Buzz
Have you ever experienced the exhilaration of camping and group sleeping atop a mountain, with tree roots beneath you the size of your fist, pebbles, and the ability to roll three times over in your sleep due to the uneven terrain? I'll never forget that feeling. On a night of breaking camp, our group lay scattered on the peak of Chua Chan mountain, Dong Nai. If you have no plans for the weekend, get ready for a cloud-chasing and camping expedition on the summit of Chua Chan with your close friends!
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF CHUA CHAN MOUNTAIN?
Chua Chan Mountain (also known as Gia Lao) is situated in Gia Ray town, Xuan Loc district, Dong Nai province. It's the second-highest peak in the Southeast region, standing at approximately 800 meters, following Ba Den mountain in Tay Ninh province.
To reach Chua Chan from Ho Chi Minh City, take a thrilling motorbike ride along QL1 towards Phan Thiet. When you reach the Ong Don intersection, inquire about the route to the foot of Chua Chan mountain. For those opting for a bus journey, catch a ride from Mien Dong Bus Station to Duc Linh, Ninh Thuan. Upon arrival, disembark at the entrance gate of Chua Chan Mountain. Some reviews suggest taking a motorbike taxi for an additional 3km to the mountain's base. However, fearing the possibility of getting lost amidst the journey and considering our sizable group, we prearranged with the motorbike taxi driver to take us directly to the mountain's foothills (remember to instruct the driver to follow the off-road path along the power lines!). Afterward, we expressed our gratitude by providing a little 'fuel money' to the driver. Thanks a bunch!
WHAT TO PREPARE WHEN ASCENDING CHUA CHAN MOUNTAIN?
In preparation for our seamless ascent of Chua Chan mountain, we gathered insights from various sources and meticulously prepared a plethora of items:
LET'S EMBARK ON THIS MOUNTAINOUS ADVENTURE!
We set out from Mien Dong Bus Station at 12:30 PM, reaching the assembly point at the base of Chua Chan mountain around 3 PM, gearing up for the conquest ahead! Note that there are two paths to ascend the mountain: one follows the electric poles, and the other starts from the direction of the Chua Chan mountain tourist area, below the entrance gate to Gia Lao Pagoda. Opting for the path along the electric poles and descending towards Gia Lao Pagoda, our group aimed to fully experience the scenic beauty of the area.
Known as the electric pole route, the trail follows a series of numbered electric poles. There are approximately 145 poles, and you simply follow the numbered sequence. Keep in mind, when you reach pole number 98, take a left turn! The path is quite steep, so maintain your breathing, keep a safe distance, and whenever fatigue sets in, pause with the group to rest and recharge for the journey ahead.
Counting those 145 electric poles takes about 3-4 hours, depending on the climber's physical condition.
Every time the number on the electric pole increases, the entire group lets out a sigh of relief, lightening the journey somewhat!
SETTING UP CAMP, A NIGHT OF SPARKLING LIGHTS AT THE SUMMIT
Around 6:30 PM, as the sky began to dim, we motivated each other to push towards the camping area and set up camp. With numerous other groups also trekking up the mountain, there's no need to worry about getting lost or feeling stranded on the summit of Chua Chan. The only concern is finding a nice spot for camping in the crowded space, hehe!
There are several camping areas at the summit, with 3-4 spots reachable from our camping site. Personally, I was delighted with our chosen spot as it allowed us to admire the dazzling city lights below the mountain's peak.
Another adventurous group even prepared twinkling lights for their tent, right next to our campsite. Imagine, after hours of strenuous mountain climbing, sitting on the summit gazing at these romantic tents illuminated by lights, while below, the city lights twinkle from various households. The night breeze was refreshing as we sat together, enjoying barbecue and chatting... indescribable sensations!
After a satisfying meal and some intense Werewolf game sessions, we divided ourselves into groups of five for each tent, regardless of gender. We lay side by side, some on tree roots, others on rocks or pebbles, and a few using backpacks to 'level' due to the sloping terrain.
5 adventurous souls cramped in a single tent
Interestingly, on this mountain, there's no distinction between day and night; people just keep climbing, with even more activity at night. Throughout the night, until around 4-5 AM, you'll constantly hear the sound of footsteps on the pebbles, laughter echoing in the air...
WELCOMING THE SUNRISE, CHASING CLOUDS AT THE PEAK OF CHUA CHAN
I have a particular fascination with capturing the first rays of the sunrise, so I eagerly woke up early for some photography. Afterward, everyone started bustling with personal hygiene routines, having a light morning meal, and packing up their belongings.
Leaving nothing but footprints and taking nothing but pictures
We continued a few more electric poles, and there we were, atop Chua Chan mountain. A vast expanse of grass awaited, allowing everyone to freely capture moments and chase clouds. At the mountain's summit, the wind danced around, yet the sun shone even more brilliantly. Surprisingly, no one complained of fatigue; everyone cheerfully competed to climb and check-in at the peak marker of Chua Chan.
Today's sky is intensely blue and exceptionally beautiful
DESCENDING THE MOUNTAIN, BACK TO THE CITY WE GO!
If the uphill journey along the electric poles was steep with numerous large rocks, the descent towards Lao Bao Pagoda was more relaxed, though with an abundance of pebbles.
On the descent, numerous cashew trees lined the path, and with hunger gnawing at us, we resorted to a bit of 'highway robbery,' plucking a few fruits for a makeshift feast.
Along the route down to the pagoda, you'll find plenty of roadside eateries. Indulge in banh xeo or herbal jelly to satisfy your relentless hunger pangs!
While there's a cable car on the way down, our youthful spirit of 'we climbed the mountain, who descends by cable car' prevailed. We were determined to 'hike' down the mountain. The path from the pagoda to the mountain's base was no walk in the park; we descended countless steps, at times almost kneeling in exhaustion and still not reaching the entrance to the tourist area. On both sides of the road, countless eateries catered to pilgrims (as Gia Lao Pagoda is highly sacred, attracting many seeking blessings for love and family). It took us about 2 hours to descend the mountain. At the entrance of Chua Chan tourist area, grab a pickup truck to return to the Gia Lao intersection, and then catch a ride back to the city!
That wraps up our entire journey. The total cost for the entire trip, including food and transportation, was 3,937,000 VND. Roughly 400k per person, quite reasonable for a fulfilling adventure. Hope the experiences shared in this article about the Chua Chan mountain trek benefit the readers of Beautiesvietnam. Now, pack your backpack and go explore!
Author: Bao Yen Nguyen Tu
Keywords: Weekend getaway - Conquering Chua Chan mountain, camping, and cloud-chasing!
