Awakening the Dragon - Nui Rong Nghệ An Unveiled

A section of Nui Rong's base

Getting Around

Nui Rong spans across the Quynh Tien and Quynh Nghia communes, in Quynh Luu district, Nghe An. It holds a vital role in Lach Quen, the area where Mother Nature weaves her protective embrace around the entire inland village region.

The route to Nui Rong is quite straightforward. From Cau Giat town, just follow the DT537B road. Once you reach Manh Son parish, you are at the destination, ready to embark on the mountain ascent.

View of Lach Quen from the sea

'Riding the Dragon' awaits!

Nui Rong is quite easy to climb, and you can even drive up if you have a good vehicle and decent driving skills. In reality, it's not a tall mountain but rather a range of low hills resembling a Dragon safeguarding the locals from natural disasters. However, trekking is still recommended to fully explore the area and ensure safety.

Upon reaching Manh Son parish church, inquire about the trail to the mountain's peak, and the locals will promptly and warmly guide you. Park your vehicle at a local's house, and from there, a 30-minute trek will take you to the mountain's summit.

Trekking at Nui Rong

What does the 'Dragon's Back' hold?

What's remarkable about Rong is that each season brings a distinct ambiance: vibrant purple fields of buckwheat flowers, dreamy pine orchards, or enchanting stretches of reed grass, all creating a mesmerizing atmosphere with every autumn.

The Pine Hills

Right on the coastal fringe in the North Central region, a pine forest!? You heard it right. There are pine-covered hills here. Locals planted pine trees in the past to safeguard the mountain slopes, and they've been preserved till now.

Pine-covered Hill on Nui Rong

Along the entire mountain range, you'll encounter small clusters of pine-covered hills. In these areas, the relatively thin vegetation layer makes it convenient for photography and collecting dried pine cones for DIY decor enthusiasts. Undoubtedly, these pine-covered hills offer picturesque views of the sea, especially during the golden hours, creating a magical atmosphere.

Expansive Meadow for Camping

At the highest peak, a vast meadow awaits, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature. With a gentle slope and a flat surface covered in thick and even grass, the pine trees serve as windbreaks during the night. Ideal for overnight camping. Imagine waking up at dawn, unzipping your tent, with the sea in front and pines behind. It's truly a chill experience!

A section of the meadow on Nui Rong

On the mountain, you'll find plenty of dry wood to make your campfire experience as convenient as possible. However, be aware that this area has a fair share of mosquitoes, and they become more active as the sea breeze subsides. So, make sure to equip yourself with complete camping gear for the fullest experience.

Camping during the blooming season of plum blossoms

If you're camping overnight and enjoy 'hunting' for the Milky Way, choose the right time for your expedition. This location is also ideal for Milky Way enthusiasts. Unfortunately, I haven't captured the Milky Way here; I've only captured the 'Milky Clouds'!

A cozy spot at the summit of Nui Rong

Dreamy plum blossom season

You may have seen the romantic purple scenes of plum blossoms in 'Mắt Biếc,' admired plum blossoms on the hillsides in Dalat, or in another picturesque location. However, when it comes to Nui Rong during plum blossom season, you'll undoubtedly momentarily forget those other breathtaking landscapes.

Fields of plum blossoms

During plum blossom season, the summit of Nui Rong becomes a place where you can simply 'lift your camera and capture beautiful photos.' Here, there are fields of plum blossoms, offering every angle to chill with plums and pines on one side and the sea on the other. In my experience, capturing the most beautiful plum blossoms happens when the sun is shining brightly and the sky is clear, making it easy to accentuate the purple hues of the plum blossoms.

To admire plum blossoms, visit from mid-April to early May, depending on the weather each year. And don't forget to bring your flycam. You'll undoubtedly capture photos and footage worth adding to your collection.

Admire plum blossoms from sunrise to sunset

Picking plums – the local people's achievement

Vũng Tròn - The heart of the Dragon

Vũng Tròn (in local terms) – referring to the 'Dragon's head' area, is a coastal region situated at the foot of Dragon Mountain. It's a definite must-visit spot when you come to Dragon Mountain. Vũng Tròn is surrounded by two rocky promontories, resembling the 'Dragon's feet' stretching into the open sea. Sedimentary rock formations with curved layers, deep blue sea, pristine pebble beaches, and intertwining caves create an impressive natural canvas for anyone who comes here.

Due to its unique natural conditions, Vũng Tròn is not easy to access. Therefore, this area is less known and still retains its pristine features.

You have two ways to reach Vũng Tròn.

Trekking to Dragon Cave

With this approach, you can enter the cave at any time with good weather and admire the rock formations nearby. However, the downside is that you need experience using Google Maps with satellite data and 'accept' a bit of getting lost when going uphill to come down the mountain because there are many trails in this area, like a maze. And it's also challenging to explore the small caves throughout the area.

A part of Vũng Tròn when approached by trekking

A part of Vũng Tròn when approached by trekking

Rock formations at Vũng Tròn

To reach the entire cave system at the foot of the mountain by the seaside route, you can only go by a small boat (ferry), so you need to hire someone to take you. Even then, to fully explore this area, there are only a few days in certain months due to weather and safety factors. Additionally, you will always need an experienced boat driver and a companion for the most comprehensive exploration.

