27 OCTOBER 2019
​
BIG MOUNTAIN

Hares: Perro Caliente, Suction Cup
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Kojak
Ringmaster: ​Boozer
Report: Faulty Brakes

Over 60 people turned up for this Sunday’s Trail, a new trail which we are indebted to Paul and Oanh Thompson a.k.a. Perro Caliente and Suction Cup, where we went from North to South across the big mountain for the first time. This opens up huge potential on the Big mountain with new and numerous trails  to contemplate for the future.

We met as always at Uno Coffee on Halong where the eskies and Banh Mii were prepared for the upcoming Down Down. Shekels were counted and beer truck despatched to Hem 36 on the Vi Ba Road to the home of our more than generous hosts.

Today’s Hares and Boozer had previously marked the trail on Saturday and now we waited for today’s instructions which as always is follow the red tapes.

Setting off and following our host’s trail pass the Saw Mill and through a labyrinth of Hems and with many local Vietnamese looking on and wondering why 60 apparently normal people would subject themselves to an afternoon of torture, and, of course,  “it takes all types” immediately sprung to mind. We eventually reached the upward path at the side of a temple which we were familiar with and now it was all uphill until we reached the rail track at Ho May Park. We negotiated through the shady forest until we came and climbed onto the familiar mountain path that transverses the Nui Lon. The top of the 600 steps which we had climbed on numerous occasions was to our right, and now we turned left and proceeded to the Army Camp and Nuoc Mia stalls on Vi Ba.

The vexed question of was it possible to go from Le Loi to Tran Phu was answered with a resounding “Yes!" Previous attempts had led to failure from a safety point of view and now the age old question has been answered. From here the option of a taxi was available as this was by any standard a gruelling trail both energy sapping and demanding. Some Hashers took the taxi to our base, other hardy souls continued walking along to Vi Ba to complete one of our most challenging and interesting of trails.

The supply of Sagota and Banh Mi were quickly polished off as thirsty and hungry hashers took the opportunity to relax and unwind after the afternoon’s exploits .

Boozer ran the circle this week and important notices were relayed in English, Russian and Vietnamese regarding future registration for Runs. Just at a time when everyone contemplated their return home we were sprung with the surprise of a BBQ for everyone, mouth watering plates of different foods were laid out for all to enjoy, beer and ice miraculously appeared to make what was the perfect afternoon even better. Looking across to Lon Son island in the distance and resting beside the swimming pool, does it get any better?.

We thanked our hosts once again for a wonderful afternoon. Next week will be an away trail.

RUN 913 PHOTO GALLERY - KOJAK

RUN 913 PHOTO GALLERY - CHOM CHOM

20 OCTOBER 2019
​
SMALL MOUNTAIN

Hares: Mr. T, Cleaver
Hash Flashers: Shomit, T34, Tiger Tom, Mr. T
Ringmaster: ​Cleaver
Report: Faulty Brakes

Run 912 was dedicated to Vietnam Woman’s  Day which is celebrated on the 20th of October every year. We (Mismanagement) would like to put on record the appreciation we have for all our lady Hashers in VTH3 and I am certain that there is no Hash in Asia or anywhere on the planet for that matter, that has a more beautiful group of ladies than ours. This week’s Down Down took place in Cafe Uno on Halong over looking the ocean on sunny Sunday with the cooling breezes blowing in from the sea. We welcomed back Slipper and Angry Bird, Shomit and T34. We saw a reduction in fees for home runs, this was possible because of the generous sponsorship of Sagota beer. More than 50 people attended Sunday’s Hash number 912 ,with people from Australia, Ireland, Sweden, Croatia, UK, Finland, Romania and Russia and of course Vietnam. The family aspect is unique to VTH3 and hopefully will ensure the future success of our hash when some of our hashers will be hashing in the heavens.

Sunday’s trail on the small mountain started at Cafe Uno when all the formalities of registrations were completed. The previous day Mr T and Cleaver had marked the trail turning right at Uno and proceeding along Halong, passing the Ngoc Trai Den (The Black Pearl) up through a temple with its many steps onto the path turning left and down not quite as far as Lucy’s Bar and now turning up through another temple, along some bush and eventually on the higher path of the mountain. This was testing enough for everyone, now all was left was to continue back to yet another temple and descend the steps home to Uno Coffee. The trail was awarded 10 out of 10 which is now obligatory for all trails and we passed through 3 different temples in one afternoon.

The refreshing Sagota beers had been iced earlier in the day and Banh Mi had been delivered and with resident Musicologist DJ Zidane turning the decks we couldn’t have hoped for a better Down Down. Today we saw a delightful cake to celebrate the National Vietnam Woman’s day distributed among our Ladies and children. Boozer had decided to bring his drone for entertainment of the families and after a while the children were given a chance to show off their skills.

This week we welcomed Cleaver to run the circle, returnees, sinners were punished for various misdemeanours including Slipper for wearing trainers and not his legendary slipper shoes for which he is famous. Basking in the late afternoon sunshine, various groups formed to enjoy the libations (Sagota and soft drinks). The eskies grew lighter as the afternoon progressed and soon it was time to return these to their home. Volunteers helped empty the ice and for one more week they were stored. 

