VTH3 TRAILS - ARCHIVES
Correct at 1 June 2012 (but trails can change because of urban sprawl, etc so it's always best to check...).
This list contains only those trails marked and followed from "VTH3 Re-Hash run #1" (VTH3 run #482) for the first 11 months of record-keeping. It will hopefully be added to in due course, but is provided here as an archive and to help anyone get a head-start on trails if all the Hares should ever suddenly take the same day off!
VTH3 run #482 (Re-Hash #1), 9 July 2011. Jesus Hill.
Offshore Bar across park to Le Loi, Quang Trung, left after Bay Café & Maritime Admin bldg on corner onto Truong Cong Dinh, then right onto Phan Boi Chau (sidewalk fish markets). Follow road around onto Phan Chu Trinh, past Watering Hole, bia hoi 43, Binh An residence, etc until 200m from beach then turn right at Hem 220 (Hotel Duc Anh). Follow road/trail up to Jesus statue. Down tourist steps on other side for Down Down across road on Ha Long (need taxi to deliver the drinks). Good spot but can get busy on weekends.
483 (Re-Hash #2), 16 July 2011. Big Mountain easy way.
Left out of Offshore Bar on Truong Vinh Ky to SOS clinic, right on Le Ngoc Han. After approx 400m, take sharp (180 deg) left up Hem 105 (*major roadworks in April 2012, so check first). Ahead, then left and right, up steps to main road then follow road up hill to top. Descend in reverse for Down Down near Offshore 1 (note new fencing around the entire block across Hoang Dieu as at April 2012).
484 (Re-Hash #3), 30 July 2011. Big Mountain easy way.
Same as 483.
485 (Re-Hash #4), 13 August 2011. Big Mountain via 600+ steps.
Offshore Bar to Tran Phu, turn right then 3-4 kilometres past Cable Car, Nathalie's Thai restaurant and lighthouse to pagoda Hung Thang Tu, 112 Tran Phu (Hem 108), just before Virgin Mary statues and immediately after Valley Mountain Hotel on the right. Enter pagoda and walk up to steps, then up steps.
Left at top of 600+ steps then continue past the small shrine in a westerly direction along the ridge on a dirt trail, and then
down more steps and passing gun battery at former French fortress leading out to Hem 444.
Track down to main road (Tran Phu) goes to pagoda Quan-Am Tinh-Vien at 360 Tran Phu (Sao Mai village, 600 metres before Hem 444). Couple of Bia Hoi's just to the right on Tran Phu if thirsty. Taxi back to Offshore 1 vicinity for Down Down (see 495).
486 (Re-Hash #5), 27 August 2011. Lighthouse Hill to cul-de-sac.
Up Hai Dong off Ha Long just before Pie Shop (Bayview Café) and Lucy's, ahead 50-100m then 180 deg U-turn to left past Arms Museum and follow bitumen then dirt through small village (many pigs, chickens, etc) and on up hill. Take right fork near the top to dead-end with concrete bunkers elevated on left. Drinks delivered by taxi truck. Good view but some locals on weekends. Reverse descent same road.
487, 3 September 2011 (changed to weekly runs). Nui Dinh Angel Stream.
Approx 5.5 km past Ba Ria roundabout on H'way 51A to Saigon turn right at coffee shop - a good check is new road on left of highway, ie crossroads with gap in centre barriers and enter/don't enter signs in middle of road. Drive through small village then past big new school less than 1 km up road on left, opposite big cemetery. Continue up hill about 3-4 km then park in big car park halfway up on left (past swimming pool café on the right of a sharp bend).
Down steps by pulley for rock bins by pagoda. Bear right at bottom, across stream/rocks then up steep hill other side, bear right and follow along (heading uphill) then across bridge and Angel Stream and up rocks/steps to coffee shop on main road, then down main road 2 km to swimming pool cafe for Down Down (see 493).
488, 10 September 2011. Fishing village/beach. Dismount at dirt road that runs straight from main road to beach via small fishing port then sand dunes 4.3 km north of Sea View apts and Chi Linh resort (and 3 km north of Long Cung and Blue
Sapphire resorts). The entry point is almost directly opposite the last large antenna in the antenna farm across the highway.
Go straight down the fairly wide dirt track towards the ocean but turn right just before sand dunes (near fishing boats), right then left over small bridge, follow track until you reach a few houses, continue until you reach a very wide under-construction red dirt road then cross it and follow the power lines into and through residential area. Right then left at house on corner to
head for fishing village. Through village and bear left onto beach.
Few hundred metres along beach then go right through log-marked gap in sand dunes and follow track generally about 45 deg to your left until you reach the main road (you can see the Sea View apts and hear the traffic as you get closer, so not difficult). Turn left on footpath for couple of hundred metres then go back in towards beach when you see the path with a big log in front, and head around to the new houses being built next to Long Cung resort. Through open wall into partly-built houses, go left then head to right and left again for Long Cung resort steps onto beach for Down Down (but now built-out - see 514). Good, but some tourists on weekends.
489, 17 September 2011. Jesus Hill (see 482).
490, 24 September 2011. "Pedometer's trail" on Big Mountain.
Similar to 485 (total length 8 km).
491, 1 October 2011. Big Mountain easy way (see 483, 484).
492, 9 October 2011 (changed to Sunday runs). Big Mountain easy way (see 483, 484, 491).
493, 16 October 2011. Nui Dinh "twin pipes".
See 487 for directions to Nui Dinh. Park bus at swimming pool café halfway up hill on right just after tight bend. Climb up through garden and follow twin water pipes upwards (1-2 km) until they separate, then continue following "easier" righthand pipe up final climb until it crosses wide track running left-right, then turn left about 0.5 km to main road by bridge over Angel Stream. Left down hill 2 km to swimming pool café for Down Down. Always check with the owner beforehand if you plan to use the swimming pool café and/or its trails because someone lives there full-time.
494, 23 October 2011. Go Gang bridge.
Turn left onto Go Gang bridge (now part of short-cut to Long Son island) after Metro turn-off but well before Ba Ria. The bridge can be plainly seen from the road and is also signposted at the turn-off: "Go Gang" with arrow pointing left.
Start trail over first bridge to view fishing villages and oyster farms left and right. Over bridge about 200 metres turn right at small derelict house. Go ahead several hundred metres until oyster farms. Follow trail forward and left around oyster farms, past very close to at least one house (owner OK but ask first). Eventually leave oyster farms to reach newly-constructed road, turn right for few hundred metres then left to cross new road opposite green and grey house (1.4 km in a straight line west of where you turned right at small derelict house).
