Volcano is not a familiar word in Vietnam, but I once happened to hear that there used to be a volcano in Dinh Quan District in the southern province of Dong Nai.
100 meters and 1,267 footsteps
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| Leftover lava of the volcano |
The first number indicates the height of the volcano mountain, the second is the number of footsteps we counted when walking around the volcano’s mouth to calculate its circumference.
I quickly learned that one should not laugh disdainfully at this mountain of merely 100 meters, for despite its humble height it is tough to conquer without specialized tools, especially on a rainy day. The slippery path to the peak creates many difficulties to discourage climbers!
After asking for directions from National Road 20, we finally found the only path leading to the mountain, which passes through a corn field. Because it was in the rainy season and there was no defined road, we had to follow the trench of a small stream to climb to the top. It took us half an hour to reach the mountain’s peak, where we were treated to the landscape of the volcano.
As seen from the top, the funnel-shaped mouth of the volcano looks like a conical hat lying upside down. A deep hollow with cliffs, it has the appearance of a large stadium. We regretted that our camera lens was not wide enough to capture the panoramic view of the ‘huge conical hat’. So we did what other might not do and walked along the volcano’s mouth, counting our footsteps.
According to geographical documents, the volcano in Dinh Quan District is part of a system of volcanoes stretching from the central highlands to the south-east region. These volcanoes were active millions years ago and turned thousands of square kilometers into a bazan soil region.
For local residents, the volcano is named simply Hill 17. In their own style, they measured the volcano as four hectares in area. A local resident who lives at the base of the mountain said that several years ago one could easy find lava scattered here and there in the region, but that it has been covered under layers of soil.
In recent years some travelers, mostly students, have organized adventure tours to see the volcano. However, the region remains relatively unspoiled thanks to having been largely untouched by tourist services.
To get there from HCMC you take National Road 20 to Dinh Quan District. If you stop at the milestone marking 118km. and look to the right you will see a small path that leads for about 200 meters to the volcano.
My advice would be that it is better to visit the mountain in the dry season, wear suitable shoes for the trip and, for more fun, you should go in a group.
(Source: SGT)