By taking a ferry, you can choose to depart from one of three locations, depending on your exploration needs, time, and schedule:

Sunrise over Quỳnh Nghĩa Beach

Quỳnh Nghĩa Beach

Phú Yên parish

Heading to Vũng Tròn by boat

Once you reach Vũng Tròn, you'll feel like entering a different world with stacked layers of rocks creating a spectacular scenery.

Early in the summer mornings, with calm winds and receding tides, the sea turns crystal clear. Enjoy the sensation of the gently lapping waves under your feet along with the beautiful and pure pebble stones.

Fishing at Vũng Tròn

At Vũng Tròn, there's a cluster of small caves that you can explore entirely. Be cautious of one cave infested with bats. In another cave, you can camp overnight without worrying about the tide, as the cave floor is high enough to keep you dry. Here, you can also access the bottom of the Dragon Cave, a cave with an open top. If you're trekking, you'd reach the top of the cave if you don't have specialized equipment as in part 1.

Early morning at Vũng Tròn

If camping overnight, try fishing or catching snails for a delightful experience. The snails here are small but plentiful, enough for a plate of boiled snails.

Snail catching

In my experience, the most convenient time to visit and explore Vũng Tròn is from the 13th to the 17th lunar days in the summer and autumn months. Why? During this period, the tide recedes early in the morning. If the tide hasn't receded, it's challenging to access the deeper parts of Vũng Tròn. In the morning, when the wind is calm, the sea is clear, and the waves are small, it's perfect for swimming. Moreover, going in the early morning allows you to witness the sunrise and have ample time for exploration. By noon, when the tide rises, it marks the end of the journey.

The variously shaped rock formations of Vũng Tròn

Dragon Cave

Some small caves at Vũng Tròn

Crystal-clear morning seawater

The boatman

On the way back, you can visit Buffalo Nose (or Tru Cape in the local language). It's the almost easiest destination at the foot of the Dragon and the second beautiful spot after Vũng Tròn.

Buffalo Nose

Buffalo Nose consists of two rocky points jutting out from the coastline, shaped like a buffalo's nose due to millions of years of erosion. There are also some small caves within Buffalo Nose. During low tide, you can explore the entire area on foot without worrying about wet feet. There's even a small beach right at Buffalo Nose for a relaxing swim.

Buffalo Nose seen from the sea

Buffalo Nose as the tide rises

For those passionate about astrophotography, Milky Way enthusiasts, and tide schedule followers, you can capture some stunning Milky Way shots at Buffalo Nose.

Path to Buffalo Nose as the tide recedes

From Buffalo Nose, you can overlook the 'Dog' formation.

What else do Dragon Mountain and Lach Quen offer?

In addition to the shared check-in points, there are a few more spots here that you can explore if you have the time.

'The Dog'

You heard it right. This is the name locals gave to a small island right at the entrance of Lach Quen. When viewed from the sea, the island resembles the shape of a dog lying guard at the entrance.

The path to 'The Dog' when the tide is low

'The Dog' is located on the other side of Lach Quen, opposite Mui Trau. To quickly reach the island from Dragon Mountain, the best option is to take a boat. Just ask the locals, and they will guide you to where you can rent a boat.

From 'The Dog,' you can see Mui Trau

'The Dog' is very close to the coastline, completely surrounded by seawater when the tide is high. However, when the tide recedes, it reveals a vast and flat sandy beach. You can walk to the island without getting your feet wet, even drive a vehicle out there. During low tide, locals engage in activities like collecting snails, harvesting oysters, catching clams, and fishing. Dare to experience it with the local people.

Capturing moments at The Dog

From 'The Dog,' you can move on to 'Bai Sin'

Charming small beach

Unlike most beaches with sand, this beach features a unique material called 'sin/sanh' (local dialect) – a substance formed through the geological process of rock - pebble - sin - sand. Locals traditionally used it as a construction material.

On the way to 'Bai Sin'

Unlike sand, sin doesn't stick to your body, feel free to play around without worrying about dirty clothes.

This beach is located right next to 'The Dog,' making it convenient to access. From 'The Dog,' heading towards the base of the mountain, you'll find a trail. Just follow that path, and you'll reach the beach.

With this beach, you can combine activities like swimming, fishing, and camping. The ideal time for fishing is during low tide, but be cautious when navigating the rocky areas for fishing.

Sin Beach

Hon Ong Ba

Hon Ong Ba, consisting of two rock pillars standing side by side, perhaps for hundreds of thousands of years. The locals named these two rocks to symbolize loyalty, enduring countless storms and tempests.

Hon Ong Ba when viewed from the sea and during the trekking journey

The uniqueness of Ong Ba lies in the fact that standing at different angles, you will discover various shapes of the two rock pillars, depending on your imagination. From this area, you can easily catch a glimpse of part of Vung Tron. The stones here are also very pure, so when you visit, find some pleasing stones to frame your photos.

Hon Ong Ba

Stones at Hon Ong Ba

And don't miss the sunrise here, best combined with camping activities. It's very convenient, and there are even available tents set up by locals for overnight fishing trips. You can join them for a unique experience.

A small note if you come to this area is, it's best not to visit on calm, hot mornings as it can be very dehydrating and sun-drenched.

Map of locations mentioned in the article

Located in a less touristy region, in a sea area with water not as clear as in the South Central provinces, but the Dragon Mountain still has its unique charm that captivates every visitor. To fully explore and experience the Dragon Mountain area, you need at least two days, so plan your time wisely for your journey. Wishing everyone an exciting exploration and beautiful moments at Dragon Mountain.

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