DECEMBER 25 2022
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30TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY RUN ON SMALL MOUNTAIN AND PARTY 

Hares: Secs, Chippy
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom, Mr. Phong
Ringmaster: Secs
Report: Secs

Run 1040 coincided with a monumental occasion - the 30th Anniversary of Vung Tau Hash House Harriers (VTH3)! 30 years ago on the 27th December a group of expats led by Captain John 'Anchor' Murt met at the, now demolished, Seabreeze Hotel for a jog around town and thus VTH3 was born! 

Since the nearest Sunday to the 27th happened to be on Christmas day it was decided to have a short local run on the Jesus Mountain so that our Hashers would have time to don their glad rags for the Anniversary Party in the evening.

28 Hashers, including 2 from the newly formed Binh Duong Hash, arrived at our newly branded kennel, Nang Vung Tau. As usual Mr. T took registration assisted by Reardo. Once everyone was accounted for we all jumped on motorbikes and headed to our starting point - Beach Valley at 1A Ha Long Road.

It was a beautiful cool sunny afternoon with a pleasant breeze as we gathered around Secs for our instructions: we are to walk up the steps to the Jesus statue about a third of the way until we see red ribbons on the right hand side indicating we are to jump over the wall and follow the red ribbons across the quarry side of the mountain, and then on to a hidden set of steps that will take us up to the top of the mountain at the back of Jesus - then a simple walk back down the steps to Beach Valley.

So On-On we go, carefully crossing the busy Ha Long road and enter the Jesus complex now resplendent with Christmas decorations. It was easy enough climbing up the steps and jumping over the wall onto the side of the mountain. We hobbled over the initial rocky path for a short while and then were rewarded with stunning views of Hòn Bà Temple atop the small island opposite. Many obligatory selfies later we arrive at the far end of the quarry which affords us magnificent views of the back beach. More selfies with the newly blossomed trees and then it's a pleasant walk along a tree lined path until we reach the Jesus complex guardhouse. We turn right along the side of the guardhouse and up some narrow steps. Hidden in the jungle is a massive old French cannon. The red ribbons lead us to an overgrown staircase which we follow until it emerges at the largest Christian statue in Asia - towering 36 metres above us - Christ the King welcomes us with outstretched arms. We wish him “Happy Birthday” and then proceed to descend the 811 steps down passing gleaming white Christian icons until we are back at the picturesque Beach Valley.

Back at Beach Valley we enjoy some freshly delivered Bahn mi washed down with a selection of soft drinks and Saigon Green beer while massive waves crash up against the seawall next to us. One of our junior Hashers brought his pet parrot with him, notable because its bright green plumage matched perfectly with our Run 1000 T-Shirts. It’s a short down-down since we all need to head home to prepare for the highlight of the day - the 30th Anniversary Party at Ốc Xanh with our favourite band Perfect Jive Duo.

PARTY TIME!

At 6.30pm eager Hashers started to arrive at Ốc Xanh Restaurant, next to our store room at Nang Vung Tau, excited for the night’s proceedings. It was unusual to see so many of us in our evening wear instead of our familiar hiking gear - ladies looking radiant, children looking smart and well groomed, and the guys well I guess you could say handsome. The Hashers kept coming and by 7.30pm more than 60 people were seated ready for all that was to come.

Secs kicked off the evening by welcoming everybody to the 30th Anniversary of Vung Tau Hash. A short video created by Chom Chom, based on some exhaustive digging and documenting by Hash Historian Uncle. 

After the video Secs invited the volunteers who make up the Mismanagement Committee to join him on stage:

• Chippy - who works hard to find new and interesting trails, negotiate for favourable down-down fees, helping Hashers to register and many other tasks
• Mr. T for managing the accounts and taking registration, driving the Hares to set the trails that are enjoyed every week
• Chom Chom for entertaining the circles, finding great food (together with Smiley) for us to enjoy at the down-down, managing the Social Media of VTH3 and creating some of the great videos we look forward to every week.
• Have-A-Chat was thanked in absentia for being an enthusiastic contributor, an avid Hare, master of the circle, and (together with Rabbit) also providing great food. He also creates some fantastic videos.

