If you want a mainland countryside hike within easy reach of central Hai Phong, go to Elephant Mountain (Núi Voi). The practical first-time plan is to approach from Tiên Hội or Chi Lai, ask at the trailhead for the route toward Bàn Cờ Tiên, and add Già Vị Cave only when a guide or site representative approves access that day.
Reserve a half day and choose a dry morning. Elephant Mountain is a national historical and scenic site with temples, caves and uneven limestone, but no official visitor trail map is published. First-time visitors should arrange a guide or ask site staff for the active entrance and safe return path instead of relying on old left-and-right directions.
Elephant Mountain hiking plan at a glance
- Location: about 20 km southwest of central Hai Phong, across the present-day communes of An Lão and An Trường
- Time needed: allow half a day; the walking time depends on the starting side, current path and whether a cave is open
- Terrain: forest paths, rock, steps and short steep sections that can become slippery after rain
- Best starting side for a hiking-first visit: Tiên Hội, in An Lão commune
- Best starting side for Long Hoa Pagoda: Chi Lai village, in An Trường commune
- Main viewpoint: Bàn Cờ Tiên, also called Fairy Chessboard, on the mountain ridge
- Cave access: treat Già Vị and Họng Voi as optional and check local conditions before entering
- Costs: do not rely on old entrance or parking prices; ask about the current arrangement before leaving your vehicle
What the Elephant Mountain hike is like
Elephant Mountain is a low limestone massif rising above villages, fields and the Lạch Tray River. From the ridge, you can look across the An Lão countryside rather than over an urban skyline. The broad rock known as Bàn Cờ Tiên is the usual high point of the walk, while Elephant’s Back describes the ridge section leading toward it.
This is a short countryside hike, not a long mountain expedition. The challenge comes from rough limestone, humidity, steep patches and route-finding. A dry path may suit an active beginner with suitable shoes; the same path can be a poor choice after heavy rain.
The mountain’s reclining-elephant outline is easiest to appreciate from farther away, including the Bút Mọc Pagoda and DT203 side. That viewpoint is useful for understanding the name, but it is not the same as choosing a hiking trailhead.
How to get to Elephant Mountain
For most international visitors, a taxi, private car or arranged tour is the simplest option. Tell the driver which side you need: Tiên Hội for the hiking-first approach or Chi Lai and Long Hoa Pagoda for the temple-side approach. Searching only for “Núi Voi” can lead to a different side of the mountain.
Save the agreed parking or pickup point before starting, and decide whether the driver will wait. If you travel by motorbike, do so only if you are legally able to ride and comfortable on rural roads. Use the parking area shown to you on arrival, agree to any fee in advance and keep the ticket if one is issued.
Bus 02 connects Bến Bính with An Lão bus station, but it is not a direct trailhead service. You still need a local ride for the final section and the return journey. Recheck the same-day bus timetable before using this option.
Choose your starting side
Tiên Hội side: put the hike first
The Tiên Hội side is the more useful choice when the walk, countryside and ridge are your priorities. The local football field at the foot of the mountain has traditionally been used as a reference point, but ask for the current parking area and trail entrance when you arrive.
- Check the path. Ask which route is in use toward Già Vị Cave and Bàn Cờ Tiên, and identify your safe return path before climbing.
- Add Già Vị Cave only if it is open. Visit with a guide or responsible local person, then return to the forest path identified at the start.
- Continue toward Elephant’s Back and Bàn Cờ Tiên. Stay on the established path and check each unsigned junction rather than improvising a shortcut.
- Descend with plenty of daylight. A path near the mountain shelter may complete a loop when it is open and a local guide has pointed it out. Otherwise, return by the same route you used to climb.
Họng Voi Cave lies within the wider mountain trail network, but it should not be treated as an automatic stop. If no attendant or guide says that the cave is open and safe, continue with the ridge walk.
Chi Lai and Long Hoa side: combine the temple and ridge
Choose Chi Lai if Long Hoa Pagoda is an important part of the visit. The restored temple complex is in Chi Lai village, An Trường, and contains several buildings and paths. Ask site staff which exit currently joins the forest route; an old instruction to walk straight through the temple may no longer match the layout.
From the trail entrance shown by site staff, make Bàn Cờ Tiên your main objective and return by the route agreed at the start. Add Già Vị Cave only when its access has been arranged. This approach reduces guesswork around a loop and is easier to manage when temple architecture and the viewpoint matter more than visiting every cave.
Long Hoa is an active religious site. Wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees, speak quietly and avoid blocking worshippers while taking photographs.
How to visit Già Vị and Họng Voi caves safely
Both caves are part of the Elephant Mountain landscape, but opening arrangements, lighting and path conditions can change. A cave shown on a map should not be assumed to be unlocked, staffed or suitable to enter that day.
- Enter only after a guide, caretaker or site representative approves access.
- Carry a proper flashlight; a phone light is not a reliable primary light source.
- Do not enter alone or go beyond the area approved by the guide, caretaker or site representative.
- Do not touch formations, disturb bats or other wildlife, or leave marks on the rock.
- Never drink untreated water from a cave, spring or well.
- Do not smoke or use an open flame on forest paths. At worship areas, follow the posted incense and fire rules.
- Turn back if the floor is flooded, very muddy, smoky or poorly ventilated.
Self-guided or guided?
A self-guided visit is reasonable only when you have checked the trail entrance, the weather is dry, your group can navigate basic forest paths and everyone can finish well before dark. Download the area for offline use, record the trailhead and note the return direction at every junction. If the path becomes unclear, return to the last known point.
A guide is the better choice for a first visit, for anyone who wants to enter a cave, or for travelers who do not speak Vietnamese. If you prefer arranged transport and local route support, the guided Elephant Mountain hiking tour follows Long Hoa Pagoda, Già Vị Cave, Elephant’s Back and Bàn Cờ Tiên. Ask about the day’s cave access, pickup point and exact route before booking.
When to hike
Choose a dry day and start while there is ample daylight. Morning is usually the easiest time to manage heat and leave room for unexpected delays. Do not build the plan around sunset unless you have a guide, a known descent and appropriate lights; darkness arrives at different times through the year.
The site becomes much busier during its annual spring festival. Vehicle access, parking and forest controls may change on festival days, so choose another date if you want a quiet hike or check arrangements before departure.
What to carry
- Closed hiking or sports shoes with reliable grip
- Enough drinking water for the full walk, plus a light snack
- A charged phone, offline location pin and power bank
- A flashlight or headlamp even if caves are not part of the plan
- Sun protection, insect repellent and a light rain layer
- A small first-aid kit and any personal medication
Postpone the hike after heavy rain or when thunderstorms are likely. Wet limestone can be extremely slick, while exposed ridge sections are not suitable places to wait out lightning. Tell someone your route and expected return time, and avoid hiking alone.
The practical choice for a first visit
Use Tiên Hội when hiking is the main goal, or Chi Lai when you want to begin with Long Hoa Pagoda. Whichever side you choose, keep the caves optional and descend in full daylight. Elephant Mountain works best as a planned half-day countryside outing, not as an improvised late-afternoon stop.