Why is it called the "riding the clouds" experience?
Ngoa Van Hermitage and Pagoda are located on Bao Dai mountain, at an average altitude of 588 to 644m above sea level - a place covered by clouds and fog year-round, so much so that the ancients named this land "Ngoa Van" (meaning sleeping cloud). When the cable car cabin leaves the station, you are not just moving up the mountain, but truly gliding through the floating clouds across the mountainside - a feeling that can rarely be fully experienced anywhere else in the North like it is here.
Below is a dark green primary forest canopy, in the distance is the sparkling Trai Loc lake, and in between are streaks of white clouds that constantly dissipate and gather with each mountain breeze. This is the reason why many tourists liken the Ngoa Van cable car journey to a moment of "riding the clouds to the Buddha's land".
Impressive specifications of the Ngoa Van cable car system
Not only beautiful, the Ngoa Van Hermitage and Pagoda cable car system is also a remarkable engineering feat:
- Total length: 2,200 meters, connecting directly from Trai Loc 1 village up to the Ngoa Van Hermitage and Pagoda area.
- Scale: includes 2 stations, 12 support pillars, and 52 cabins, each capable of carrying 10 passengers.
- Capacity: maximum of about 2,300 passengers/hour, ensuring smooth operation even during peak festival seasons.
- Equipment provider: Poma - the leading cable car brand from France, installed according to the standards of the International Organization for Transportation by Rope, with a total investment of nearly 500 billion VND.
- Travel time: only about 10-15 minutes, compared to having to hike 3-4km of slippery, steep forest trails which used to take nearly 2 hours.
Thanks to the cable car line, the pilgrimage to the Ngoa Van Sanctuary has now become much gentler, suitable for the elderly, children, and those not used to strenuous physical activity - while still fully retaining the sacred, mystical feeling of a sacred mountain region "covered by clouds year-round".
Directions to the Ngoa Van cable car station
Cable car station No. 1 is located in the Trai Loc Area, An Sinh Ward, Quang Ninh Province. From Hanoi, visitors travel towards Quang Ninh via the expressway, passing the Tran Dynasty Royal Temple (Thai Mieu) area, reaching the Trai Loc dam, and then going straight into the parking lot next to the station - the entire route for cars is conveniently paved with asphalt/concrete. On the way in, Trai Loc lake with its calm water surface reflecting the mountains is also a favorite check-in stop for many tourists.
What is the experience like sitting in the cable car cabin?
When the cabin slowly leaves the station platform, the first feeling is silence - no more car horns, no more city noise, only the sound of the wind blowing through the door gaps and the vast green of the ancient forest stretching beneath your feet. The higher you go, the thicker the fog gets; there are segments where the cabin passes through a dense layer of white clouds, making the scenery below look as ethereal as an ink wash painting.
This is also an ideal time to prepare your mindset before venerating Ngoa Van Hermitage, Upper Ngoa Van Pagoda, and the Buddhist Emperor Stupa - where the sarira of the Ascetic Emperor Tran Nhan Tong is enshrined. Many tourists share that just those 10 minutes of riding the clouds in the cable car were enough for them to feel their minds settle down, ready to enter a complete spiritual journey.
Ticket prices and operating hours of the Ngoa Van cable car
The Ngoa Van cable car operates every day of the week, including holidays and Lunar New Year, with popular receiving hours from 05:00 to 18:00. Regarding the ticket policy, the tourist area applies free cable car tickets for Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, wounded soldiers, Buddhist monks and nuns, and children under 1m tall accompanied by adults (relevant documents must be presented when purchasing tickets).
Because the ticket price for the Ngoa Van pagoda cable car can be adjusted depending on the time and festival season, tourists should consult the latest price list directly on the official website or fanpage of Ngoa Van Yen Tu, or contact the hotline before planning to proactively manage sightseeing costs and time.
Small tips when taking the Ngoa Van cable car
- Choose the early morning timeframe if you want the best "cloud hunting" - this is when the fog is still thick, creating the clearest cloud-riding effect.
- Avoid peak hours during the main festival at the beginning of the year so you don't have to wait long; you should go early in the morning or early afternoon.
- Bring a light jacket, because the higher you go, the lower the temperature drops and the humidity in the clouds is quite high.
- Combine visiting An Sinh Temple and the Tran Dynasty Royal Temple on the way in to understand more about the traces of the Tran dynasty before going up the mountain.
Conclusion
Not many places in Vietnam possess a cable car system that is both modern and weaves tourists through layers of mountain clouds to reach one of the most sacred Buddhist sanctuaries like Ngoa Van. If you are looking for an experience that is both visually satisfying in terms of scenery and spiritually profound, then 10 minutes of "riding the clouds" on the Ngoa Van cable car is definitely a must-not-miss start for your journey back to the Buddha's land.