Solo Hike up Dragon Jaw | Sapa, Vietnam

After work, I decided to check a hiking spot  I found on Google Maps, Dragon Jaw (Link here). From Sapa town, I walked 1.2 KM to Ham Rong Park (Note : From Sapa church, just follow walking directions to Ham Rong Park). The stairs leading to the park entrance were steeper than I expected,  giving me an unplanned warm-up for the hike ahead. 

I paid the 70,000 VND entrance fee and headed toward the trail. Though I didn't see any signs to Dragon Jaw, the path to the peak was pretty obvious. While making my way up, I couldn't resist stopping at the beautiful attractions - flower & statue gardens.  There were even a  few stores selling fresh coconut juice, other drinks and snacks.  I suddenly wished I had more time to explore, but it  was  already 2:45 PM and I wanted to spend more time on the trail. 

After leaving Ham Rong park's attractions, I walked into a huge farmland, passing through a wooden gate - making sure I closed it behind me so the animals don't wander off. As I continued, I encountered cows, dogs and chickens, adding a rural charm to the scenery. 

The landscape opened up to amazing view of surrounding mountains and the town of Sapa below! I could even spot the lake where I'd done plenty of walking. 

getting rewarded with a view of Sapa town and its lake

The hike to Dragon jaw is short and fairly easy. At a normal pace, it takes about an hour starting  from Ham Rong Park. From there, it's a steady climb. I was out of breath at times, but it was still manageable. There are a few fun challenges along the way—like a narrow wooden bridge made from a 2-foot log. It only crosses a shallow pit, so a fall wouldn't be disastrous but it would definitely hurt!

By 3:30 PM, I reached the peak, greeted by stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and Sapa town.  I’ve been acrophobic since I was 10, so I’m not always keen on summits, and this one has scary sections. The drop from the edge was steep and exposed, which made me nervous —I sat in a safe spot to enjoy the view A few more hikers arrived shortly after, so I decided to head back down and grab a nice early dinner. The hike was definitely worth it, offering amazing views and a bit of a challenge. If you’re up for a short but rewarding adventure, Dragon Jaw is a great choice!

a fellow hiker taking in the view from Dragon Jaw

Note: I did this hike on a weekday, spring of March 2025 

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