Through more oyster farms for several hundred metres then bear left into residential area (heading back towards first bridge).
Follow dirt track until reach school then left and almost immediately right to continue through residential (now running parallel to newly-constructed road heading back towards bridge). Anyone missing the right turn after left at school will go directly out
to newly-constructed road, hence short-cutting trail!
Almost reach river then left towards newly-constructed road, emerging just behind first café on left as you come over the first bridge from main VT-Ba Ria highway. Into café for Down Down, or can go just outside perimeter fence to wide space between café and bridge.
495, 30 October 2011. Big Mountain via 600+ steps (see 485).
Walk or taxi all way back to SOS Clinic turn-off (Le Ngoc Han, just before BBC and Royal Hotel) for Down Down on corner with Tran Phu.
496, 6 November 2011. Long Hai Mts (Minh Dam Base).
Turn right at roundabout for Metro turn-off on road to Ba Ria. Go through Long Hai town then left, right, left, left at roundabouts basically following road around bottom of mountains with ocean on right. Continue about 7 km past end of town and resorts to Minh Dam Base turn-off on left.
Dismount from bus before car park for long walk up hill on sealed road (because actual trail up mountain not very long).
Short-cutters stay on bus until car park. Through car park (pagoda and museum on right), then up right-hand trail of two trails out of car park. Continue to top of trail where friendly nuns live in small houses. Good views from boulders at top on right. Descend in reverse for Down Down in car park.
497, 13 November 2011. Lighthouse Hill via pagoda at 40 Ha Long.
Head across park from Offshore to Ha Long pavement and continue 2 km until pagoda Quan Am Phat Dai at 40 Ha Long.
Access 200+ steps on righthand side of pagoda by putting hand through hole in metal door at top of side steps and sliding bolt (remember to close after use - and remember to get permission earlier in the week!). *Note you must go to extreme right-hand side because two entrances to this pagoda and both show number 40 address.
At top of steps turn left and follow difficult trail behind houses (parallel to Ha Long) until reach pagoda wall then head to right and up the side of the hill. Difficult trail - stay to left of gulley. Keep heading upwards until reach road/track leading to Army camp on the right. Turn left (not right) and follow road downhill to emerge on Ha Long just behind Pie Shop/Lucy's. Back through park for Down Down on corner next to Offshore Bar (careful - fencing works in progress so might have to change location!).
498, 20 November 2011. Nui Dinh from coffee shop to old house in forest.
Dismount at bridge 1-2 km uphill from swimming pool café and take trail to right into woods. Follow trail several kilometres even after track vanishes. Emerge from undergrowth on wide track running left-right. Turn left and follow track to main sealed road. Cross road and head back into woods on other side (about 15 metres to right of where you cross the road).
Follow trail into woods then veer right and eventually come around to old house on stilts near main road for Down Down. (Note this house subsequently fenced off from road so maybe need to find a different way out to main road and/or Down
Down location.)
499, 27 November 2011. Big Mountain via side trail.
Head for Big Mountain via Le Ngoc Han, Hem 105 and steps to main road. After 0.5 km on uphill road, turn right off road onto track up side of mountain (a white curved arrow on the road points to the track). Climb to junction near top then turn left and follow track around side of mountain until emerging onto main road near top. Continue to top or shortcut back down the mountain to Down Down near Offshore Bar.
500, 4 December 2011. Nui Dinh upwards to swimming pool café.
1. Dismount from bus opposite new school. Take any of three or four tracks running in from road (all eventually meet).
Probably wise to avoid top track closest to cemetery. Head left then right through houses and turn left into a field at house
#310. Continue through undergrowth into jungle area then follow track with chickenwire fence on lefthand side. Turn left at end of fence and head straight up the hill following the waterpipe. Eventually emerge on lower side of swimming pool café. Head through toilets on left or go to right of fence and climb over (carefully).
2. Optional 10-minute additional trail to right of swimming pool, heading away to right then back around in a circle to finish at the pool - very picturesque.
3. Walking trail straight up main sealed road from new school to swimming pool café.
4. Longer and more difficult trail: keep going straight instead of turning left to go up hill after fence ends (see 1. above). This trail goes on and on for long way then turns left into dense undergrowth going upwards but gradually turning downhill to emerge on main road running north of swimming pool café (so turn left on road and walk back down to café).
501, 11 December 2011. Jesus Hill (similar to 482, 489).
But descend by reverse on same trail instead of tourist steps. Walk back down Phan Chu Trinh to Mai's Bia Hoi (now sold and renamed Watering Hole).
502, 18 December 2011. Big Mountain via side trail (see 499).
503, 25 December 2011. Jesus Hill.
Similar to 482, 489 but walk back around Ha Long to Lucy's then around again to Phan Chu Trinh and Watering Hole, ie circumvent entire small mountain!
504, 1 January 2012. Big Mountain via 600+ steps (see 485, 495).
505, 8 January 2012. Lighthouse Hill.
Similar to 486 but take left fork near top to reach lighthouse. Descend in reverse.
506, 15 January 2012. Big Mountain via 600+ steps in reverse.
Similar to 485, 495, 504 but walk all way around Tran Phu to pagoda steps in Sao Mai village at 360 Tran Phu - 600m before Hem 444. Follow road to gun emplacements then continue up hill via track across ridge to small shrine before descending the 600+ steps. Bia Hoi across road to left then walk or taxi back to Offshore.
507, 22 January 2012. Jesus Hill long way around.
Similar to 482, 489, 501, 503, but walk from Offshore right around Ha Long and past the tourist steps to turn left into Phan Chu Trinh and walk back 200 metres to Hem 220 (Hotel Duc Anh), then up trail to statue. Descend in reverse down same trail then left on Phan Chu Trinh for Down Down at bia hoi 43.
508, 29 January 2012. Big Mountain the hard way.
Similar to 499, 502 but turn right after steps to sealed road up mountain and walk 200 metres down to Venus Nightclub then turn left up narrow alley along side of pagoda. Keep going upwards even after house halfway - cross narrow sealed road and keep climbing. Turn left at top (10 metres before boundary fence) then follow track around side of mountain until reach the
junction with other not quite so difficult side trail that came up from white arrow on main road (see 499, 502). Turn right and follow around side of mountain as per 499, 502. Go to the top then follow main road down for Down Down at Offshore Bar.
509, 5 February 2012. Lighthouse Hill via pagoda at 40 Ha Long.
Same as 497 except Down Down inside Offshore Bar instead of outside.
510, 12 February 2012. Long Son island pagoda/restaurant trail.