After a rapturous round of applause for our volunteers, some of our key supporters were introduced and thanked:

• Mr. Phi - our Saigon Beer representative and sponsor without whom we wouldn’t have the affordable and delicious Saigon Chill will we savour at the end of each run
• Mr. Ha - from Nang Vung Tau who provides us with a meeting place, parking and a great store room
• Mr. An - our very trusty and adept bus driver who ensures we safely get to and from our trails - despite some difficult to navigate destinations

Next up stalwart Hasher Faulty Brakes was invited on stage. Faulty Brakes, together with Uncle, were instrumental in making the Hash what it is today. Back in 2011, Uncle, Anti and Faulty Brakes resurrected the Hash after a breakdown. In his speech Faulty Brakes paid homage to Uncle for all his contributions - it would not be VTH3 without Uncle. He explained how back in 2011 armed with only a blue plastic bin containing a rope, a bugle, a green hat, a chain of office and a first aid kit from the Crimean War (complete with leeches!), they were able to create the ReHash which became the Hash that we all know and love today.

And with the formalities over it was PARTY ON-ON!!

While Ốc Xanh delivered a multitude of delicacies including smoked goose breast salad, grilled clams with cheese, fried rice, Russian style sausages and Thai style hotpot, the legendary Perfect Jive Duo perform a selection of tunes including some Christmas songs. In between sets various Hashers got up to sing us a song including our favourite crooner, Borneo Bum Biter, his wife Catwoman, Mr. Phi and others. One of our very junior Hasher took to the keyboard to perform an enchanting rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.

On the next break it was time to reveal the beautiful and sumptuous Cake designed with our latest green branding. Chippy and Faulty Brakes performed the ceremonial cutting. In addition to the official Hash cake, Bishop had also prepared a home-made cheesecake which was delicious and subsequently devoured.

The band played on and as the tunes got more lively many of our Hash House dancers were on stage strutting their stuff in front of the band. The night culminated with Secs popping a bottle of some very dodgy Russian sparkling wine, which some people seemed to enjoy!

And so the party came to an end, a fitting celebration of the 30 years that VTH3 has been consistently running through thick and thin, every Sunday, in any weather.

Here’s to another 30 years!!

On-On!!

RUN 1040 GALLERY

DECEMBER 18 2022
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MINH DAM MOUNTAIN - THREE TEMPLES 

Hares: Secs, Chippy, Mr. T
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Secs

Weather: Beautiful balmy day, blue skies with wispy white clouds and a refreshing breeze.

Hash Cash: Mr T and Reardo @ VTH3 Kennel: Nắng VũngTàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1.

Total Hashers: 36

Destination: Minh Dam Mountain, Long Hai

Chalk Talk: Secs: A 5km trail, relatively easy. Follow the red ribbons that will take us in a loop via 4 quaint temples and some spectacular views.

Trail: Picturesque temples, shrines. Easy going, not too many long steep ascents. Tunnel formed by two big vertical rocks. Panoramic outlook of Vung Tau from top of many mountain lookout rocks.

Highlights:

• Bạch Vân Điện, a temple with a spectacular staircase to magnificent views of the Long Hai coastline.  
• Bạch Vân Động, second temple on the trail, a quirky temple complex with many interesting statues of animals and bright yellow bust of Uncle Ho. Also affords a great view of the Long Hai coast
• A rocky platform atop the mountain with a shrine 
• Đỉnh Bồng Lai third temple of the day, more great views and very pleasant breeze
• Chùa tứ sơn tự, final temple of the day. Massive rocks looking back at Vung Tau, plenty of opportunities for selfies as the sun begins to set

Down Down: Minh Dam Car Park - a notable lack of pilfering monkeys

Refreshments: Saigon Chill, softies, water, banh mi and fillings, watermelon for Down Down. Travel esky cold drinks for the return bus trip.

