Paragliding Near Hanoi: The Climb to Vien Nam Peak and Camping
April 14, 2026 • 11 views
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What a paragliding trip near Hanoi is really like: the drive up Vien Nam, round-trip shuttles, overnight camping and tips for your first flight.
🛣️ From the city to Vien Nam mountain
👉 “The trip started early in the morning when Hanoi was still covered in a light mist. I chose to drive myself to fully enjoy the beauty of this route:
◾ Actual route: Departing from the inner city, I drove straight along Thăng Long Boulevard. The road is incredibly open and spacious, with lush green trees lining both sides. After passing the Hòa Lạc interchange, the journey continues onto the Lang Hoa Lac Expressway.
◾ Changing scenery: This was my favorite part. The farther you get from the city, the more the tall buildings fade away, replaced by the rolling limestone mountains typical of Vien Nam Mountain. Lowering the car window and feeling the cool mountain breeze rushing in was truly an exhilarating experience.
✨ Detailed route: Hanoi → Thăng Long Boulevard → Hòa Lạc Interchange → Lang Hoa Lac Expressway → Toll Station → Paragliding site (located about 1 km from the toll station).”
Paragliding Takeoff zone - Vien Nam Mountain
🚐 Round-trip shuttle service
If you would rather not drive, you can book a pickup and drop-off from your hotel, or from our meeting point at GO! Thang Long – 222 Tran Duy Hung. Pickup runs between 7am and 2pm depending on the day, and the exact time is confirmed before your flight day, subject to weather conditions.
Once everyone has gathered, the drive from Hanoi to Vien Nam Peak takes about 45–60 minutes depending on traffic.
Alternatively, you can travel by bus if you don’t want to drive yourself:
LIMOUSINE BINH AN - 📞 0868 520 622
🔺 Departure: 7:00 – 19:15 (one trip every 2 hours)
🔺 Route: Royal City Urban Area → Lang Hoa Lac Expressway → Toll Station → Paragliding site
🔺 Price: 120,000 VND
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BINH AN BUS - 📞 0868 520 622
🔺 Route: My Dinh → Thang Long Boulevard → Lang Hoa Lac Expressway → Toll Station → Paragliding site
🔺 Price: 70,000 VND
Disadvantage: These buses are often crowded, so tickets tend to sell out early on weekends or peak days. It is recommended to book in advance to avoid missing out.
After arriving at the foot of the mountain, the pilot will provide a brief introduction, complete the necessary procedures, and guide you through the required steps before taking you to the summit by a specialized vehicle.
During this time, our team will prepare the vehicles and arrange seating, while pilots carefully inspect and set up all flight equipment. The mountain ascent takes approximately 20 minutes in specialized off-road vehicles.
The road up the mountain is quite rough as it is a natural, less-developed path — but for those who are prone to motion sickness, there’s no need to worry too much, as the vehicle usually travels with the windows open, allowing you to breathe in fresh and pleasant air throughout the journey.
Off-road vehicle
⛺ Camping at Vien Nam mountain
What makes Vien Nam truly special is the camping experience on the summit. When I visited, a few groups were already set up there, and they warmly invited us to join their meal — a simple moment, yet incredibly memorable.
I later learned that this spot is perfect for camping, barbecues, and all kinds of outdoor gatherings, making it an ideal getaway for those who love nature and a bit of spontaneity.
Camping at Vien Nam mountain
🪂 The moment you leave the ground
This is truly the “soul” of the journey. Equipped with safety gear and standing atop the slope, my heart was already racing a little!
A gentle takeoff: Contrary to what you might expect — a jolt or free fall — the launch is incredibly smooth. You just run when the pilot signals, and then… whoosh — your feet leave the ground.
Suspended in the air, you take in a literally “million-dollar view.” The whole Da River landscape opens up before you: towering mountain peaks, the Hanoi – Hòa Bình highway reduced to a tiny thread across the fields. In the distance, the Hòa Bình hydroelectric dam appears through a misty haze.
The feeling of floating: There’s a moment when the pilot guides the paraglider along a thermal to gain altitude, and the world around falls into an unusual calm. Only the wind whistling through the canopy and the sensation of total freedom remain. Occasionally, the pilot will treat you to a few gentle swoops — a thrilling mix of fear and addiction!
📸 Capturing the moment from the air
If you’re an Instagram or TikTok enthusiast, this is the place to capture truly unforgettable shots — and you’ll definitely want to preserve every single moment.
Don’t worry if you can’t hold your phone while flying, because there are specialized photo and video packages that capture every angle:
🔰 GoPro Angle (Authentic experience): A GoPro camera mounted on a selfie stick, held either by you or the pilot, records your most hilarious expressions — from trembling at takeoff to the exhilaration of soaring through the sky.