Turn right on island ring road at end of short-cut onto island (over Go Gang bridges). Park bus at or slightly before "Thon Van Hoa" archway sign into Cho Long Son, Thon 5 (Long Son market, commune 5), then walk through markets and to the right then left into houses.
Go through houses and narrow laneways following signs scrawled in paint on sides of houses: "Di Loi Nay" (this way) and "D. Len Nui" (road to mountain). Then up steep steps and rocks to reach top of hill (and end of tourist trail).
Then continue to follow trail across top of hill and down, emerging on main road just 1 km to the left of where you first arrived on the island. Turn left for 150 metres back towards arrival point on island for Down Down in big outdoor restaurant "Bang Lang" on the right. One of the owner's sons carved the trail you've just followed from the top of the hill down to their restaurant!
511, 19 February 2012. Jesus Hill.
Similar to 482, 489 but walked back around Ha Long to Offshore.
512, 26 February 2012. Long Son island "Uncle's favourite".
Dismount at large "No fires" sign on right after driving through village (1.9 km after reaching island via Go Gang bridges short-cut and turning left). Follow road/track/road in a circular pattern generally to left through residential areas before emerging
back onto main road. Cross main road (3.1 km from arrival point on island) and go right about 50 metres then turn left onto track into oyster farms. Follow long and complex trail around oyster farms, generally heading back towards arrival point on island, before finally emerging back onto main road. Turn right and go to Son Thuy Ngu garden restaurant 100 metres on lefthand side (2.1 km from arrival point on island).
513, 4 March 2012. Lighthouse Hill and CSJ/Rod's slippery slope.
Head up usual road (Hai Dong off Ha Long then 180 deg U-turn left) past Arms Museum and village but take right fork before top (same as 486). Climb up wall surrounding bunkers on left just before end of cul-de-sac, then head across to left and down the slippery hill to emerge on a dirt track. Turn left and follow until you meet the sealed road heading down to Ha Long. Follow around to Phan Chu Trinh and Down Down at Watering Hole.
514, 11 March 2012. Fishing village/beach.
Similar to 488 but modified somewhat to circumvent waterlogged track after turning right off access road near small fishing port (go to left of small bridge instead of crossing it). Then also bit different in last third because of recent development in the area - instead of heading back inland off the beach, just continue (2 km) down the beach to steps between Blue Sapphire and Long Cung resorts. Beach steps no longer allowed for Down Downs, so up the steps and head north to first corner on left where bus should be parked in afternoon shade. Beware twice-monthly King Tides!
515, 18 March 2012. Pekka and Irene's Lake run.
1. Head down Phan Chu Trinh and turn left at Hem 55, straight ahead then right and then left at large 78 sign until reaching Hoang Hoa Tam. Cross at junction and head up Vo Thi Sau about 200 metres, turning left at Hem 167, then turn right at lake.
Follow lake all the way around until emerging back on Hoang Hoa Tam via Hem 111. Head to Down Down at Bach Dang bia hoi on Le Loi (near Pacific Hotel) via Hoang Hoa Tam or alternate route via Phan Chu Trinh.
2. "Walking trail": cross the lake by boat (boatsman's name Mr Phuong, he lives on bigger of two boats or can sometimes be found in flower garden to right of track - negotiate a price around 10k VND pp).
516, 25 March 2012. Lighthouse Hill hybrid pagoda/"hammock city" trail.
Turn off Ha Long just before Pie Shop and Lucy's onto Hai Dong up the hill but ignore left U-turn at 100 metres and keep going ahead another 200m to house number 2/2 (on right). Turn sharp left up pagoda steps (pagoda name on archway gate: Quan Am Son Ha).
Up more steps in hillside beyond pagoda (heading upwards to right) until reach the trail that winds around left to the Army camp. Turn right (not left), walk past big shrine then continue until sealed road. Turn left (instead of right to go downhill), then continue until more steps cut into hillside on the left. Climb steps until "hammock" café's on main road other side. Follow road downhill and walk around from Ha Long to Bach Dang Bia Hoi on Le Loi near Pacific Hotel for Down Down.
517, 1 April 2012. Typhoon Pakhar city trail.
Drink a lot of beer in Offshore Bar while Typhoon Pakhar continues spilling rain everywhere. Turn right then left out of Offshore and follow road up to Tran Hung Dao then around the Petro Hotel and roundabout opposite Greyhound Track and back down to Offshore past Orange Court, etc. Not a real trail but good fun in the rain!
518, 8 April 2012. Long Hai Mts (Minh Dam Base) "new pagoda" route.
See 496 for directions to Minh Dam Base. Disembark at new pagoda about 2 km on left before Minh Dam Base (about 5 km past Long Hai and after resorts - blue signpost on lefthand side of road at pagoda entrance: "Thien Vien Truc Lam Chan Nguyen").
Follow steps/rocks up hill to left of pagoda (if large gate closed, go towards pagoda until past the gate then move over to track on the left). Walk past monkey area and up steps in hill. Continue up, up, up until eventually going past small houses then continue climbing to more houses then large "double rocks" to the right with narrow gap between (top of mountain). Go through gap then continue on trail across ridge then steep downhill towards Minh Dam Base. Eventually emerge on same track as used in opposite direction on 496. Down Down in car park.
519, 15 April 2012. Big Mountain via 600+ steps in reverse.
Same as 506 but taxi from Offshore around Tran Phu to pagoda steps in Sao Mai village at 360 Tran Phu - 600m before Hem 444. Same trail as 506 but descend the 600+ steps then walk back to SOS Clinic turn-off (Le Ngoc Han) and Down Down on corner with Tran Phu.
520, 22 April 2012. Long Son island "Uncle & Anti's farewell" trail.
Take shortcut onto island over Go Gang bridges, then left towards Ben Diep (signposted every 1 km). After 5.5 km, you're 100
metres short of an archway over road signed "Kinh Chuc Quy Khach Thuong Lo Binh An" and can see turn-off to left marked with small red arrow on road. FRBs get off here and run up smaller sealed road to the left until they find the trail about 150 metres across a gravel area at end of sealed road and leading into large field.
Walkers stay on bus for 1.7 km to another archway signed "Thon Van Hoa" - "Thon Rach Gia" (commune Rach Gia), then dismount and follow road to the large field (where the Army sometimes have a camping spot near firing ranges to the right).
Trail is a narrow dirt track on opposite side of gravel road area where you arrived (ie, continue straight ahead).