Group photo: Chom Chom (in Minh Dam Car Park)

Ringmaster: Chom Chom

Hares/trail rating: Secs, Chippy,  Rating 28/30

Hash Virgins: 

• Carl from London, England and Helen, his Vietnamese wife. Carl had seen the Hash videos playing in The Office Bar and decided to give us a try.
• Carl’s friend from Santa Barbara, California
• Fletcher from Blackpool, England who heard about VTH3 from Mr. Vui
• Two Vietnamese mothers accompanied by their young sons

Returnees:

• Young Buffalo, who had been away working in Qatar
• Damien, son of Faulty Brakes

Other business:
A reminder that Run 1040 will be a local trail to give people time to return home and get ready for the 30th Anniversary Party at Nắng Vũng Tàu’s Ốc Xanh restaurant in the evening. Reminder to transfer fees to the Hash Bank account

Sponsor Office Bar highlights Monday Quiz Night, Wednesday Killer Pool, Friday complimentary cheese and crackers.

Circle closed: Garbage bags filled, eskies de-iced. Boombox and travel esky onboard for pleasant return journey highlighted by the shimmering blue Christmas lights on the trees along front beach.  Assets offloaded and stored at Nắng Vũng Tàu.

Down Down Down: Mr C’s Speakeasy, 3A Lê Ngọc Hân(next door to Nắng Vũng Tàu) for wood-fired pizza, chicken wings, ribs and drinks (incl. Saigon Chill buckets) at own/shared cost.

Next week:
A local trail on Jesus Mountain. 30th Anniversary Party banquet starting 7 pm at our Hash Kennel’s outdoor restaurant: Ốc Xanh (5 Lê Ngọc Hân). Live music from our favourite Filipino band Perfect Jive Duo
 
“On On”

RUN 1039 GALLERY

DECEMBER 11 2022
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THI VAI MOUNTAIN (“Núi Thị Vải”)

Hares: Secs, Chippy, Mr. T
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Uncle

Weather: Cloudy, some sun. Pleasant hashing weather with plenty of jungle canopy shade.
Hash Cash: Mr T & Johnny @ VTH3 Kennel: Nắng Vũng Tàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1. Early start this week because it is longer to travel: 11 am for 11.30 depart.

Total Hashers: 43

Destination: Thi Vai mountain near Phu My town (~20km past Ba Ria City towards HCMC).
Chalk Talk: Secs: “Walk 300m then turn left into jungle and steep ascent; follow red tapes around and up via temples, shrines, mountainside shacks, etc. Lookout rocks and a temple at the top (~450m), then down by more direct route (bypass locked gate if necessary). Ends with approx 1,200 rock steps down to the Linh Son Buu Meditation Temple then café Down Down outside main gates. Total distance approx 5km.”

Highlights: “Walking sticks” for visitors (tubing with angled tops as handles). Picturesque temples, shrines and underground caves along the jungle trail. Gateway near top formed by two big vertical rocks. Panoramic outlook from top of mountain lookout rocks to the west and NW over Phú Mỹ and Mỹ Xuân showing industrial complexes, residential areas and green fields. Friendly monks, local residents and tourists. Large pond with lots of fish in meditation temple grounds. 

Special interest: Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền Tự (Linh Son Buu Meditation Temple) is a Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (the only Buddhist sangha recognized by the VN gov’t, and a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front).

Down Down: Café outside temple gates.

Refreshments: Saigon Chill, softies, water, banh mi & fillings and water melon for Down Down. Travel esky cold drinks for return trip.

Group photo: Chom Chom, outside temple gates.

Ringmaster: Chom Chom (“A job well done!”).

Hares/trail rating: Mr T, Secs, Chippy. Rating 29/30 (well deserved for challenging trail set partly in the rain!). A bit long and/or steep for some, but one of the ‘liveliest’ trails in recent times with friendly monks, local residents and tourists on the mountain.

Hash Virgins: 1 Bien Hoa, 2 VT, 1 UK, 1 Russian Fed, 1 Ba Ria.

Returnee: Alice (‘Went downunder’).

Visitors: Flasher and Madam Lash, Perth WA (latter left blood on the trail to claim part ownership!).

Namings: Nang VT owner’s shy teenage daughter Thuy Duong Hash-named ‘Vanilla’.

Sinners: Mr T and Johnny – ‘Sex on the Hash’ (embracing on the temple steps – possibly to save balance or share a joke, but “When in doubt – Down Down!”).

Other business:

• Away trail next week.
• Sponsor Office Bar highlights Monday Quiz Night, Wednesday Killer Pool, Friday free cheese, biscuits and pickles.
• Run #1040 (25 Dec) will be a local trail to allow time to go home, ‘redecorate’ then return to Nắng Vũng Tàu to celebrate the 30th anniversary of VTH3 – stay tuned for more! 

