21 Oct 2018
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Long Hai / Minh Dam - "A Hot Climb Up To Awesome Views"

Hares: Mr. T, Cleaver
Hash Flasher: Secs
Ringmaster: Boozer
Report: Secs

We are back on Minh Dam mountain again this week, and a record breaking 56 Hashers crammed in to the Hashmobile. We arrived at the starting point where Hare - Mr. T - explained that this was a simple but challenging trail. We’re to follow the dirt road until we see red ribbons indicating to turn left. There we are going to enter the forest and follow a well defined trail until it takes us under the jungle canopy. This is where we’re going to begin a climb up the many steps that would take us to a magnificent view from a hermit’s house, perched two thirds of the way up the mountain. From there we are to walk around the house and continue up the remaining steps to the lookout point at the top. Then we’re to descend to the carpark by following the steps that go down the other side of the mountain.

On-on we go, thankful to have missed the earlier rain that was evident from the all the puddles strewn along the dirt road. After a pleasant stroll in the countryside, we begin the grueling, rocky steps up to the summit. We find that the trail is well maintained and many of us are to pleased to discover that some kind soul has built a rope handrail, allowing us to pull our way up the steep incline. We reach the hermit’s house where we are greeted with a spiritual view of the landscape and a twinkling smile from the resident monk. It’s a welcome respite and we stop to catch our breath while gazing in awe at the beautiful landscape. Breath caught, we push ourselves up the remaining steps to the summit. 

A vast, cerulean sky greets us at the top, and we are afforded beautiful sunshine, a cool, fresh breeze and an awesome view. Perfect for cooling down after hard climb. 

And selfies…………

Selfie time over, we follow the easy trail down to the carpark and the down-down begins!

Fending off a troop of marauding monkeys we satiate ourselves with cold San Miguel, fruit and sandwiches from our foodies, we take the team photo and Ringmaster Boozer calls to order the circle. 

This week our Hares are Cleaver and Mr. T. the trail is rated and general consensus was excellent with a total of 15 out 10 rating bid.

A grand total of eleven Virgins this week hailing from Australia, Ukraine and Vietnam are baptised in to the Hash. Welcome!

Excuses from the Returnees this week ranged from “back in the UK” to “busy working”. Welcome back!

Various Sinners charged this week with the usual “foot faults” for inappropriate footwear. 

Perennial Hasher and legendary footwear sinner,  Slipper,  is double charged - once for his preference for thongs and secondly for not presenting himself as a Returnee. Welcome back Slipper!

And thus endeth the Circle for this week. 

Eskies are loaded and Hashers are once again packed into the Hashmobile and the homeward bound party begins….

VTH3 #860 PHOTO GALLERY

14 Oct 2018
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Big Mountain - "Steamy and Slippery"

Hares: Mr. T, Secs
Hash Flasher: Tiger Tom
Ringmaster: Boozer
Report: Sweeper

​Last weeks Run  859 on Big Mountain looked like it was going to be a wet one, but the gods smiled on us with good hot, steamy conditions for all who turned out. With a start from Hon Ru Ri,  across the road (how the hell we all made it is still a mystery), down past Tommy Bar, chuck a lefty then up the stairs for Boozer to give us directions then on-on up to the summit. 
With new camera shooter Tom snapping away upward we battled but was well worth it on the first break (as the panoramic views make this trail one of the more spectacular even with the 660 selfies thrown in.

Making to the top and across to the power lines, for some was exciting but poor ol' Zidane was looking looking for "Mother Teresa" but to no avail they had had enough and back to the boozer? 
The climb down was a challenge with no mishaps until the slippery concrete and a few found what their bum was used for besides sitting!
We stumbled, missed red tape, but still manage to get back to Bia Hoi and who was perched up but Mr.T and Secs, who got wet and had to change? 

Well done to all for finishing and to the Russian section for the lovely cake for the 75th birthday for the young Russian man.
Thanks to Tom for the Photos and ladies helping out with the food, and the entertainment later 'ill the arvo, see you next week.

VTH3 #859 PHOTO GALLERY

7 Oct 2018
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Long Hai - "Bamboo and Bees!"

Hares: Secs, Cleaver
Hash Flasher: Radiowave
Ringmaster: Boozer
Report: Faulty Brakes

​On a warm summer Sunday we revisited Long Son island to trek from the area near the lake across to the Bang Lang Cafe on the other side of the mountain. After registration we boarded our trusty bus to take the relatively short journey to Long Song island, 40 passengers in all ready to undertake the trail which had been laid the previous day by Secs and Cleaver. 

