Buzz
I first heard about Ham Lon Mountain 7-8 years ago when university students frequently camped here, spending a day immersed in nature on the outskirts of Hanoi. According to my cousin, Ham Lon was nothing special, just a place with a lake and a mountain for camping with friends, away from the city's hustle and bustle.
I must revisit Ham Lon several times.Where is Ham Lon Mountain located?
Ham Lon Mountain is located in Soc Son district, approximately 15km from Noi Bai International Airport (about 30 minutes by car). If you are in the city center of Hanoi, it will take about 40km (just over 1 hour by car) to reach Ham Lon Mountain. Being situated in the forest conservation area of Soc Son district, the scenery here is quite pristine, with a cool climate and fresh air, untouched by urban pollution.
The Aerial Beauty of Ham Lon Captured by Flycam
Ham Lon Mountain Viewed from Above
What was my first experience like at Ham Lon?
After completing a self-development course in just over a month, the organizers arranged an outdoor trip to mark the journey together for the participants and siblings, forging determination. On that morning, as we gathered near Nhat Tan Bridge to ride motorbikes to Ham Lon, it had been raining since early morning. I felt a bit hesitant about hiking in the rain, but team leader Lam motivated us all to be mentally prepared and unafraid of challenges. Lam leads the community group 'Training and Environment', he is a leader and a close brother, always supporting and close to every member of the team.
Hiking in the Rain: A Bold Adventure
The 'Fearless' Team Hiking in the Rain
Lam and two young friends in the group
Steep slopes and muddy roads due to the rain couldn't dampen the spirits of the 'warriors'
The Marvels of Ham Lon
The first marvel is the Trekking trail. From the starting point at Trang Thieu Camp (where the group gathers, parks vehicles, and refuels with grilled chicken protein after descending the mountain), a picturesque landscape with green-covered mountains adorned with pine and other forest trees, and Lake Bau (Ham Lon Lake) captivated the hearts of those preparing to conquer Ham Lon. Lake Ham Lon, with its perennially clear, flat water, serene as a mirror reflecting the mountain clouds, creates an elegant scene like a watercolor painting. This place is not only perfect for overnight camping but also offers various activities such as SUP paddling, kayaking, or relaxing fishing...
Lake Bau, also known as Ham Lon Lake
The team planted 'xoã' trees after descending the mountain
While Ham Lon lacks the sea of clouds and the diverse vegetation of Northwest Vietnam's majestic mountains, it boasts truly beautiful and romantic trekking trails. The beauty of the pine forest, the roadside blackberry bushes, and even the moss clinging to rotten tree trunks. Ham Lon also has steep sections of about 70-80 degrees, quite challenging, but when conquered, everyone feels an indescribable sense of exhilaration. Conquering all of Ham Lon's trails takes about 5 hours round trip, making it suitable for novice trekkers. On weekends, many professional mountain climbers come here to train their physical fitness, running as they climb, leaving amateur enthusiasts like me in awe.
The first rest stop will have two parallel trees, making it an extremely romantic check-in point
A quite challenging slope here
Lam, our magnificent team leader
The second marvel is the harmonious people forming teams together, each trip comprising both old and new members, ranging from about ten to 20-30 people. I've climbed Ham Lon 7 times, and each time I've met new, adorable, and energetic companions, all sharing the same purpose of self-improvement and community service (planting trees to green Ham Lon and picking up trash). My teammates include not only adults but also children from toddlers to teenagers. I've encountered young kids around 5-6 years old hiking with their parents several times. These progressive parents have given their children the opportunity to build resilience, conquer challenges, and triumph over themselves. I always admire families with such open and modern ideals.
A family from Hai Phong came to Hanoi to conquer Ham Lon
Three adorable children accompany me in the group
The third marvel is feeling useful by doing community activities like hiking and picking up trash at Ham Lon. Ham Lon is where I contribute my efforts, practice mindfulness by witnessing people littering plastic bottles and trash on the mountain, and then picking up that plastic waste with my team. Each trip, we also plant 20-30 trees, and on the next trip, we visit the trees planted from the previous trip. I'm very grateful to Lam for creating a community that helps young people build resilience and contribute to nature conservation, protecting the capital's roof. This initiative has spread a lot of positive energy to the youth in Hanoi and the surrounding northern provinces.
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Check-in at Hanoi Flagpole Hill – the capital's rooftop
My achievements after a trip
Too much trash collected
Young enthusiasts after completing a trekking tour
Some tips for hiking Ham Lon
Interesting places to explore around Ham Lon
Non Nuoc Pagoda dates back nearly 1000 years
View from KAFA cafe – Forest Side House
Mytour Golocal is a blogging program introducing beautiful destinations across Vietnam, under the framework of Mytour Go & Share program. This is a great opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualified article, you will receive 800,000 VND and the opportunity to become a Collaborator with Mytour. For detailed information about the program, visit: https://trv.lk/golocal