I was advised to upgrade to the premium “luxury” packages:
🔰 360 Camera Service (No blind spots, endless creativity): This is the secret weapon for viral videos. A 360-degree camera mounted on a special invisible stick captures not only you but the entire surrounding space at once — the pilot behind, the canopy above, and the majestic mountains in all directions.
The best part: you can unleash your creativity in post-production. Transform your video into a third-person perspective (as if someone is flying alongside you) or create the unique “Tiny Planet” effect that no other camera can replicate.
🔰 Drone (Cinematic aerial shots): If you want to see yourself “small but grand” amidst vast nature, choose the drone angle. Footage from a professional aerial device captures your paraglider soaring among towering mountains and swirling clouds.
These distant shots create a sense of grandeur, elegance, and cinematic drama, making you feel like the star of a blockbuster nature adventure film.
⚠️ Tip: Invest a little extra in the upgraded packages (360 or drone) for truly exceptional and high-class footage — you’ll be glad you did when you relive your sky-high adventure!
Paragliding activity at Vien Nam mountain
💡 Tips for your first flight
To make the most of your trip, be sure not to forget the following:
▪️ Clothing: Always wear sneakers with good grip (for a safe run during takeoff) and comfortable, stretchy clothes. Avoid skirts or flip-flops!
▪️ Sunscreen: Even though it’s cool up in the air, UV rays are extremely strong. Apply sunscreen thoroughly if you don’t want to come home with “two-tone” skin.
▪️ Health: Have a light meal before flying — not on an empty stomach, but don’t overeat either (to avoid feeling sick during the pilot’s maneuvers).
▪️ Booking in advance: Paragliding depends on the weather and number of participants, so contact the operator at least a few days in advance to secure a good slot.
▪️ The entire journey lasts about half a day, including travel, paragliding, the return trip, and some additional activities, so it’s best to bring some food to avoid getting hungry.
▪️ Mindset: Trust the pilot completely. They are highly professional and will take care of everything — your job is simply to enjoy the experience!
Passengers with a certificate - landing zone Vien Nam Mountain
🗺️ Other things to see around Vien Nam
There are also several places worth visiting around the flying site, all easy to reach. If you have already flown, don't miss these:
🔴 Hoa Binh Hydropower Dam – Mai Chau:
▪️ The Hoa Binh dam, about 30 minutes from the Vien Nam Peak launch site, is a landmark on the Da River — part historic engineering feat, part scenic landscape.
▪️ You can explore the power station, the spillway and the Ho Chi Minh monument with its panoramic view, take a boat out on the jade-green Hoa Binh reservoir, or visit Ba Chua Thac Bo temple and Thung Nai, an area often called "Ha Long Bay on land".
▪️ Indicative tickets: around 50,000 VND per adult and from 35,000 VND per child; the outdoor grounds cost about 20,000 VND.
▪️ Note: prices can change, so check before you go.
Hoà Bình Hydropower Dam (Hoa Binh Dam).
🔴 Ba Vì – Hanoi
Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is located in Dong Mo (Son Tay – Ba Vi, Hanoi), about 15 minutes from the Vien Nam mountain paragliding site. It is considered the “common home” of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, covering more than 1,500 hectares and recreating distinctive architecture, culture, and traditions from north to south.
🔹 Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM daily
🔹 Entrance fee: about 30,000 VND for adults; 5,000–10,000 VND for students; free for children under 6
⚠️ Due to its large area, visitors can rent electric cars (~40,000 VND/person/day) or use group transport for convenience.
Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is located in Dong Mo
▪️ Ba Vi National Park: pine forests, cactus greenhouse, Thuong Temple, Ho Chi Minh Temple, and the abandoned French church ruins
▪️ Thien Son – Suoi Nga: mountainous landscapes with waterfalls, streams, and artificial lakes
▪️ Khoang Xanh – Suoi Tien & Ao Vua: ecological entertainment areas with streams, bathing spots, and adventure games
▪️ Ban Xoi Valley: a camping and picnic site with traditional stilt houses
▪️ Suoi Hai Lake: a wide lake area ideal for camping, fishing, and boating
▪️ Duong Lam Ancient Village: an ancient Vietnamese village known for its laterite stone architecture
▪️ K9 Da Chong Relic Site: a historical site associated with President Ho Chi Minh
🍽️ Cuisine & specialties of Ba Vi
▪️ Specialties: Ba Vi milk cakes, yogurt, fresh milk, wafer cookies.
▪️ Dishes: hill chicken, wild pork, young beef, mountain goat, grilled Da River fish
Ba Vì National Park is lush and green.
And here’s the breakdown of what I paid: 2,340,000 VND for one flight, including the 360° camera package and mountain transport fees.