The “curse of Long Son “ struck again, this time the recipient was Secs our Secretary and I.T man when he was attacked by a swarm of angry bees while setting another trail for a future Sunday.  I am glad to report that he has made a full recovery thanks to Aqua and Golden fish who borrowed a motorbike to go to the local pharmacy to get some medicine for him. Mr. T who accompanied him also needed some attention for some stings he received and thankfully he has recovered from his ordeal. 

Now the trail commenced on the long avenue which brings us to the forest and Mother Nature has reclaimed her soil from what was a gravel road a few years ago is now covered again with brush and grass. Climbing over the small wall and into the forest carefully following the red tapes across the mountain it took the best part of one hour through thick bamboo to reach the final destination. This journey brought back memories when 2 senior hashers got lost here a few years ago while setting a trail but luckily there was no repeat today of that incident 

The cafe Bang Lang was where this week’s Down Down was held,with the now customary Banh Mi complimented with Simon’s Sambos, Mother Teresa's fare and to top it all, the famous Long Son Island roast chicken washed down with Ice cold San Miguel beers, here was a feast fit for king and everyone enjoyed as we sat around the tables  relaxing after the afternoon ‘s exertions.

Showtime now and it was time for Ringmaster supreme to entertain us,the highlight this week was the hash handle for his beloved dog, after much deliberation “Hot Dog” was the  agreed name and henceforth this is her hash name. 

We welcomed virgins from Vung Tau and one lady from Hanoi, they were all were impressed with fun, that is a part of our set up. The trail was now awarded the 10 out 10  which it truly deserved.

On a more serious note, we already have 25 people interested in returning to Coco Beach  Camp this November so we urge everyone who wishes to come along (as the bus has only 20 seats left) to confirm their interest.

Now with the light fading it was nearing departure time, clambering on board and with the disco music blaring ,the remaining cans of San Miguel were quaffed. Another successful Sunday in the annals of the Vung Tau Hash was chronicled and now all that remained to be done was the return to the Headquarters at Binh An 4 the eskies on our special booze wagon.

VTH3 #858 PHOTO GALLERY

30th Sep 2018
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Big Mountain

Hares: Secs, Mr.T , Graham
Hash Flasher: Kojak
Ringmaster: Boozer
Report: Faulty Brakes

The Sunday morning weather was wet and overcast and looked like it would cast a shadow on the afternoon hash, however the early fears were allayed when 43 people turned up to register at Hon Ru Ri.

When registration was complete, people were advised to take their transport to 102 Tran Phu and those remaining were taxied to meet the rest of the group at 102. From here a fleet of taxis ferried the hashers to hem 542 on the other side of big mountain to start the the trail that was set by Mr T and Secs the previous Thursday. 

Starting at the bottom of the hill and walking past the army barracks with the temple to our right we soon reached the trail on the bottom of the mountain, then proceeding through the forest path we soon reached the mountain path road where we walked for a short time before going down again and into more forest along the foot of the mountain until we reached the lookout point near Ho May Park, now we returned to the  steps that takes us  back down to 102 Tran Phu our recreation and Down Down location. 

This week we were minus some of our regular steam, Buddha our resident sommelier was in Paris attending a conference on Beer Storage and Secs had succumbed to a nasty head cold, a result of drinking out of wet glasses.

”Cometh the hour ,Cometh the man”, Kojak took the mantle of Hash Flash and Zidane became our Food and Beverage manager for the day.

Time for our customary weekly photo which we send to San Miguel the proud beer sponsors of VTH 3 (Vung Tau Hash House Harriers) and now the circle run by Boozer, we had a name change this week , Strawberry wanted to change her name to Jellyfish, (whose mom is Golden Fish) and we duly obliged. 

Newcomers or virgins were welcomed and those who transgressed were treated as sinners all receiving the customary dowsing of ice water for their troubles. The trail was awarded 12 out of 10. A more convivial atmosphere you could not find as hashers sat in the front of 102 enjoying Banh Mi, Simons Sambos and quaffing beer and soft drinks .

Vung Tau hash is run by people who volunteer their time free of charge to ensure that the Sunday Hash is a success. This involves setting trails in places like Long Son, Minh Dam, Niu Dinh, collecting beer and soft drinks and all that is required to operate a successful weekly Hash. 
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Every one thousand dong collected is accounted for to ensure there are no funds misappropriated and all funds are used to promote farewell parties, Christmas parties and weekends away for our current members. 

There has been no increase in fees for 7 years,we will shortly introduce a new fee structure.Details of the forthcoming away trail  to Coco Beach (24 November) will be announced shortly, we ask all members study carefully to ensure your place on the bus.

VTH3 #857 PHOTO GALLERY