A Scenic Haven
I arrived here on a taxi from Hanoi International Airport. I booked my hotel right at the bottom of the mountain. It’s called Mua Caves Eco Lodge (Hang Mua). One of the perks of staying near the Mua Caves is that you receive free entry to both the caves and the lookout, which would normally cost 200,000 Vietnamese Dong.
From the Flight Straight to the Summit
So, if you’re looking for an ideal location at the base of the mountain, with complimentary access to the caves and viewpoint, a scrumptious breakfast, and a gorgeous, air-conditioned room, then staying here is an excellent choice.
After nearly 15 hours of traversing from the Southern Hemisphere’s autumn to the hot and humid Hanoi in the Northern Hemisphere, one might assume that I would be completely drained of energy. But nope! All it took was a refreshing shower upon checking in, and I embarked on a journey to summit Hang Mua. It was a challenging hike up the top of the mountain.
I stayed up there until it got dark. On the way back, it started raining, but luckily, I was prepared. I always carry a trusty rain jacket with me, tucked away in my backpack, along with water bottles.
Trang An Scenic Complex
The next morning, I rented a scooter directly from the hotel reception and headed out to explore the town on two wheels. The roads in Vietnam are definitely chaotic, and adjusting to driving on the right side of the road takes focus, but there is an organized rhythm to the traffic that actually makes sense once you are in it. As long as you don’t make any sudden, foolish moves, you flow right along with everyone else. My first stop was the Trang An Scenic Complex. just a quick 10-minute ride from the hotel, where I boarded a three-hour boat trip through the limestone karsts. It was a spectacular route gliding through the towering cliffs,
Dot Cave scared the living daylights out of me. It takes about 30 minutes to navigate through this single cave. It was pitch black, full of endless tight twists, and the total silence was only broken by bats fluttering overhead. If you have even the slightest touch of claustrophobia, do yourself a huge Favor and avoid Route 3 of the boat tour. While the other two caves on the route were incredible, Dot Cave genuinely tested my courage.
After getting back to dry land, I hopped back on the scooter, rode into the central town area for a late lunch, and spent the afternoon tracking down two more hidden spots before nightfall:
20.217, 105.916
20.282, 105.913
And that was the end of the day as fatigue washed over me after a day filled with riding and walking. I had a delightful dinner at my accommodation and simply unwound, taking in the mesmerizing views before drifting off to sleep.