It's not every day you trade in scrubs and surgical suites for mountains and trout ponds, but that's exactly what we did.
My name is Dr. Duc Vuong. After decades working as a bariatric surgeon and building a life and career in Houston and Albuquerque — cities I still love — we made a decision that changed everything. We left behind the buzz and busyness of one of America's biggest cities and chose to build a different kind of life: one rooted in nature, family, and intention. That choice gave birth to Vida Bonita Pecos.
The operating room — where precision, calm under pressure, and attention to detail became second nature.
The Pull of Family and the Mountains
My partner Erica grew up in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Her family is here. And as much as Houston gave us opportunity, there was a growing ache for connection — real, face-to-face, in-the-backyard-with-grandma kind of connection. We wanted our daughters, Maysen and Milani, to grow up knowing their roots. We wanted Maysen to spend more time with her cousins, aunts, and grandparents. And we wanted Milani to wake up to birdsong and the scent of pine, not just concrete and car exhaust.
The Pecos Wilderness felt like the perfect middle ground — a place full of wild beauty and small-town charm. When we discovered the property that would become Vida Bonita Pecos, we knew we had found something special. Tucked between mountains, nestled by trout ponds, and kissed by the cool currents of the Pecos River, it offered a peace we hadn't felt in years.
Christmas in the Ponderosa Main Lodge — the same cabin our guests now call home for their own family moments.
From the Operating Room to the Outdoors
People often ask me if it was hard to go from being a surgeon to managing a BNB in the middle of the forest. The truth is, it wasn't so much a departure as a redirection. The same skills I used in surgery — attention to detail, high standards, and the ability to stay calm under pressure — are the same ones I bring to managing this property.
"When I remodel a cabin, I don't just slap on new paint. I think about how the sun rises through the window, where guests might set their coffee cup, and how the space will feel at night when they're curled up by the fire."
Every light switch, doorknob, and towel rack placement is intentional. Every deck is leveled with care. Because when you've held someone's life in your hands, you understand how the little things matter.
Built for Families, Built with Heart
This isn't just a rental property — it's our home. We live here. We raise our daughters here. And we welcome you as we would welcome our closest friends. Whether you're staying in the Crestview Cabin, the Ponderosa Main Lodge, or the Retro Camper tucked between blue spruce trees, you're staying in something we poured our hearts into.
Our vision for Vida Bonita Pecos isn't luxury for luxury's sake. It's about meaningful experiences. It's about giving families a place to reconnect away from screens and schedules. It's for the parent who wants their child to experience fishing for the first time. It's for the grandparent who wants to hear laughter around a fire pit. It's for the couple who just needs to breathe again.
Milani discovering the Pecos River — the moment that made every difficult decision feel right.
What "Vida Bonita" Means to Us
Vida Bonita is Spanish for "beautiful life." Not a perfect life. Not an easy life. A beautiful one — full of presence, purpose, and the kind of moments you don't forget. We named this place not as a marketing phrase, but as a reminder of why we made this leap. And we hope every guest who walks through the gate feels that same invitation: to slow down, look around, and find their own version of la vida bonita.
A New Chapter — One We Hope You'll Be Part Of
Running Vida Bonita Pecos isn't always easy. There are downed trees, weather to contend with, and projects that never end. But the rewards are deep. We watch kids run barefoot through the meadow. We hear the silence of a snow-covered morning. We see people arrive stressed and leave changed.
This is our new life. It's quieter, but richer. More physical, but more grounded. It's not about what we gave up — it's about what we gained.
So if you find yourself yearning for something different — for a place where the air is crisp, the nights are full of stars, and every detail has been considered with care — we invite you to visit. Come experience what we've built.
Welcome to Vida Bonita Pecos. Stay Wild. Live Beautifully.
Come Experience La Vida Bonita
Six cabins on the Pecos River, deep in the Santa Fe National Forest. Open year-round.
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