Follow clearly defined track for 2 km until emerge onto sealed road again. Continue 2-300 metres then turn right at white arrow in centre of road at road junction. Continue on sealed road past houses until grey concrete wall on righthand side. Follow wall around to the right past coffee shops on left-hand side of corner, then stop after about 50 metres in front of "Don Bien Phong Long Son" large building (Water Police HQ).
Wait here for everyone else before proceeding down small road opposite Water Police HQ to the ferry/port (it would become too congested if everyone went down there individually - vendors are trying to sell their seafood).
Up steps at the building on right just before river, then follow gangway out to white 40-seater boat (with name Lang Be painted on side). It will take everyone to the Lang Be Long Son pontoon restaurant across the river (ph 016 8822 1209 or owner's wife
Ms Tu: 0168 544 2079). Short river cruise before or after eating no extra charge. You must pay 2k VND corkage on every can
you take aboard the restaurant (not the ferry).
521, 29 April 2012. Back of Big Mountain up to Cable Car theme park ("CSJ's trail").
Left then right out of Offshore onto Hoang Dieu up to roundabout with Le Loi opposite Greyhound track. Follow Le Loi for 30 mins then left onto Tran Phu at 225 Le Loi next to traffic lights. 100 metres then left on Tran Xuan Do (at 750 Tran Phu). Or you may (wisely) elect to catch taxi's from Offshore to this dismount point and walk from here. 150 metres then left onto Hem 33 (marked 29/9 - it's the first of two possible left turns, is very narrow and goes up 485 steps). The last few steps go into a pagoda.
Left at top and go around the side of the pagoda to the back. Then sharp right then left and follow steps approx 15 minutes until you hit a track going upwards to the right (looks like the site for a new house about 20 m on the left). Follow up to right, up up up until you meet a wide track, then turn left and up up up until you see the skeleton of the disused radar emplacement on top of the mountain in front of you. Shortly afterwards you will see a new, circular cablecar track for tourists (small "Go-Kart"-style cars - not the cable car system going up the mountain, this is at the back of the theme park).
Enter theme park near the seated buddha and optional drink stop at the tourist restaurant.
Exit theme park one of three ways: either via cable car, or reverse down the trail you climbed up, or past boom gate to the right and down the road that everyone uses to exercise (begins with lots of loose stones and broken tarmac but eventually smooths out somewhat). Exit via steps to Hem 105 (short cut) back to Offshore vicinity for Down Down.
522, 6 May 2012. Nui Dinh (lake at top of mountain).
Drive all the way up past swimming pool café and bridge then turn right onto dirt road at pagoda, which marks the end of the sealed road up the mountain. Follow 1 km to lake (we ran/walked on this occasion because the 45-seater bus driver didn't want to risk damage on the soon-to-be-graded dirt track - a smaller bus might arguably be able to make it to the lake).
Two trails (both of which can be followed in reverse and/or both can be combined into one "super trail"):
1. Shorter trail on left opposite lakeside café through undergrowth slightly uphill, with steep uphill just before emerging on dirt road. Turn right and follow road back down to lakeside café. (Note some latecomers did this trail in reverse and found it to be good, despite initial steep downward slope.)
2. Longer trail continues on main dirt road past lakeside café, keep straight and take second turning left. Proceed few hundred metres to large clearing then follow markers on other side into undergrowth. Follow marked trail up and around (crossing a stream at one point and past two former VC caves), finally emerging onto a dirt track which you then follow downhill (ie turn left) and then around to the right and back to lakeside café for Down Down (or on to the bus parked 1 km away on the sealed road in front of the pagoda).
523, 13 May 2012. Cross on side of Big Mountain ("Rowdy's Ridge").
This is the Cross behind large Virgin Mary statue and 600+ steps at pagoda Hung Thang Tu, 112 Tran Phu (Hem 108). Taxi's to entrance via the car park on Tran Phu in front of the Ave Maria statue, then up 860+ steps past a sequence of "the stations of the cross", then it becomes straighter and steeper towards the top. The Cross is set about 10 metres from the top so its apex is about level with the summit, thus only visible from one side of the mountain.
For some time it's been thought that the only way down was to turn around and do the steps in reverse, but Rowdy has forged a trail from peak to peak through undergrowth and boulders, turning left at top of hill behind the big cross. Across "Rowdy's Ridge then down past shrine to Ho Chi Minh and along the familiar ridge (runs 485, 490, 495, 504, 506, 519) to top of 600+ pagoda steps back down to Tran Phu then across the road to small bia hoi. Total elapsed time 2+ hours, calories exerted 600+(!). Walk or taxis back to Offshore 1.
524, 20 May 2012. Nui Dinh "UXO's bomb run" (see 493: "Twin pipes").
See 487 for directions to Nui Dinh. Park bus at swimming pool café halfway up hill on right just after tight bend. Climb up through garden and follow twin water pipes upwards (1-2 km) until they separate, then continue following "easier" righthand pipe up final climb until it crosses wide track running left-right, then turn left about 0.5 km to main road by bridge over Angel Stream. Left down hill 2 km to swimming pool café for Down Down.
Always check with the café owner beforehand if you plan to use the swimming pool café and/or its trails because someone lives there. We usually offer a gratuity of around 150k VND for use of the area and pool - slightly more if they assist with
catering.
525, 27 May 2012. Big Mountain "Hem 36". Combines some elements of 499, 502, 508.
Taxi (41k VND) from Offshore 1 to large Catholic church and accommodation complex via Vi Ba street and Hem 36. Follow Vi
Ba for approx 300 metres then sharp right onto smaller lane (still OK for taxi) to the Catholic complex. Enter the complex and walk past a tree in the middle of the car park/courtyard and up smooth concrete ramp to the left of the main building. Turn right at the toilet block then into the trees heading uphill. Cross narrow sealed road (see 508) and keep climbing. Follow
boulders/rocks "steps" to 10 metres from red brick wall at top, then left at small tree and rest a moment on the flat rocks. Enjoy the view!
Keep following track to the left as it goes around Big Mountain just below the theme park fence. The track eventually levels out (after 15-20 minutes) into a grassy, boulder-free area with "crossroads" in the middle.
RH track (from the direction you've just walked) goes around mountain until it meets the sealed main "exercise" road near the
top. LH track goes back around the mountain (parallel to the track you've just followed but in reverse direction) and down to Venus Nightclub - see "Trails not yet used" 2. Take the centre track downhill until you emerge at white arrow on main sealed "exercise" road.
Turn left onto the road and follow downhill for several hundred metres until you reach the "shortcut steps" and lane down to Le Ngoc Han. Turn right for Offshore Bar or local vicinity for Down Down.
