Let you be warned for the best ha long bay view point, the following blog/advice is illegal and dangerous, but hey #doitforthegram. (cringe).
HA LONG BAY VIEW POINT
You probably clicked on this blog because you saw this super dope photo of us overlooking the incredible Ha Long Bay. Let us be the first to tell you, getting up here was dangerous and sketchy to say the least, but was it worth it…. YOU BET!
In this blog, we will walk you through the steps on how to find this hike, along with tips and tricks on how to do it safely and responsibly.
Formally known as Poem Mountain, this large limestone mountain gained popularity through social media boasting to have some of the best views of Ha Long Bay! In our personal opinion, it lives up to its name.
HOW TO GET TO VIEWPOINT
The easiest way to get to the hike entrance would be by motorbike, however if you are not comfortable on a bike a taxi can get you there all the same. Using the photo of the map below, you can roughly find the entrance of the hike. Although there are no signs, you can see a giant sign that says ‘PHOTOCOPY’ and a blue door. Hopefully these two photos below can help you find it!
When we arrived there was a lady standing outside eager to show us the way through her home. Do not be afraid of this lady, the hike is truly located in the back of her house and she will guide you through. You will know it is the right house because she has a few small dogs. They will bark at you, but don’t be afraid they are harmless.
Please Note: You will have to pay her! We heard of couples getting in for 80,000 dong total, but 100,000 total for 2 people is normal. She will try to charge you more, but just tell her that is all you have and she will take you anyway. But its worth it for the best Ha Long Bay view point!
THE HIKE
Once you get through her house you will see a giant barbed wired fence. On it a sign that says that entry is highly illegal and dangerous. If this kind of stuff freaks you out… then this hike is probably not for you! The lady was actually really helpful and showed us how to get around the fence.
On the right side of the fence is a tall rock wall, above is a small hole that you can squeeze your body through. This by far, was the scariest part of the entire hike. Seeing as though both of us are a bit afraid of heights. We did not enjoy it! Nevertheless, we made it through and continued the hike up!
TIP: Do not carry a huge backpack with you! It will be hard to squeeze it through the hole. The hole is big enough to fit you and likely a medium sized bag.
The hike up is actually relatively easy! We say relatively because depending on the time of day that you visit the heat can definitely make the trek harder. We would suggest you go in the early morning, or around dusk when it cools down a bit! That being said, the path is easy to follow, as it is just a bunch of concrete steps leading to the very top.
You know you have made it to the top when you get to the green looking shack! Once there, you can take in the incredible views and relax! We even brought two cold beers for us to enjoy at the top and sat for a few hours just watching the world go by.
TIP: One last tip about this hike is that we do suggest you avoid it during the night time. If you plan to go in the late afternoon, make sure you hike back down before it gets dark. Since it is a closed off area, there are portions of the hike that get a bit dangerous. Also, coming back down the stone cliff to the woman’s house is much harder than going up. You definitely want to make sure there is still daylight to guide you. Go slow and take your time!
Overall, it was a pretty amazing experience and a hike we will never forget! We highly suggest that if you like to live life on the edge you give this trek a go!
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Jessica Hanna says
Perfect – I was waiting for this blog – Thank you! x
Stephen Wolf says
You guys are the best! Thank you for this article!
Birgit says
Thank you so much for this article 🙂