The first four days of my paragliding course Vietnam were all about one thing: learning to control the wing. No flying yet, just hard training. Every day we met in an open dusty plot of land on the edge of Ho Chi Minh City and practiced under the burning sun.
The instructors showed us how to launch the wing, both forward and reverse. When they did it, the glider rose like a feather—when we tried, it was a clumsy sprint across the field, trying to stop the wing from collapsing or spinning out of control. I was dripping with sweat within minutes. Dust clung to the sweat and by midday all students were skin tones darkened. But the reward of cold sugarcane juice and a good Vietnamese lunch in the shade kept us going.
I thought I had a head start, having just finished a kitesurfing course. But I quickly learned that controlling a glider is a whole different beast. Small inputs have big effects, and when facing the glider during a reverse launch, left and right are suddenly reversed. That confused my brain completely. I knew what I was supposed to do but still I pulled the wrong side again and again.
It was frustrating. Every day I felt like I was starting over from scratch. I’d finally get the hang of it by the afternoon, but the next morning it felt like my brain had wiped the slate clean. The first three days I got frustrated with myself. On the fourth day, I was able to let go of the frustration. I had more fun that day, felt lighter, more positive—and suddenly I was making more progress.
These first few days were not paragliding itself, but they laid the foundation: learning the theory, reading the wind, controlling and trusting the wing. I now understand how much mental discipline and patience it takes to learn this aerial sport. This was more than just a paragliding course Vietnam. It was a lesson in enjoying the learning curve, even when the beginning is steep. Dreamstarter Adventure Travels has great appreciation the guidance and unlimited patience of the Skyfriends instructors!