Correct at 1 June 2012 (but trails can change because of urban sprawl, etc so it's always best to check...).
This list contains only those trails marked and followed from "VTH3 Re-Hash run #1" (VTH3 run #482) for the first 11 months of record-keeping. It will hopefully be added to in due course, but is provided here as an archive and to help anyone get a head-start on trails if all the Hares should ever suddenly take the same day off!
VTH3 run #482 (Re-Hash #1), 9 July 2011. Jesus Hill.
Offshore Bar across park to Le Loi, Quang Trung, left after Bay Café & Maritime Admin bldg on corner onto Truong Cong Dinh, then right onto Phan Boi Chau (sidewalk fish markets). Follow road around onto Phan Chu Trinh, past Watering Hole, bia hoi 43, Binh An residence, etc until 200m from beach then turn right at Hem 220 (Hotel Duc Anh). Follow road/trail up to Jesus statue. Down tourist steps on other side for Down Down across road on Ha Long (need taxi to deliver the drinks). Good spot but can get busy on weekends.
483 (Re-Hash #2), 16 July 2011. Big Mountain easy way.
Left out of Offshore Bar on Truong Vinh Ky to SOS clinic, right on Le Ngoc Han. After approx 400m, take sharp (180 deg) left up Hem 105 (*major roadworks in April 2012, so check first). Ahead, then left and right, up steps to main road then follow road up hill to top. Descend in reverse for Down Down near Offshore 1 (note new fencing around the entire block across Hoang Dieu as at April 2012).
484 (Re-Hash #3), 30 July 2011. Big Mountain easy way.
Same as 483.
485 (Re-Hash #4), 13 August 2011. Big Mountain via 600+ steps.
Offshore Bar to Tran Phu, turn right then 3-4 kilometres past Cable Car, Nathalie's Thai restaurant and lighthouse to pagoda Hung Thang Tu, 112 Tran Phu (Hem 108), just before Virgin Mary statues and immediately after Valley Mountain Hotel on the right. Enter pagoda and walk up to steps, then up steps.
Left at top of 600+ steps then continue past the small shrine in a westerly direction along the ridge on a dirt trail, and then
down more steps and passing gun battery at former French fortress leading out to Hem 444.
Track down to main road (Tran Phu) goes to pagoda Quan-Am Tinh-Vien at 360 Tran Phu (Sao Mai village, 600 metres before Hem 444). Couple of Bia Hoi's just to the right on Tran Phu if thirsty. Taxi back to Offshore 1 vicinity for Down Down (see 495).
486 (Re-Hash #5), 27 August 2011. Lighthouse Hill to cul-de-sac.
Up Hai Dong off Ha Long just before Pie Shop (Bayview Café) and Lucy's, ahead 50-100m then 180 deg U-turn to left past Arms Museum and follow bitumen then dirt through small village (many pigs, chickens, etc) and on up hill. Take right fork near the top to dead-end with concrete bunkers elevated on left. Drinks delivered by taxi truck. Good view but some locals on weekends. Reverse descent same road.
487, 3 September 2011 (changed to weekly runs). Nui Dinh Angel Stream.
Approx 5.5 km past Ba Ria roundabout on H'way 51A to Saigon turn right at coffee shop - a good check is new road on left of highway, ie crossroads with gap in centre barriers and enter/don't enter signs in middle of road. Drive through small village then past big new school less than 1 km up road on left, opposite big cemetery. Continue up hill about 3-4 km then park in big car park halfway up on left (past swimming pool café on the right of a sharp bend).
Down steps by pulley for rock bins by pagoda. Bear right at bottom, across stream/rocks then up steep hill other side, bear right and follow along (heading uphill) then across bridge and Angel Stream and up rocks/steps to coffee shop on main road, then down main road 2 km to swimming pool cafe for Down Down (see 493).
488, 10 September 2011. Fishing village/beach. Dismount at dirt road that runs straight from main road to beach via small fishing port then sand dunes 4.3 km north of Sea View apts and Chi Linh resort (and 3 km north of Long Cung and Blue
Sapphire resorts). The entry point is almost directly opposite the last large antenna in the antenna farm across the highway.
Go straight down the fairly wide dirt track towards the ocean but turn right just before sand dunes (near fishing boats), right then left over small bridge, follow track until you reach a few houses, continue until you reach a very wide under-construction red dirt road then cross it and follow the power lines into and through residential area. Right then left at house on corner to
head for fishing village. Through village and bear left onto beach.
Few hundred metres along beach then go right through log-marked gap in sand dunes and follow track generally about 45 deg to your left until you reach the main road (you can see the Sea View apts and hear the traffic as you get closer, so not difficult). Turn left on footpath for couple of hundred metres then go back in towards beach when you see the path with a big log in front, and head around to the new houses being built next to Long Cung resort. Through open wall into partly-built houses, go left then head to right and left again for Long Cung resort steps onto beach for Down Down (but now built-out - see 514). Good, but some tourists on weekends.
489, 17 September 2011. Jesus Hill (see 482).
490, 24 September 2011. "Pedometer's trail" on Big Mountain.
Similar to 485 (total length 8 km).
491, 1 October 2011. Big Mountain easy way (see 483, 484).
492, 9 October 2011 (changed to Sunday runs). Big Mountain easy way (see 483, 484, 491).
493, 16 October 2011. Nui Dinh "twin pipes".
See 487 for directions to Nui Dinh. Park bus at swimming pool café halfway up hill on right just after tight bend. Climb up through garden and follow twin water pipes upwards (1-2 km) until they separate, then continue following "easier" righthand pipe up final climb until it crosses wide track running left-right, then turn left about 0.5 km to main road by bridge over Angel Stream. Left down hill 2 km to swimming pool café for Down Down. Always check with the owner beforehand if you plan to use the swimming pool café and/or its trails because someone lives there full-time.
494, 23 October 2011. Go Gang bridge.
Turn left onto Go Gang bridge (now part of short-cut to Long Son island) after Metro turn-off but well before Ba Ria. The bridge can be plainly seen from the road and is also signposted at the turn-off: "Go Gang" with arrow pointing left.
Start trail over first bridge to view fishing villages and oyster farms left and right. Over bridge about 200 metres turn right at small derelict house. Go ahead several hundred metres until oyster farms. Follow trail forward and left around oyster farms, past very close to at least one house (owner OK but ask first). Eventually leave oyster farms to reach newly-constructed road, turn right for few hundred metres then left to cross new road opposite green and grey house (1.4 km in a straight line west of where you turned right at small derelict house).
