Smash Travel Vietnam

A fun and rewarding hike to the top of one of the jungle-clad escarpments lining Phu Quoc’s eastern flank, trekking up Núi Đá Bạc mountain offers stupendous views and is yet another way to explore the island’s beautiful interior. This hike is a wonderful way to spend a morning or afternoon: providing some physical exertion, excellent photo opportunities, lots of nature, and a side of Phu Quoc Island that few people experience. The Núi Đá Bạc mountain trek is further proof that Phu Quoc Island is much more than just a beach destination.

A Mountain Hike with Panoramic Views

This fabulous hike takes between 2-3 hours round-trip depending on your pace and how long you spend gawping at the views from the two boulder-capped peaks. The trek can be undertaken independently, without a guide (I’ve done my best to describe the route in detail below). However, the trailhead can be difficult to find and so too can the two spectacular view points at the top. Therefore, you might consider hiring a guide. You can try contacting Pierre (0776 830 072) or enquire at nearby Cây Sao Beach Resort, although I can’t personally vouch for either. The best months are the dry season (November to May). From June to October, frequent rains make the trail slippery and treacherous. The hike should be possible for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellent, a picnic for the top, and wear decent shoes. After the trek, cool off in the ocean and reward yourself with a cocktail and food at Kiki Coconut on the sand beneath the palms. Combine the two and you have all the ingredients for a great day out. (For more activities like this on Phu Quoc Island, see Related Posts.)

Trekking to Núi Đá Bạc Peak

The trail begins on the east coast road, about half way between Cây Sao Beach Resort and Vaniza Resort. On the inland side of the road, look for a long concrete and stone wall, about two metres high, wrapping around the property of a small, blue farmhouse. I’ve marked it on my map here, and there’s a photo below. If you have a motorbike or bicycle, you can leave it beneath the tree next to the blue farmhouse (the family will charge you 10,000vnd per bike).

The trailhead itself begins at the southern-most limit of the farm’s walled enclosure, where a fence blocks the way to a concrete lane leading uphill. Climb the fence and head up the concrete lane, running parallel to the fence. Follow the lane straight up for about a hundred metres until it starts to turn toward the right. At this point, leave the concrete lane and walk directly ahead into the jungle. There’s a clear frontier where the plantations and farmland end and the jungle begins. Using the straight concrete lane that you’ve just walked up as your line of entry (perhaps just a little to the right), walk directly into the trees and you should see a small, narrow, but unmistakable path leading beneath the trees and into the brush. (Note that the trekking route marked on my map is only approximate.)