video by VnExpress/Dac Thanh
"It's so fun being a 'duck leader', tossing feed and watching them all bow their heads at once. I love the ducklings, they're tiny and easy to hold."
Another British traveler, Tim, calls the experience delightful. He says the sensation of dozens of ducks pecking around his body feels like a massage.
"You feel like the head of the flock when they surround you. I'll definitely come back. It's relaxing, ticklish at times, but it makes everyone burst out laughing. I don't think I've laughed this much on a trip in a long time."
To try the duckling "massage", visitors wear plastic sandals and sprinkle feed around their feet. Within seconds, the ducklings gather to peck at the grains… and the feet.
Beyond the duck experience, visitors can also fish, ride buffaloes and watch the owner demonstrate how various animals respond to commands and stand up and lie down on cue.
Julia, another traveler from the U.K., says it was the first time she hugged a buffalo.
“It’s unbothered by things around it, so calm and friendly. I could feed it grass and banana leaves.”
