4-Day Yoga & Nature Wellness Retreat by the Lake in Phong Nha, Vietnam

Nguyen Shack Retreat sits about three kilometres outside Phong Nha village, in the middle of the countryside famous for the world's largest cave systems. The retreat centre is a collection of bungalows and communal buildings scattered along the edge of a seasonal lake, surrounded by jungle and working farmland. Everything happens on-site: yoga, meditation, meals, swimming, resting. The entire place is designed so you don't need to leave once you arrive.

A typical day has a 90-minute yoga session in the morning and another in the late afternoon, with meditation slots around them. The yoga is Ashtanga and Hatha, taught by Prashant, who has a master's degree in yoga science from Rishikesh and six years of teaching behind him, and Estelle, a French RYT 800 certified Ashtanga teacher who has trained in Mysore. Both teach alignment clearly, work at your level, and keep the classes small—group size is between one and twelve, so you get proper attention.

Between sessions, you've got real choices. One full day includes a guided trek to a majestic cave, and the property has bicycles you can borrow to ride to the Phong Nha river cave or through the Bong Lai valley. There are cooking classes where you learn to make Vietnamese dishes with the kitchen team, and the pool is a serious 40-metre stretch rather than a plunge pool. For downtime, there's a library, lawn games, and plenty of hammocks strung up with views over the water.

What makes this different from other yoga retreats is the location itself. The lake and the way the landscape changes between wet and dry seasons—water one month, grazing buffalo the next—is something you won't find at a studio retreat anywhere else. The food is another highlight: proper Vietnamese cooking with whatever is freshest from the garden, catering to vegan, gluten-free, and most other diets without any fuss. It's a small, personal operation where the hosts know your name by dinnertime on day one.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation in a private bungalow - 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Daily yoga classes (morning and afternoon) - Daily meditation classes - Nature hikes with a trusted guide to a majestic cave - Free excursions to sites of interest (e.g., river cave, Bong Lai valley) - Bicycle rental for exploring the countryside - Welcome drink - Water, tea, and coffee served throughout the day - Free pickup and drop-off from Phong Nha town (bus arrival) - Airport transfer from Dong Hoi Airport (one-way, on arrival) - available for free as a exclusive gift - Luggage storage - Parking - Wi-Fi connection - Pre and post retreat support from the team

What's not included

- Travel insurance - Visa fees - Flights costs - Additional airport transfers (return or from other locations) - €22 per person for return - Cooking classes (available at extra cost) - Personal expenses - Optional upgrades (extra nights, late start, etc.)