nui minh dam

Minh Dam Mountain Hiking Overview

Minh Dam Mountain is one of the top places vĩ đại visit in the Vung Tau area. While it’s not located in the main Vung Tau thành phố, it’s a nice getaway spot away from the visitors. Plus, it’s doable vĩ đại visit here as a day hike from Ho Chi Minh City. 

• Challenging level: Easy-Moderate
• Round Trip Distance: Various starting from 1.4-3.5 kilometers (.90-2.15+ miles)
• Summit height: 280 meters (918 feet)
• Time vĩ đại complete: 1-2 hours

How vĩ đại Get vĩ đại Nui Minh Dam

From Vung Tau vĩ đại Minh Dam Mountain

If you’re already in the Vung Tau area, then it’s easy vĩ đại get vĩ đại Minh Dam Mountain. Either rent a motorbike or hire a private driver or taxi. Just remember vĩ đại have the driver wait for you when you finish the hike as cell phone reception is spotty on the mountain.

If you need a place vĩ đại stay in Vung Tau, click here for options.

Have your driver take you directly vĩ đại the mountain top. In Google Maps, look for “Historic Area of Minh Dam” or “Khu di tích lịch sử lịch sử dân tộc Minh Đạm.” Click here vĩ đại see the directions on a map. It’ll take about 30-35 minutes by siêu xe vĩ đại get here from central Vung Tau. 

There is a parking lot and you can visit different trails from here.  

From Ho Chi Minh City vĩ đại Minh Dam Mountain

Hire a driver or ride a motorbike vĩ đại get vĩ đại Minh Dam Mountain. From Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Thanh Market vĩ đại “Historic Area of Minh Dam” or “Khu di tích lịch sử lịch sử dân tộc Minh Đạm,” it’s 98 kilometers (61 miles) and will take 2 hours 15 minutes or longer depending on traffic. 

Take the CT01 Highway leaving Ho Chi Minh City and connect vĩ đại QL51 Highway heading vĩ đại Vung Tau. When you get closer vĩ đại Vung Tau, take the DT44A road which goes along the coastline and then you’ll enter the Minh Dam entrance and drive up the mountain vĩ đại the parking lot. Click here vĩ đại see the directions on Google Maps.

Read More: Best Way vĩ đại Travel in Vietnam

When To Do the Minh Dam Hike

Minh Dam can be hiked at any time of the day. It’s not crowded and the trail has plenty of shade. There is a pagoda in the Historical Relic area and it’s open from 7:00am vĩ đại 6:00pm daily. 

Since the trail is in South Vietnam, the weather is consistent all year round. Expect the average temperature of 27-30℃ (81-86℉). 

During the rainy season (May-October), it’s not recommended vĩ đại bởi the hike since it can be slippery. Yet, it doesn’t rain all day long during this season. You’ll need vĩ đại monitor the rain since it can happen at random times of the day. 

What vĩ đại Wear for the Minh Dam Mountain Hike

• Technical t-shirt – Wear moisture-wicking shirts vĩ đại absorb the sweat.
• Comfortable hiking pants or shorts – Wear anything comfortable for you vĩ đại move in. 
• Walking or running shoes – You bởi not need hiking boots here ví wear any shoes that have traction. Any type of walking or running shoe would work great here.

What vĩ đại Bring for the Nui Minh Dam

• Backpack, Running Vest, or Fanny Pack- The hiking isn’t long but we suggest that you wear a backpack, a running vest, or fanny pack vĩ đại hold your essential items. We suggest a small backpack such as these: men / women Osprey. 
• A bottle of water – Bring a bottle of water with you or you can buy drinks at a kiosk in the parking lot area. We recommend that you use this reusable water bottle vĩ đại reduce plastic waste.
• Cash  
• Trash bag – Keep the mountain clean! There is trash on the mountain which is a shame. 

Admission Cost vĩ đại Minh Dam

It’s miễn phí vĩ đại access this area. Yay!

What vĩ đại Know About the Nui Minh Dam Hike

The best place vĩ đại start the Minh Dam Hike is from the top of the mountain at the Historic Area of Minh Dam (Khu di tích lịch sử lịch sử dân tộc Minh Đạm) and the parking lot. 

We know. You’re probably thinking that we’re hiking and we should cover as much distance as possible! 

While you could start at the bottom of the mountain and make your way up vĩ đại the parking lot, the roads are currently in construction. Once you reach the parking lot, there are a couple of trails that lead vĩ đại pagodas and other exciting attractions vĩ đại visit. Therefore, you’ll be on your way hiking from there!

There isn’t any specific hiking route ví we’ll share some places vĩ đại visit on Nui Minh Dam.

