Chua Chan Mountain Hiking Overview

Because of its mixture of a paved staircase and a dirt route, the Chua Chan Mountain hiking trail is a decent beginner trail. The dirt path isn’t signed, so you’ll have to depend on the worn-down grass areas.

• Challenging level: The trail is easy-moderate since the first half is shaded and has concrete stairs that lead to a pagoda. The trail would be no challenge if you are physically involved.
• Distance: 7.5 kilometers (4.6 miles) for an out-and-back trip (according to the GPS watch)
• Summit height: 837 meters high (2,746 feet)
• Time to complete: 2.5 hours to complete the round trip hike with breaks
• Helpful tips: There is a cable car that runs from the bottom of the mountain to halfway up the mountain. You should use this option if your legs are tired. A price is charged for the cable car journey. Two of our community members carried their puppies, so they are welcome on the trail.

How to Get to Chua Chan Mountain From Ho Chi Minh City

By Car or Motorbike

Chua Chan Mountain is about 91 kilometers (56 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1. If you’re driving, you’ll need to leave more than 2.5 hours to get to the starting point. It would take longer if you ride a motorcycle. We had a big group of 15 women, so hiring a driver and a truck for the day was simpler.

If you plan to travel there on your own, enter “Khu Du Lch Cáp Treo Ni Cha Chan, Xuân Trng, Xuân Lc, ng Nai, Vietnam” as your destination in Google Maps. The address directs you to the cable car entrance, but you are not required to use it.

By Bus

You can travel to Chua Chan by bus, but it will take some time. Arielle, the hike’s coordinator, shared the following detail about how to get to Chua Chan by bus, which she had personally experienced:

From District 5, take the bus to Long Khanh bus station. You will make a reservation here. While in Long Khanh, take the local bus to Chua Chan, which will drop you off on the route. You can either cycle 1.5 miles up to the base or hire a motorbike taxi. The bus back to Ho Chi Minh City leaves every 30 minutes and runs until 6:00 p.m.

When To Do the Chua Chan Mountain Hike

South Vietnam has one of the best climates in the world, with daily highs of 32°C (90°F). As a result, you can visit this mountain at any time of year!

If you’re worried about the rainy season (May-October), don’t be. The storm will not last the whole day. Maybe 30 minutes to an hour. And if it rains, it will make your hike more enjoyable.

More: Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City During the Rainy Season
As for the pacing of the climb, plan to get out there as early as possible. Start at 8:00 a.m. or earlier so that it is not too hot when you arrive at the top. We began at 10:30 a.m. and were a sticky mess!

What to Wear For Your Chua Chan Mountain Hike

• Technical t-shirt – You’ll need a technical shirt to absorb your sweat. Do not wear cotton shirts.
• Comfortable hiking pants – I wore hiking pants but you can wear tights or anything comfortable.
• Hiking boots or shoes with traction
• Sunscreen – You’ll need sunscreen once you start the trail part.

What to Bring For your Chua Chan Mountain Hike

• Snacks 
• Hat – Half of the trail gets sunny so it’s recommended to have coverage with this hat.
• Sunglasses – It’s always good to have eye protection with these sunglasses.
• Light jacket or windbreaker –If you want to remain at the summit for an extended period of time, bring a light jacket. I used the Patagonia Houdini, which was adequate for the wind.
• Rain gear or umbrella – There is a risk of rain depending on the day you visit. On the way down from the top, we experienced thunder. Purchase this compact umbrella and/or rain jacket (women) or rain jacket (men) for your next outing..
• Insect repellent – The mosquitoes loved my arms so it’s recommended that you wear repellent. I also love using Tiger Balm as a repellent.
• Cash – You can purchase snacks and drinks along your way up to the summit. Many stalls sell fried banana chips.
  

  Admission Cost to Chua Chan Mountain

  There is a small fee to enter Chua Chan. The cost is the following:

  Adults 14,000 VND ($.60 USD) and Children (ages 6-15) 6,000 VND ($.26 USD) via cash at the main entrance.