Chua Chan Mountain (Núi Chứa Chan)

837 m (2,746 ft)

To get to the summit it takes roughly 1.5 hours, and for the entire round trip to the summit and back down the mountain it takes about 2.5 hours (including short rests). The entire hike is about 7.5 km (4.6 miles).

This trail has two main sections: The paved stairs, and the dirt path. It is relatively flat for much of the hike and is suitable for beginners and those who are not very fit.

The concrete stairs take between 20 minutes and 40 minutes to climb depending on how fast you climb them. The stairs are covered, providing shade for this stretch of the hike.

At the top of the stairs and halfway to the summit you will find a pagoda and the top of the cable car. This a beautiful view from this spot.

Beyond the pagoda, the dirt path begins. It is not marked but it is clearly worn and easy to spot. Some sections do have paved steps from this point. There are trees, bamboo, and other vegetation on either side of the path.

From the Pagoda to the summit, it should take roughly 30 minutes. The trail gets steeper from this point. At the summit, there is grass and a magnificent view of the mountains and towns below.

This hike can be done at any time of the year, as the rainy season does not make a significant difference to the hike itself.

The weather in Dong Nai is hot and humid all year-round, with average high temperatures of 32˚C (90˚F) and average lows of 23˚C (73˚F).

The rainy season is between May and October and is usually overcast and humid. There are only about 12 rainy days per month on average in these months, and showers usually only last roughly 30 minutes to an hour. The dry season is between November and April and is usually muggy and cloudy. There are less than 2 days of rain per month on average in these months.

Good hiking boots will suffice for this hike. Long pants are recommended as there is a lot of vegetation that scratches your legs on the trail.

There are stalls at the base of the stairs and even going up the stairs for some of the trail, which sell drinks and small snacks. There are even some restaurants. Some of these have hammocks that you can use to rest.

Halfway up the trail, at the pagoda, there are restrooms and a rest area. There is also a small spot of AstroTurf where you can rest shortly after passing the cable car. After the pagoda, there are no more man-made facilities on the trail.

You don’t need a guide to complete this hike. The trail is clear, and it is not situated far out where you might get lost far away from help. There is one place where there is a fork in the trail, but as long as you follow the wider path, you will reach the summit.

Chua Chan Mountain is located in the Dong Nai Province 91km (56 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City. It takes 2.5 hours to get there from Ho Chi Minh City by car, and a bit longer by motorcycle.

You can take a bus from District 5 to get to Long Khanh District, and then from there take another bus to Chua Chan. The bus will, however, drop you on the side of the road, where you will have to walk another 2.4km (1.5 miles) to hire a motorcycle or taxi to the base of the mountain.

You could also hire a motorbike or car and drive from Ho Chi Minh City, which makes it easier to get to the base of the mountain. This takes roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes if you follow the CT01 road. The AH1 route takes much longer (generally 2 hours and 15 minutes) – depending on traffic.

The trail is not very crowded all the time, but there are usually locals around for most of the stairway section and a few tourists up at the pagoda (end of the cable car). There are fewer people around for the dirt path section of the trail. There are no environmental safety concerns.