Circle closed: Pleasant return journey (no traffic jams, one comfort stop). Assets offloaded and stored at Nắng Vũng Tàu.

Down Down Down: Mr C’s Speakeasy, 3A Lê Ngọc Hân (next door to Nắng Vũng Tàu) for wood-fired pizza, chicken wings, ribs and drinks (incl. Saigon Chill buckets) at own/shared cost.

Next week: Watch this space and our facebook page: @VungTauHHH for details of next week’s trail #1039.

“On On”

RUN 1038 GALLERY

DECEMBER 4 2022
​
MINH DAM MOUNTAIN (MONKEY PAGODA)

Hares: Secs, Chippy, Mr. T, Have-A-Chat
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom, Mr. T
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Uncle

Weather: Sunshine, high cloud – warm but not too hot (and plenty of overhead jungle cover).

Hash Cash: Mr T @ VTH3 Kennel: Nắng Vũng Tàu, (5 Le Ngoc Han, Ward 1).

Total Hashers: 41

Direction: North then East to Long Hai and follow coastline to Monkey Pagoda (at foot of Minh Dam mountain a few km before Minh Dam Base).

Destination: Minh Dam mountain, 6km from Long Hai town in the Chau Long-Chau Vien mountains SE of Long Dat. Height 355m, overall length 8 km within the Long Hai mountain range. The area was military base in French and American wars and re-named after revolutionary martyrs Bui Cong Minh and Mac Thanh Dam who died when their unit was ambushed in 1948. Now popular tourist area for the spectacular natural scenery, intricate underground (guerilla) cave system, and fresh spring water.

Chalk Talk: Secs: “Steep ascent, many hundreds of rock steps. Follow red marker tape all the way up and down again. Through narrow gap between two huge vertical rocks near top of mountain to lookout rock, then downhill to Minh Dam Base car park for Down Down.”

Trail: Many rock steps on steep ascent and uneven ground/tree roots/stones on steep descent created occasional heavy going. But overall safe trail suitable for most age groups and reasonable fitness levels.

Highlights: Many monkeys at start point, hence the nickname. Steep ascent up many rock steps, with occasional views at some rest stops. Huge lookout rock – lovely cool breeze and widespread views of ocean and coastline dotted with new resort developments! Also not on today’s trail but there’s a special shrine at top of mountain via slight detour: remove shoes to enter.

Down Down: Minh Dam Base (“Secret Zone”) car park. Local monkeys and friendly dogs (all hungry, no table manners!). Hub for several other trails; museum nearby; public toilets.

Refreshments: Saigon Chill, softies, water, banh mi & fillings, water melon.

Group photo: Chom Chom 

Duty Ringmaster: Chom Chom (newly married, did a great job!).

Hares (trail rating): Mr T, Secs, Chippy, Have-A-Chat. Rating High, with steepness of ascent offsetting slightly shorter overall distance (and special shrine at top of mountain and/or other nearby trails could add extra interest and distance if required; but no complaints from this scribe who Hashes for pleasure, not pain!).

Hash Virgins: 5 – Ivan, Max (Rus), Thu Ha, Han (VN), Trish (VN/Oz).
Returnees / visitors: 0
Sinners: 2 – Fumi (Jpn), Chippy (VN) shoe faults.

Other business:
Sponsor Office Bar highlights Monday Quiz Night, Wednesday Killer Pool, Friday free cheese and biscuits.
Local trail Christmas Day for time to go home, redecorate then return to Nắng Vũng Tàu to celebrate 30th anniversary of VTH3 – stay tuned for more! 
Circle closed: Garbage bags filled, eskies de-iced. Boom box and travel esky onboard for pleasant return journey. Assets offloaded and stored at Nắng Vũng Tàu.
Down Down Down: Mr C’s Speakeasy next door to VTH3 Kennel for wood-fired pizza, chicken wings, ribs and drinks (incl. Saigon Chill buckets) at own cost.

Next week: Watch this space and our facebook page: @VungTauHHH for details of next week’s trail #1038.

“On On”!

RUN 1037 GALLERY