This year’s Christmas party will be held in early December to allow as many hashers to attend as possible. Next Sunday’s run on big mountain will be “first” with a new Down Down location, the trail and location will not be revealed until Sunday. Early registration is essential to help us plan the requirements of the afternoon. BRTV showed some footage of our recent trip to Minh Dam last Tuesday morning and we saw some emerging stars from our hash.
​Vietnam National Woman’s day was another successful Sunday in VTH3 history.

RUN 912 PHOTO GALLERY

13 OCTOBER 2019
​
MINH DAM

Hares: Faulty Brakes, Mr. T, Secs
Hash Flasher: Chom Chom
Ringmaster: ​Sweeper
Report: Secs

This week 60 budding TV stars boarded the Hashmobile for a run on Minh Dam mountain. This week’s trail was the now legendary “Hermit’s Trail” is a 2.5km trail that takes us up approximately 270m of gruelling steps that encompasses a remote house with a friendly monk where we can look out at fantastic views of Long Hai. After stopping to catch our breath there, it is a final ascent which culminates at an awesome viewpoint atop some massive boulders affording us a 360 degree view of the amazing landscape.

This week we were accompanied by the TV station, BR-TV (special thanks to SAGAOTA Beer who arranged it)who were filming a day in the life of VTH3. The cameraman was waiting at the top of the mountain where our many Hashers posed in their own inimitable selfie style. All that selfie practice paying off in front of the limelight. Once our poseurs had finished posing they made their way down to the carpark at Minh Dam.

At the carpark we are treated the usual feast of Bahn Mi washed down with ice-cold SAGOTA beer and 100 Plus. Meanwhile, stalwart Hasher extraordinaire, Faulty Brakes is interviewed by the local TV crew. Followed by two of our most loyal Vietnamese Hashers, Chippy and Nhut. 

Interviews over and the TV crew headed back to Ba Ria it is time for the circle. This week Sweeper takes the helm as Ringmaster and gives an admirable performance. Six virgins are inducted into the Hash family, Returnees, Sam Son and Moonlight, are given the chance to excuse themselves for having been away for several weeks and finally, Pinky is in the sin bin for forgetting one her progeny was left on the bus after the trail was started - for the second time!

With the circle over the Hashmobile is loaded up and returns to Vung Tau - stay tuned for when VTH3 will be aired.

RUN 911 PHOTO GALLERY

6 OCTOBER 2019
​
NUI DINH - "Where do we begin??"

Hares: Faulty Brakes
Hash Flasher: Murph Diver
Ringmaster: ​NA
Report: Faulty Brakes

There is never a situation so dire that a Policeman or a Politician can’t make worse, we can now add the Highway constructor to this equation.The start of this week’s run was severely curtailed when the beginning of our trail had simply vanished. Hundreds of tons of rock and soil had been removed thus rendering the entrance to our well loved trail useless. Having arrived at the unopened highway we disembarked from our bus and proceeded to walk the 1.5 km to the beginning of the trail. The burning sun didn’t help as we feverishly searched for the beginning of our trail, eventually we heard the cry of ‘On On’ from Secs who had discovered the burning question of the hour, he had matched the trail with the GPS on his magic phone.
​[Secs: Shout out to Double Two and Snail for assisting and to Perro Caliente for returning to pick up the rest of the Hashers baking in the hot sun] 
The delay had taken its toll on our Hashers despite their enthusiasm, we eventually started our climb to road at Nui Dinh. This old tail epitomises all that’s good in Vung Tau Hashing with a 4.5 km climb to our destination, in deep forest climbing and descending over rocks and slope, bamboo thickets and eventually the crossing of the stream near the Nui Dinh road our temporary settlement for our Down Down.

It is said there is no such thing as bad publicity except of course if it’s your obituary notice, next Sunday we will be accompanied by the local TV station who will film a day in the life of VTH3’s Sunday excursion to the nearby mountains. We urge all our Hashers to arrive early and wear our new blue T-Shirt’s and, of course, REGISTERING in time is essential for us to conduct our plans for the day.

Sunday’s Australian football finals saw some of our regular Hashers miss today’s foray however we ended up with more than 50 hashers including many local families and their children, a full bus and everyone enjoyed their day in Nui Dinh. The registration at Uno Cafe earlier in the day we unfurled our new SAGOTA BANNER  with a team photo of VTH3 .

SAGOTA time and Down Down! There were a lot of weary and contented hashers ready to enjoy this week’s Ban Mi and refreshments and wind down after our earlier exertions. The earlier time lost in finding our trail had left us little time for our Ringmaster to perform. With darkness approaching it was soon time to clamber onboard on our juggernaut with our SAGOTA laden eskies and return to our headquarters in Cafe Uno. An interesting day by any standards, a successful day, a day that showed the mettle of our humble Hash. We do it all again next Sunday - be early!!

RUN 910 PHOTO GALLERY