Tiếng Việt
Do you have the chance to travel to Vung Tau but choose to hike a mountain instead of swimming in the sea? This crazy idea might just make your trip many times more fascinating. Let’s see what’s interesting about Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau and whether the journey to conquer it excites you!
Where is Dinh Mountain?
Dinh Mountain is located in Phu My town and partly in Ba Ria city. The mountain is situated about 2 km northwest of Ba Ria City. From National Highway 51, heading towards Ho Chi Minh City, turn right for about 2.5 km.
Dinh Mountain boasts a rather convenient location for your Vung Tau trips, as it’s only about 13km from the center of Ba Ria city and approximately 35km from the heart of Vung Tau city. If you’re a backpacking enthusiast, you’re probably aware that Vung Tau has incredibly scenic coastal roads, and especially, this place is less than 100km from the center of Saigon, making it a top choice for weekend getaways.
Things You Might Not Know About Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau
Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau was a famous revolutionary base of Chau Thanh district (now Phu My town) during the years of resistance wars. The name Dinh Mountain originated from a flight from Phu Yen to Ba Ria – Vung Tau by Captain Yen Thanh Hau.
This mountain was chosen by the soldiers as a place to set up military camps, witnessing countless heroic pages of history through fierce resistance wars to regain independence for this area as well as for the South of the Fatherland at that time.
Not only famous during wartime, but today Dinh Mountain also attracts visitors with the beauty of its natural landscape. With an altitude of about 500m, it is surrounded by lush and cool green forests, a complete contrast to the sun and wind of the famous coastal city. Dinh Mountain also stands out with attractive sightseeing spots, and you will have a wonderful trip conquering Dinh Mountain with a long-distance walking experience through beautiful nature.
The Experience of Hiking to Conquer the Summit of Dinh Mountain
Conquering Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau is an exciting experience for those who love mountaineering or long-distance walking, as it has many different routes to explore and experience. The path leading to the summit is impressive with a cool atmosphere because both sides of the road have many green trees and the cheerful chirping of birds.
Beginners may enjoy the 3-5km long route experience, while seasoned trekkers, hikers, or those with regular climbing experience and good physical fitness can challenge themselves with the 7-13km long trails.
The trails are not clearly marked. Although there are colorful markers including red, blue, yellow, and green routes, you can get lost because there are side paths everywhere. For first-timers, it’s advisable to go with a local or a friend who is familiar with these routes.
A preliminary assessment of the route to conquer the summit of Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau is as follows:
- Level of Challenge: Easy – Medium
- Altitude: The highest point on the summit of Dinh Mountain is 460 meters, overlooking Vung Tau.
- Completion Time: 3-4 hours round trip (for the longest 13km route)
- Useful Tips: You should follow the signs with red, white, green, or yellow stripes along the trail. The colors indicate the route you are on. Do not follow the red arrows attached to trees as they point in many different directions and can easily confuse you. You should carefully review and save a map of Dinh Mountain before starting your ascent to the summit.
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Check-in at Famous Spots on Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau
Conquering La Ban Peak on Dinh Mountain
La Ban Peak is actually just a large rock protruding from the top of the mountain, also the highest point of Dinh Mountain. In the distant past, this was where the American army built a helicopter landing pad. The path to get here is a bit difficult to find due to the dense vegetation, but reaching the top and feeling the peaceful atmosphere will make you forget all your fatigue.
Not only that, but it is also one of the impressive spots to view Vung Tau city from above and the Long Son peninsula area below. If you have time, try camping overnight here with friends to enjoy the feeling of nighttime in the forest. The experience of stargazing or hunting for unique sunset and sunrise views is also extremely interesting.
Tien Stream – Da Stream at Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau
Tien Stream – Da Stream are two streams flowing from the upper and lower reaches of Dinh Mountain. The scenery of the streams gurgling, in harmony with the fresh green nature, is very beautiful.
After trekking to conquer the summit of Dinh Mountain, surely the feeling of immersing yourself in the cool, clear stream will make you feel refreshed. Especially for those who love nature, the pristine scenery and the whispering sounds of this place will captivate you, making you not want to leave.
Hang Mai Pagoda
The pagoda was built in the 1930s, witnessing many ups and downs of wartime. Although damaged, it remains an important historical relic.
Currently, the pagoda has been renovated to be more spacious to welcome visitors. It is located near the summit of Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau, shaded by trees, cool, and peaceful. Therefore, this is a destination for the following backpacking trips and for taking beautiful check-in photos.
After visiting the pagoda, just walk a few hundred more meters to reach Hang Mai. This place was once the living, working, and hiding place of cadres and soldiers during the resistance war against the French and American colonists. With terrain like a valley, due to the devastation of many wars, only some ruins remain, but this is also a check-in spot that many people cannot miss when traveling to Vung Tau.
Phat Quang Pagoda
Phat Quang Pagoda is also a place visited by many tourists whenever they conquer Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau. When coming here, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in meaningful activities organized by the pagoda on major holidays such as Tet, Buddha’s Birthday, and Vu Lan (Ghost Festival).
The ancient and solemn pagoda is nestled deep in the valley, surrounded by mountains and forests, creating a quiet and fresh atmosphere.
Tay Phuong Pagoda
If you come to Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau and don’t visit Tay Phuong Pagoda, it’s quite a miss. This is the oldest pagoda on this mountain and a gathering place for many species of monkeys. You will experience the feeling of watching hundreds of monkeys jumping and climbing. You can also feed them, but be careful to keep your belongings and personal items secure, as they are very mischievous.
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When is the Best Time to Visit Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau?
Dinh Mountain is located quite close to the center of Saigon, making it very suitable for a weekend escape from the noisy and bustling city, or even at any time of the week you desire.
However, you should note that it’s advisable to avoid hiking Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau during the rainy season, as the paths at this time are wet and slippery, making it inconvenient to move up the mountain. Therefore, it’s best to choose days with dry, sunny weather, which are convenient for travel and offer better visibility.
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What to Bring When Conquering Dinh Mountain in Ba Ria – Vung Tau?
Here are the basic items you need to bring on your trip to conquer Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau:
- Backpack: For carrying equipment and important belongings.
- Water: Buy at the small shops near the parking lot or bring your own.
- Snacks: To eat during the journey.
- Hat: Some sections of the trail are sunny, so this will be very necessary.
- Sunscreen: Protect your skin from the sun.
- Sunglasses
- Raincoat or Umbrella: To avoid rainy days, or if you don’t mind, you can enjoy the feeling of hiking in the rain, which is also quite interesting.
- Swimsuit: If you plan to play at the waterfall.
- Cash
- Trash Bag: Keeping the environment clean throughout the journey is a travel etiquette you should have. Therefore, bring a trash bag to take all your trash back with you to show that you are a civilized person.
- Flashlight, Lighter, and Small Knife: These are essential survival items for your mountain climbing trips, no matter where you are going and how safe the place is considered.
If your group plans to camp overnight on Dinh Mountain in Vung Tau, you need to bring some necessary camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags, enough food and water for all members throughout the trip, and string lights to decorate the camping area and make it more sparkling.
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