Through more oyster farms for several hundred metres then bear left into residential area (heading back towards first bridge).
Follow dirt track until reach school then left and almost immediately right to continue through residential (now running parallel to newly-constructed road heading back towards bridge). Anyone missing the right turn after left at school will go directly out
to newly-constructed road, hence short-cutting trail!
Almost reach river then left towards newly-constructed road, emerging just behind first café on left as you come over the first bridge from main VT-Ba Ria highway. Into café for Down Down, or can go just outside perimeter fence to wide space between café and bridge.
495, 30 October 2011. Big Mountain via 600+ steps (see 485).
Walk or taxi all way back to SOS Clinic turn-off (Le Ngoc Han, just before BBC and Royal Hotel) for Down Down on corner with Tran Phu.
496, 6 November 2011. Long Hai Mts (Minh Dam Base).
Turn right at roundabout for Metro turn-off on road to Ba Ria. Go through Long Hai town then left, right, left, left at roundabouts basically following road around bottom of mountains with ocean on right. Continue about 7 km past end of town and resorts to Minh Dam Base turn-off on left.
Dismount from bus before car park for long walk up hill on sealed road (because actual trail up mountain not very long).
Short-cutters stay on bus until car park. Through car park (pagoda and museum on right), then up right-hand trail of two trails out of car park. Continue to top of trail where friendly nuns live in small houses. Good views from boulders at top on right. Descend in reverse for Down Down in car park.
497, 13 November 2011. Lighthouse Hill via pagoda at 40 Ha Long.
Head across park from Offshore to Ha Long pavement and continue 2 km until pagoda Quan Am Phat Dai at 40 Ha Long.
Access 200+ steps on righthand side of pagoda by putting hand through hole in metal door at top of side steps and sliding bolt (remember to close after use - and remember to get permission earlier in the week!). *Note you must go to extreme right-hand side because two entrances to this pagoda and both show number 40 address.
At top of steps turn left and follow difficult trail behind houses (parallel to Ha Long) until reach pagoda wall then head to right and up the side of the hill. Difficult trail - stay to left of gulley. Keep heading upwards until reach road/track leading to Army camp on the right. Turn left (not right) and follow road downhill to emerge on Ha Long just behind Pie Shop/Lucy's. Back through park for Down Down on corner next to Offshore Bar (careful - fencing works in progress so might have to change location!).
498, 20 November 2011. Nui Dinh from coffee shop to old house in forest.
Dismount at bridge 1-2 km uphill from swimming pool café and take trail to right into woods. Follow trail several kilometres even after track vanishes. Emerge from undergrowth on wide track running left-right. Turn left and follow track to main sealed road. Cross road and head back into woods on other side (about 15 metres to right of where you cross the road).
Follow trail into woods then veer right and eventually come around to old house on stilts near main road for Down Down. (Note this house subsequently fenced off from road so maybe need to find a different way out to main road and/or Down
Down location.)
499, 27 November 2011. Big Mountain via side trail.
Head for Big Mountain via Le Ngoc Han, Hem 105 and steps to main road. After 0.5 km on uphill road, turn right off road onto track up side of mountain (a white curved arrow on the road points to the track). Climb to junction near top then turn left and follow track around side of mountain until emerging onto main road near top. Continue to top or shortcut back down the mountain to Down Down near Offshore Bar.
500, 4 December 2011. Nui Dinh upwards to swimming pool café.
1. Dismount from bus opposite new school. Take any of three or four tracks running in from road (all eventually meet).
Probably wise to avoid top track closest to cemetery. Head left then right through houses and turn left into a field at house
#310. Continue through undergrowth into jungle area then follow track with chickenwire fence on lefthand side. Turn left at end of fence and head straight up the hill following the waterpipe. Eventually emerge on lower side of swimming pool café. Head through toilets on left or go to right of fence and climb over (carefully).
2. Optional 10-minute additional trail to right of swimming pool, heading away to right then back around in a circle to finish at the pool - very picturesque.
3. Walking trail straight up main sealed road from new school to swimming pool café.
4. Longer and more difficult trail: keep going straight instead of turning left to go up hill after fence ends (see 1. above). This trail goes on and on for long way then turns left into dense undergrowth going upwards but gradually turning downhill to emerge on main road running north of swimming pool café (so turn left on road and walk back down to café).
501, 11 December 2011. Jesus Hill (similar to 482, 489).
But descend by reverse on same trail instead of tourist steps. Walk back down Phan Chu Trinh to Mai's Bia Hoi (now sold and renamed Watering Hole).
502, 18 December 2011. Big Mountain via side trail (see 499).
503, 25 December 2011. Jesus Hill.
Similar to 482, 489 but walk back around Ha Long to Lucy's then around again to Phan Chu Trinh and Watering Hole, ie circumvent entire small mountain!
504, 1 January 2012. Big Mountain via 600+ steps (see 485, 495).
505, 8 January 2012. Lighthouse Hill.
Similar to 486 but take left fork near top to reach lighthouse. Descend in reverse.
506, 15 January 2012. Big Mountain via 600+ steps in reverse.
Similar to 485, 495, 504 but walk all way around Tran Phu to pagoda steps in Sao Mai village at 360 Tran Phu - 600m before Hem 444. Follow road to gun emplacements then continue up hill via track across ridge to small shrine before descending the 600+ steps. Bia Hoi across road to left then walk or taxi back to Offshore.
507, 22 January 2012. Jesus Hill long way around.
Similar to 482, 489, 501, 503, but walk from Offshore right around Ha Long and past the tourist steps to turn left into Phan Chu Trinh and walk back 200 metres to Hem 220 (Hotel Duc Anh), then up trail to statue. Descend in reverse down same trail then left on Phan Chu Trinh for Down Down at bia hoi 43.
508, 29 January 2012. Big Mountain the hard way.
Similar to 499, 502 but turn right after steps to sealed road up mountain and walk 200 metres down to Venus Nightclub then turn left up narrow alley along side of pagoda. Keep going upwards even after house halfway - cross narrow sealed road and keep climbing. Turn left at top (10 metres before boundary fence) then follow track around side of mountain until reach the
junction with other not quite so difficult side trail that came up from white arrow on main road (see 499, 502). Turn right and follow around side of mountain as per 499, 502. Go to the top then follow main road down for Down Down at Offshore Bar.
509, 5 February 2012. Lighthouse Hill via pagoda at 40 Ha Long.
Same as 497 except Down Down inside Offshore Bar instead of outside.
510, 12 February 2012. Long Son island pagoda/restaurant trail.
