The start of a memorable trip
Lo Voi Mountain is located in the northeast of Con Son Island, 577 m above sea level. Locals often introduce the mountain as an “up-and-coming” coordinate thanks to its panoramic view of the town, Con Son Bay and the surrounding green islands. I started my trip in the afternoon, determined to complete the whole up and down journey in about three hours.
Hiking is the activity of walking outdoors on available trails, usually within 1 day, to exercise and relax in nature.
Lo Voi Mountain becomes a new check-in coordinate in Con Dao thanks to its panoramic view, covering the whole town and the bay.
Driving along Co Ong Street towards the airport, about 4km from the center of Con Dao, looking to the right, I saw a flat concrete parking lot. Right next to it was a small slope in the middle of dense bushes leading deep into the forest.
My pack was light: shoes with good grip, water, a hat, and insect repellent. The trail leading up the mountain, originally a forest patrol path, had been improved with sturdy stone steps. It was a gentle slope at first, through dense forest with tangled vines and twisted branches. The August air carried a bit of humidity, the smell of dry leaves, the smell of earth, and the chirping of insects made my every step both nervous and excited.
The hiking trail begins with gentle, flat slopes through dense forest.
The road through the forest opens up a panoramic view of Con Dao
The first 20 minutes were easy, but the higher the road got, the more challenging it became. A 45-degree slope appeared, and the continuous stone steps forced me, a sedentary person, to exert all my strength. Sweat soaked my shirt, and sometimes I had to stop to catch my breath. But in return, each stop opened up a new sky. I encountered giant, smooth rocks for resting, tall trees intertwined like a green dome, and even saw the shadows of small birds flying overhead.
Tree branches twist in all shapes and vines hang over the walkways.
Halfway through the hike, the scenery suddenly opened up. Con Dao town appeared below, small on the white sand and calm blue water. In the distance, mountain ranges stretched out to the sea, embracing Con Son Bay like an arm. From above, a strangely cool breeze seemed to touch every tense muscle. I felt like I was not only climbing a mountain, but also in harmony with nature, receiving strength from the earth and sky itself.
The view opens up from above with the sea on one side, mountains and town on the other side.
From here, the path gradually became flatter. I walked between low bushes, crossing a paved path covered by shoulder-high bushes. On both sides, small clusters of pitcher plants were scattered, a testament to the biodiversity of Con Dao. After a few more minutes of perseverance, I saw the path open up to a long promontory - a place jokingly called "dinosaur spine".
The trail is likened to a "dinosaur's spine" leading to the Lo Voi mountain viewing spot.
Where the sea, mountains and sky meet
The last 50 meters were steep and dirt. I reached out and grabbed a tree branch, stepped into a small dome, from which opened up a vast, boundless space. Standing on the cliff, I could clearly feel the sound of waves lapping right under my feet. Before my eyes was a majestic picture: the vast blue sea, the mountains, the clouds and sky intertwined. On the right was the small town of Con Dao lying under the high mountains, Tran Phu Street ran along the coast, Quang Trung Lake provided fresh water for the whole town, on the left were Hon Bay Canh, Hon Tai, Hon Trac towering between the sea and sky.
Lo Voi Mountain scenic spot is a coordinate that attracts many tourists to check in recently.
This is also the coordinates that many people call the most beautiful sunset spot in Con Dao. I was looking forward to the moment the sun gradually sank into the sea, dyeing the horizon red. But that day, thick clouds came and blocked the sunset. Sunset never came, but the scene still left me speechless.
Perhaps, sometimes the journey does not need to end with what we expect, but the experience along the way is the reward. The three hours of hiking, round trip, gave me moments to touch nature in the most primitive way.
Where tourists and nature meet
According to the Con Dao Center for Culture, Information, Sports and Tourism, the road to Lo Voi Mountain was originally part of a project to renovate the forest patrol road, to serve the work of protecting and monitoring nature. However, with its spectacular scenery, this place is being considered for exploitation as a typical eco-tourism product.
Climbing Lo Voi Mountain is not only a sport but also a way for tourists to get closer to nature. I encountered patches of primeval forest, heard the rustling of leaves in the wind, saw small insects still living diligently in the middle of the forest. It is this wildness that makes Con Dao different, not noisy, not crowded but quietly giving tourists original experiences.
August is also the time when sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs - a "specialty" of Con Dao. Con Dao National Park is the first place in Vietnam to implement a sea turtle conservation program, in which Hon Bay Canh accounts for 80% of the number of mother turtles coming to lay eggs.
I didn’t have enough time to join a turtle tour, but just hearing the locals tell me that hundreds of turtles crawl onto the sand at night, leaving behind a sand trail and dozens of eggs buried deep in the sand, was enough to make me eager to come back. It was a new life, a continuation of nature, a lasting circle that people were lucky enough to witness.
Known as the green pearl, Con Dao is one of the few rare places where sea turtles come to breed.
The trip to Lo Voi Mountain in August left me with more emotions than I expected. The three hours of hiking not only helped me train my physical strength, but also gave me the opportunity to listen to the breath of nature, to see that Con Dao not only has blue sea, white sand but also has mountains waiting to be explored. And I know, there are journeys that, just going on them, is worth it.
