Poem Mountain (Bai Tho Mountain) remains one of Ha Long City’s most important historic viewpoints, but it should not currently be planned as a normal public hike. As of the latest 2026 local reporting, the mountain had still not officially reopened to tourists after the closure that followed the 2017 forest fire.
For Vietnam Story, that changes the planning question completely. The useful question is not “How do I find the secret entrance?” It is whether official access has reopened for your travel date, and what legal viewpoint or city activity makes sense if it has not.
Is Poem Mountain open to tourists?
Do not treat Poem Mountain as a normal open hiking attraction unless an official local announcement confirms reopening.
Local reporting in September 2026 said the mountain had still not officially reopened after nearly nine years of closure. It also noted that some visitors had tried to bypass barriers and that instructions for crossing restricted access points had circulated online.
Vietnam Story does not recommend climbing over barriers, entering through private residential property, paying an unofficial access fee, or following a social-media “secret trail”. If the mountain officially reopens, use the access point, hours and safety rules published by the local authorities or authorised operator at that time.
Why is access restricted?
The closure is not simply a matter of opening a gate. Bai Tho is a steep limestone mountain rising directly behind a dense urban area, and safe visitor access depends on the condition of the route, barriers, handrails, fire prevention and the way people enter and leave the site.
That is why old blog directions are a poor planning tool. A route that someone used years ago does not become official access because it still appears on a map, video or travel forum.
Why Poem Mountain still matters even when the summit is closed
Poem Mountain is more than a photo viewpoint. It is part of Ha Long’s historical landscape and is associated with inscriptions, poetry and military history. The mountain and the cultural sites around its base form part of a nationally recognised historic and scenic complex.
This historical layer is worth keeping in the itinerary even when the summit climb is not available. If you are interested in the wider story of Quang Ninh rather than only the view, our Ha Long Museum guide is a better next step.
What can you do around Bai Tho Mountain without climbing it?
The area around the foot of the mountain can still work as part of a Hồng Gai city visit. In 2026, local authorities continued upgrading and promoting the cultural space around the Bai Tho heritage area, including the precinct around Đức Ông Trần Quốc Nghiễn Temple.
For most travellers, we would treat this as a city-and-heritage stop, not an improvised hiking attempt. Depending on your interests and current opening conditions, combine the area with:
- Quang Ninh Museum for regional history and culture;
- Long Tien Pagoda and the wider Hồng Gai area for the cultural setting at the foot of the mountain;
- other Ha Long City attractions if your schedule already includes a mainland night before or after the cruise.
Our things to do in Ha Long City guide is the better owner for choosing among mainland attractions.
Where should you go for a Ha Long viewpoint instead?
If the main goal is an elevated view, choose an option that is actually operating within your route.
| Viewpoint option | Use it when | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Ti Top Island | Your cruise route includes the island | Access and timing depend on the cruise programme |
| Sun World / city-side elevated views | You are already staying in Bai Chay and want a mainland attraction | Different experience from a natural mountain hike |
| Cat Ba forest viewpoints | Cat Ba is deliberately part of the itinerary | Needs more time than a short Ha Long City stop |
| Poem Mountain | Only after official public access is confirmed | Do not plan around unofficial entry |
For the broader comparison between cruise-linked climbs, Cat Ba forest trails and city viewpoints, use our Ha Long hiking guide. If Ti Top is already on your cruise, the Ti Top Island guide covers that stop in more detail.
Should you keep Poem Mountain in a first Ha Long itinerary?
Not as a required hike while access remains closed.
For a first-time Ha Long trip, the bay itself should remain the priority. Choose the cruise, route and exact boarding port first. A closed viewpoint should not force an extra hotel night, detour or risky access attempt.
If you have a mainland night in Ha Long, the Bai Tho heritage area can still make sense as part of a city visit. If you do not, we would usually spend that time on the bay or on a viewpoint that is already included in the confirmed programme.
If you are still deciding whether to stay on the mainland, our Bai Chay Ha Long guide explains when a pre- or post-cruise night actually helps.
How should you check for reopening?
Use an official local source or a current operator confirmation close to travel. Reopening may come with a new entrance, timed access, safety controls or a managed route that is different from old unofficial paths.
We would not rely on:
- old blog directions;
- Google Maps pins for private alleys;
- social posts showing someone crossing a barrier;
- an unofficial fee quoted by a homeowner;
- sunrise or sunset instructions written before the route officially reopened.
Once an official reopening is announced, this specialist page should be updated around the authorised entrance and operating rules rather than preserving the former “secret trail” advice.
Want a Ha Long route with a viewpoint that is actually available?
Start with our Vietnam tour packages and choose the northern route and cruise first. Vietnam Story can then fit a currently operating viewpoint, city stop or Cat Ba extension around your group’s fitness and schedule without building the day around restricted access.
For outdoor and access-sensitive stops, we would reconfirm the current operating status close to travel rather than treating an old itinerary as guaranteed.