Turn right on island ring road at end of short-cut onto island (over Go Gang bridges). Park bus at or slightly before "Thon Van Hoa" archway sign into Cho Long Son, Thon 5 (Long Son market, commune 5), then walk through markets and to the right then left into houses.
Go through houses and narrow laneways following signs scrawled in paint on sides of houses: "Di Loi Nay" (this way) and "D. Len Nui" (road to mountain). Then up steep steps and rocks to reach top of hill (and end of tourist trail).
Then continue to follow trail across top of hill and down, emerging on main road just 1 km to the left of where you first arrived on the island. Turn left for 150 metres back towards arrival point on island for Down Down in big outdoor restaurant "Bang Lang" on the right. One of the owner's sons carved the trail you've just followed from the top of the hill down to their restaurant!
511, 19 February 2012. Jesus Hill.
Similar to 482, 489 but walked back around Ha Long to Offshore.
512, 26 February 2012. Long Son island "Uncle's favourite".
Dismount at large "No fires" sign on right after driving through village (1.9 km after reaching island via Go Gang bridges short-cut and turning left). Follow road/track/road in a circular pattern generally to left through residential areas before emerging
back onto main road. Cross main road (3.1 km from arrival point on island) and go right about 50 metres then turn left onto track into oyster farms. Follow long and complex trail around oyster farms, generally heading back towards arrival point on island, before finally emerging back onto main road. Turn right and go to Son Thuy Ngu garden restaurant 100 metres on lefthand side (2.1 km from arrival point on island).
513, 4 March 2012. Lighthouse Hill and CSJ/Rod's slippery slope.
Head up usual road (Hai Dong off Ha Long then 180 deg U-turn left) past Arms Museum and village but take right fork before top (same as 486). Climb up wall surrounding bunkers on left just before end of cul-de-sac, then head across to left and down the slippery hill to emerge on a dirt track. Turn left and follow until you meet the sealed road heading down to Ha Long. Follow around to Phan Chu Trinh and Down Down at Watering Hole.
514, 11 March 2012. Fishing village/beach.
Similar to 488 but modified somewhat to circumvent waterlogged track after turning right off access road near small fishing port (go to left of small bridge instead of crossing it). Then also bit different in last third because of recent development in the area - instead of heading back inland off the beach, just continue (2 km) down the beach to steps between Blue Sapphire and Long Cung resorts. Beach steps no longer allowed for Down Downs, so up the steps and head north to first corner on left where bus should be parked in afternoon shade. Beware twice-monthly King Tides!
515, 18 March 2012. Pekka and Irene's Lake run.
1. Head down Phan Chu Trinh and turn left at Hem 55, straight ahead then right and then left at large 78 sign until reaching Hoang Hoa Tam. Cross at junction and head up Vo Thi Sau about 200 metres, turning left at Hem 167, then turn right at lake.
Follow lake all the way around until emerging back on Hoang Hoa Tam via Hem 111. Head to Down Down at Bach Dang bia hoi on Le Loi (near Pacific Hotel) via Hoang Hoa Tam or alternate route via Phan Chu Trinh.
2. "Walking trail": cross the lake by boat (boatsman's name Mr Phuong, he lives on bigger of two boats or can sometimes be found in flower garden to right of track - negotiate a price around 10k VND pp).
516, 25 March 2012. Lighthouse Hill hybrid pagoda/"hammock city" trail.
Turn off Ha Long just before Pie Shop and Lucy's onto Hai Dong up the hill but ignore left U-turn at 100 metres and keep going ahead another 200m to house number 2/2 (on right). Turn sharp left up pagoda steps (pagoda name on archway gate: Quan Am Son Ha).
Up more steps in hillside beyond pagoda (heading upwards to right) until reach the trail that winds around left to the Army camp. Turn right (not left), walk past big shrine then continue until sealed road. Turn left (instead of right to go downhill), then continue until more steps cut into hillside on the left. Climb steps until "hammock" café's on main road other side. Follow road downhill and walk around from Ha Long to Bach Dang Bia Hoi on Le Loi near Pacific Hotel for Down Down.
517, 1 April 2012. Typhoon Pakhar city trail.
Drink a lot of beer in Offshore Bar while Typhoon Pakhar continues spilling rain everywhere. Turn right then left out of Offshore and follow road up to Tran Hung Dao then around the Petro Hotel and roundabout opposite Greyhound Track and back down to Offshore past Orange Court, etc. Not a real trail but good fun in the rain!
518, 8 April 2012. Long Hai Mts (Minh Dam Base) "new pagoda" route.
See 496 for directions to Minh Dam Base. Disembark at new pagoda about 2 km on left before Minh Dam Base (about 5 km past Long Hai and after resorts - blue signpost on lefthand side of road at pagoda entrance: "Thien Vien Truc Lam Chan Nguyen").
Follow steps/rocks up hill to left of pagoda (if large gate closed, go towards pagoda until past the gate then move over to track on the left). Walk past monkey area and up steps in hill. Continue up, up, up until eventually going past small houses then continue climbing to more houses then large "double rocks" to the right with narrow gap between (top of mountain). Go through gap then continue on trail across ridge then steep downhill towards Minh Dam Base. Eventually emerge on same track as used in opposite direction on 496. Down Down in car park.
519, 15 April 2012. Big Mountain via 600+ steps in reverse.
Same as 506 but taxi from Offshore around Tran Phu to pagoda steps in Sao Mai village at 360 Tran Phu - 600m before Hem 444. Same trail as 506 but descend the 600+ steps then walk back to SOS Clinic turn-off (Le Ngoc Han) and Down Down on corner with Tran Phu.
520, 22 April 2012. Long Son island "Uncle & Anti's farewell" trail.
Take shortcut onto island over Go Gang bridges, then left towards Ben Diep (signposted every 1 km). After 5.5 km, you're 100
metres short of an archway over road signed "Kinh Chuc Quy Khach Thuong Lo Binh An" and can see turn-off to left marked with small red arrow on road. FRBs get off here and run up smaller sealed road to the left until they find the trail about 150 metres across a gravel area at end of sealed road and leading into large field.
Walkers stay on bus for 1.7 km to another archway signed "Thon Van Hoa" - "Thon Rach Gia" (commune Rach Gia), then dismount and follow road to the large field (where the Army sometimes have a camping spot near firing ranges to the right).
Trail is a narrow dirt track on opposite side of gravel road area where you arrived (ie, continue straight ahead).
