Dec 26 min read

Chua Chan 837m, 2nd highest mountain in South Vietnam is a pleasant getaway from the bustling Saigon

Updated: Dec 17

Chuan Chan Mountain, located in Dong Nai province near Gia Ray town, is a picturesque escape just 80 km from bustling Saigon. The town is connected to Saigon via the CT01 highway, which crosses the Dong Nai River and passing lush greenery, rubber tree plantations and vast paddy fields, all with smooth and hassle-free traffic. Approaching the town, we were greeted by the sight of a massive peak rising dramatically above the fields. Its lower half was enveloped in thick clouds, leaving only the striking three-pointed summit visible against the sky. #chuachan

We stopped for breakfast before heading to the foothills. During the short drive through town, I caught glimpses of numerous Catholic churches, houses, and shops adorned with nativity displays, all in preparation for the upcoming festival next week. It was clear that Christianity has a stronger presence here compared to Saigon.

It is hard to imagine but this mountain and the surrounding area was a battleground during the WAR in 1975. Parts of the summit of Chua Chan was blasted away and was used as a communication base by the US Army.

There are three routes to reach the summit of this hill. The first and most obvious option is via the pagoda stairs. The second follows the path alongside the electric poles, and the third involves taking the cable car halfway up and continuing the rest of the way on foot.#chuachanmountain

hikes in saigon — There wasn't vantage views at the summit, but all along the way, there was sweeping views of the town and the sea

Starting point: stair to pagoda

Hike Duration: appx. 4 hours

Total distance: 7km, we took the cable car on the descent, otherwise total distance will be appx 9.5km.

The single journey cost 100,000dong ($3.5)

Hike Difficulty: 3/5, moderately easy, total Total EG was around 650m

Toilet facilities: Yes

Main check points

PART 1

start stairs
banyan tree with 3 trunks
temple pagoda

PART 2

mid-way cable car station
pine forest
bamboo thickets
ridge

What to bring

1. Hiking stick, optional

2. At least 1 liter of water

3. Good pair of hiking shoes

4. Cap (the ridge is unshaded and many unshaded parts throughout the hike)

The trail does not start from the cable car car park but you need to walk back out to the main street and climb the stairs through the village.

Part 1

A small payment (15,000Dong) to enter the mountain. If you arrive by car, there is a parking space towards the cable car station. The trailhead for the pagoda route is through the village, stairs, opposite direction from the cable car station.

The climb to Buu Quang Pagoda consists approximately 400 steps. Along the stairway, numerous food, souvenir, drink stalls, and shrines provide plenty of distractions to ease your exhaustion. The pagoda is a popular destination for Buddhist devotees, especially on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month.

One highlight of the journey is a mystical three-trunk banyan tree, which draws many visitors.

The entire ascent takes around 20–30 minutes without breaks. However, as a curious traveler, pausing to observe the daily activities of the highland villagers makes the experience truly enriching.

Many food stalls still use firewood collected locally for cooking, and water, sourced from natural springs flowing from the mountains.

A 9 year old boy was part of our hike group, and he did absolutely well climbing the stairs while taking short breaks at the benches.

After passing the banyan tree, you’ll encounter a Y-fork. Take the right path, and soon you’ll see the temple arch come into view. The stairway becomes noticeably steeper as you near the temple.

As you ascend, take a moment to look back and admire the stunning scenery.

Follow the stairs that wind around the temple and continue toward the cable car station. The steepness gradually eases, transitioning into wider, more manageable steps as you approach the station.

PART 2

The dirt path begins just after you make your way around the garden area at the cable car station. Simply follow the trail and take the first right into the wooded area. This winding section is lined with vibrant red-leafed trees, eventually leading to an open clearing that serves as the paragliding launchpad.

On a weekday, the area is deserted, with only the soft whisper of the breeze and the swaying of silvery grasses filling the clearing. The view from the launchpad is breathtaking and well worth a brief pause to take it all in.

Walk around the garden and make first right turn to head to the launchpad

The trail continues toward the other side of the hill, weaving through groves of young pine trees. This section of the path gently follows the hill’s contours, offering a serene inside view of the mountain. The terrain here is relatively flat, making for an easy and pleasant walk.

As the trail progresses, it reenters a wooded area with dense bamboo thickets, their vibrant greenery accompanied by the loud, rhythmic chirping of crickets echoing through the forest. From here, the trail begins a steeper ascent, eventually leading into what appears to be an Acacia forest.

These trees were planted as part of efforts to rehabilitate lands severely damaged by bombings and the toxin Agent Orange during the War. Local forestry programs have cultivated them, particularly in South and Central Vietnam, to restore the environment. In addition, a forest fire in 2017 affected the peak of Chua Chan, and the size of the trees suggests they were planted relatively recently. These Acacia trees are typically harvested after a 4-5 year cycle.

There are no signs or markers along the way, but the path is clear and easy to follow.

saigon hikes — If you are unsure you took the right path, this sign is affirmation you are heading the right direction!

This clearing has stunning vista views, it seems like a launch pad for paragliding

As we neared the edge of the forest, the trail led us to the ridge. The canopy faded, leaving large-leaved plants flanking both sides of the path. After about 30 meters, the trail forks—take the right, and it will lead you to the summit. At the top, a pyramid marker marks the 837m Chua Chan peak, perched atop a massive boulder, with the five-spoked star flag billowing in the wind. Reaching this point is a moment of accomplishment, having finally arrived at the second-highest peak in South Vietnam.

The left trail would lead to the transmission tower towards the power cable trail. As we were not doing a Trans hike, we backtracked to the cablecar station.

RETURN

The return journey always seems shorter than the ascent. As you near the halfway point of the hill, you’ll encounter a fork. Take the left path at the fork; if you miss it, you’ll pass through the banana plantation, but make sure to turn left when you see the blue cable car sign. The path through the banana plantation is paved but unshaded. Along the way, you’ll come across some interesting boulder formations on the left. The trail eventually merges near the launchpad area.

We were relieved to make it back without getting lost on the relatively unmarked trail. The path was quiet on the weekday, and the only hikers we encountered was a group of students leaving the peak just as we arrived.

The cable car ride was rewarding as we could have an aerial view of the route and different parts of the mountain

We decided to take the cable car ride to the base. It was not more than a 15 minutes ride. The aerial view from the gondola was unobstructed and truly rewarding. I can't wait to go back again to hike up from the power cable trail.