1. Visit Bach Van Dong Temple. 

From the parking lot, there is a hiking route that goes vĩ đại two places of worship, Bạch Vân Động and Bạch Vân Điện. We visited Bạch Vân Động and it’s about 1 kilometer (.60 miles) from the parking lot. The hiking path is made of a stone path ví it’s really easy vĩ đại walk on. 

Once you reach the temple, you’re rewarded with some awesome views of the ocean and a few hotels and buildings along the coastline. There are a couple of levels vĩ đại view this coastline. 

You can also bởi some praying while you’re in the area. 

2. Visit Bong Lai Pagoda/Bong Lai Mountain. 

From Bạch Vân Động, continue climbing up the mountain until you reach a small cave with a narrow vertical opening. Here is what we gọi the “Bat Cave” as you’ll see a few bats flying around in the dark areas of the cave. It’s not dark and scary as light penetrates from the cave openings. 

If you continue through the cave, you’ll reach a forest area that leads vĩ đại the Bong Lai Buddhist Temple (Bồng Lai) and Bong Lai Mountain. 

This hiking path goes through the forest area ví you’ll walk on the dirt path. Just be careful with the raised tree roots from the ground and the twisty branches above your head. You’ll encounter some paths going down the hill but nothing too difficult. Luckily, the hiking path is shaded ví your hike will be cooler. 

To find the Bong Lai temple, follow the arrows and signs. It’s not difficult vĩ đại find. Once you reach the temple, kiểm tra out Bong Lai Mountain which is the highest point in the temple area. 

It’s only a few steps away from the temple. You’ll need vĩ đại take off your shoes before walking into the praying area. Then, you can peer over the rails vĩ đại see the oceanside views. 

Unfortunately, the view isn’t as clear compared vĩ đại Bạch Vân Động due vĩ đại the trees, yet it is a higher view. 

3. Check out the Split Stone / Flagpole. 

Whenever you see photos of Minh Dam Mountain, this spot of Split Stone (Hòn Đá Chẻ) with the flagpoles is often shown. There are two flagpoles with the Vietnam flags and the views overlook the Long Hai Beach area. (Unfortunately, the flags are tattered from the winds and hopefully get replaced soon!)

To get vĩ đại this popular spot, you’ll go through the Historic Relic area and take the stone stairways up the mountain. It’s not technical but the stairs can be slippery with dry leaves on the ground. When you see this sign, continue straight vĩ đại go up the mountain until you reach Hòn Đá Chẻ. 

The round-trip distance is 1.5 kilometers (.90 miles) and can take 30-45 minutes vĩ đại complete.

Once you see the flagpoles, you’ve arrived!

This view is ví gorgeous! We prefer this aerial landscape view versus at Bạch Vân Động as you see the beach resorts along the coastline, fishing boats in the ocean, and green plots of farmlands. We can’t forget seeing the green forest area that we hiked through!

You can also climb up the huge boulders vĩ đại see a higher view of the area. Be careful on your way down the rocks since there aren’t any ropes or tree branches vĩ đại hold onto. 

4. Explore the Minh Dam Historic Area. 

Next vĩ đại the parking lot is the Minh Dam Historical Area. There is a beautiful pagoda and a paved walking route that passes by more caves and historical sites. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance vĩ đại go through the walking path due vĩ đại our limited time. 

5. Say Hello vĩ đại the Monkeys. 

During our visit, we saw families of monkeys around the parking lot. Many minded their own business while others started trouble. Most of them hung out in the area looking for food left behind by visitors (one monkey drank water from a water bottle). It was adorable vĩ đại see a handful of baby monkeys clinging vĩ đại their mothers for tư vấn. 

As with any wildlife, bởi not feed the monkeys or get too close vĩ đại them. Monkeys in Vietnam are notorious for stealing food and bright, shiny things from visitors. (We had a hat and water bottle stolen when we visited Can Gio Monkey Island near Ho Chi Minh City.) 

Final Thoughts

Hiking Minh Dam Mountain is a fun, easy way vĩ đại get some exercise and enjoy a nature walk when visiting the Vung Tau area.

It’s a good alternative for travelers or those living long-term in South Vietnam who prefer vĩ đại spend their time outdoors versus on the beach. 

We hope you consider adding this place when you visit Vietnam.

If you have any questions about this hike, let us know in the comments below. 

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Want vĩ đại experience more hikes in South Vietnam? Check out our hiking posts:

• Ba Den Mountain (Black Virgin Mountain)
• Ta Cu Mountain 
• Chua Chan Mountain
• Cam Mountain

Jackie

I'm Jackie - world explorer, hiker, and wanderer. I love planning things whether it is a trip or an upcoming sự kiện, exploring nature, hiking up mountains, and seeing new places. I'm notorious for getting lost, ví you may see bu circling a place a few times.