Follow clearly defined track for 2 km until emerge onto sealed road again. Continue 2-300 metres then turn right at white arrow in centre of road at road junction. Continue on sealed road past houses until grey concrete wall on righthand side. Follow wall around to the right past coffee shops on left-hand side of corner, then stop after about 50 metres in front of "Don Bien Phong Long Son" large building (Water Police HQ).
Wait here for everyone else before proceeding down small road opposite Water Police HQ to the ferry/port (it would become too congested if everyone went down there individually - vendors are trying to sell their seafood).
Up steps at the building on right just before river, then follow gangway out to white 40-seater boat (with name Lang Be painted on side). It will take everyone to the Lang Be Long Son pontoon restaurant across the river (ph 016 8822 1209 or owner's wife
Ms Tu: 0168 544 2079). Short river cruise before or after eating no extra charge. You must pay 2k VND corkage on every can
you take aboard the restaurant (not the ferry).
521, 29 April 2012. Back of Big Mountain up to Cable Car theme park ("CSJ's trail").
Left then right out of Offshore onto Hoang Dieu up to roundabout with Le Loi opposite Greyhound track. Follow Le Loi for 30 mins then left onto Tran Phu at 225 Le Loi next to traffic lights. 100 metres then left on Tran Xuan Do (at 750 Tran Phu). Or you may (wisely) elect to catch taxi's from Offshore to this dismount point and walk from here. 150 metres then left onto Hem 33 (marked 29/9 - it's the first of two possible left turns, is very narrow and goes up 485 steps). The last few steps go into a pagoda.
Left at top and go around the side of the pagoda to the back. Then sharp right then left and follow steps approx 15 minutes until you hit a track going upwards to the right (looks like the site for a new house about 20 m on the left). Follow up to right, up up up until you meet a wide track, then turn left and up up up until you see the skeleton of the disused radar emplacement on top of the mountain in front of you. Shortly afterwards you will see a new, circular cablecar track for tourists (small "Go-Kart"-style cars - not the cable car system going up the mountain, this is at the back of the theme park).
Enter theme park near the seated buddha and optional drink stop at the tourist restaurant.
Exit theme park one of three ways: either via cable car, or reverse down the trail you climbed up, or past boom gate to the right and down the road that everyone uses to exercise (begins with lots of loose stones and broken tarmac but eventually smooths out somewhat). Exit via steps to Hem 105 (short cut) back to Offshore vicinity for Down Down.
522, 6 May 2012. Nui Dinh (lake at top of mountain).
Drive all the way up past swimming pool café and bridge then turn right onto dirt road at pagoda, which marks the end of the sealed road up the mountain. Follow 1 km to lake (we ran/walked on this occasion because the 45-seater bus driver didn't want to risk damage on the soon-to-be-graded dirt track - a smaller bus might arguably be able to make it to the lake).
Two trails (both of which can be followed in reverse and/or both can be combined into one "super trail"):
1. Shorter trail on left opposite lakeside café through undergrowth slightly uphill, with steep uphill just before emerging on dirt road. Turn right and follow road back down to lakeside café. (Note some latecomers did this trail in reverse and found it to be good, despite initial steep downward slope.)
2. Longer trail continues on main dirt road past lakeside café, keep straight and take second turning left. Proceed few hundred metres to large clearing then follow markers on other side into undergrowth. Follow marked trail up and around (crossing a stream at one point and past two former VC caves), finally emerging onto a dirt track which you then follow downhill (ie turn left) and then around to the right and back to lakeside café for Down Down (or on to the bus parked 1 km away on the sealed road in front of the pagoda).
523, 13 May 2012. Cross on side of Big Mountain ("Rowdy's Ridge").
This is the Cross behind large Virgin Mary statue and 600+ steps at pagoda Hung Thang Tu, 112 Tran Phu (Hem 108). Taxi's to entrance via the car park on Tran Phu in front of the Ave Maria statue, then up 860+ steps past a sequence of "the stations of the cross", then it becomes straighter and steeper towards the top. The Cross is set about 10 metres from the top so its apex is about level with the summit, thus only visible from one side of the mountain.
For some time it's been thought that the only way down was to turn around and do the steps in reverse, but Rowdy has forged a trail from peak to peak through undergrowth and boulders, turning left at top of hill behind the big cross. Across "Rowdy's Ridge then down past shrine to Ho Chi Minh and along the familiar ridge (runs 485, 490, 495, 504, 506, 519) to top of 600+ pagoda steps back down to Tran Phu then across the road to small bia hoi. Total elapsed time 2+ hours, calories exerted 600+(!). Walk or taxis back to Offshore 1.
524, 20 May 2012. Nui Dinh "UXO's bomb run" (see 493: "Twin pipes").
See 487 for directions to Nui Dinh. Park bus at swimming pool café halfway up hill on right just after tight bend. Climb up through garden and follow twin water pipes upwards (1-2 km) until they separate, then continue following "easier" righthand pipe up final climb until it crosses wide track running left-right, then turn left about 0.5 km to main road by bridge over Angel Stream. Left down hill 2 km to swimming pool café for Down Down.
Always check with the café owner beforehand if you plan to use the swimming pool café and/or its trails because someone lives there. We usually offer a gratuity of around 150k VND for use of the area and pool - slightly more if they assist with
catering.
525, 27 May 2012. Big Mountain "Hem 36". Combines some elements of 499, 502, 508.
Taxi (41k VND) from Offshore 1 to large Catholic church and accommodation complex via Vi Ba street and Hem 36. Follow Vi
Ba for approx 300 metres then sharp right onto smaller lane (still OK for taxi) to the Catholic complex. Enter the complex and walk past a tree in the middle of the car park/courtyard and up smooth concrete ramp to the left of the main building. Turn right at the toilet block then into the trees heading uphill. Cross narrow sealed road (see 508) and keep climbing. Follow
boulders/rocks "steps" to 10 metres from red brick wall at top, then left at small tree and rest a moment on the flat rocks. Enjoy the view!
Keep following track to the left as it goes around Big Mountain just below the theme park fence. The track eventually levels out (after 15-20 minutes) into a grassy, boulder-free area with "crossroads" in the middle.
RH track (from the direction you've just walked) goes around mountain until it meets the sealed main "exercise" road near the
top. LH track goes back around the mountain (parallel to the track you've just followed but in reverse direction) and down to Venus Nightclub - see "Trails not yet used" 2. Take the centre track downhill until you emerge at white arrow on main sealed "exercise" road.
Turn left onto the road and follow downhill for several hundred metres until you reach the "shortcut steps" and lane down to Le Ngoc Han. Turn right for Offshore Bar or local vicinity for Down Down.
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