THIÊN LONG SƠN - THE DRAGON MOUNTAIN — Local services in Milpitas

A pathway to heaven!

God or nature - whatever it is you believe in, this hidden gem is a pathway to heaven! Very few places I’ve been to, really allowed me to meet myself! Go alone or with friends and family, you’re bound to run into yourself.

Time will move in slo-mo and make you embrace every bit of beauty nature has to offer - blue skies, fluffy clouds, penetrating sun rays, calm lakes, whistling winds, green meadows, grazing cattle, solid mountains, muddy roads, and familiar footprints!

Even the man-made elements on this place are a work of art - the statues, the temple, the chapel, the cross, the colors on stairway, the road signs, and even the restrooms. Hospitality also finds its true meaning here - the residents are so kind and generous in offering you water, food, and care - you’ll truly feel welcomed. Many many thanks to the caretakers.

I can’t thank my dear friend enough for inviting me to experience this journey with her. The only time I literally touched my phone in this fantastic 3-hour hike was to capture some moments. More than the workout part, the real reward for me was the relaxation and therapeutic angle of it.

Few tips: bring an extra pair of shoes for driving back home, as your hiking shoes are going be as muddy as they can, bring a jacket to wear, when at the peak (the wind chill is brrrrrrrr - no matter what time of the day!), carry light snacks - protein bar, nuts, and a water bottle (although you can ask for water from the locals), and click click (you don’t have to be a photographer to get good...

Still closed to the public as of June 12, 2024. However, access is possible if you know the passcode—just ask the friendly locals living in the gray-roof houses near the entrance. After nearly six hours of driving from LA, we were about to give up when some kind locals kindly helped us out, and we were so grateful!

Although accessible by car, the mountain road is quite steep with some uneven surfaces, so please be extra careful. The breathtaking and tranquil scenery made all the hardships worthwhile. We arrived around 1 PM, and the profound silence, combined with the chime of a bronze bell from a nearby temple, made it feel like heaven on earth.

At the main area of the mountain, we were surrounded by beautiful, white statues of various characters from Vietnamese mythology, including gods, heroes, and mythical creatures like Ky Lân (the Vietnamese Unicorn) and Trần Hưng Đạo (a Vietnamese royal prince, statesman, and military commander). Everything is well-maintained and clean, with bathrooms, a kitchen, dining hall, small library, and community room. Additionally, there are several temples where you can pay your respects.

At the top of the mountain is a Điện Mẫu (Mother of Earth Hall), and the stairway leading to this hall is known as the Stairway to Heaven. It is said that all your sins will be forgiven when you complete the ascent, so give it a try next time you're there!

For accommodation, I recommend the Executive Inn Milpitas. It's just a 7-minute drive to the mountain, it's cheap, and it has the...

Wow! Hike and free lunch? What's not to love about this place? I came here with my family on a Sunday hike. I didn't realize that this place also provides free lunch from 12pm-2pm on Sundays as well! Parking is a doozey at the bottom of the hill, definitely check to see if there's any space undercover just a ways up before parking in the gravel lot.

The hike itself is pretty steep but the stairs make it quite tolerable in the summer heat. There's also an extended trail once the stairs end, but we decided not to go the day we went. There are many small resting rooms spread throughout the way up with hammocks, libraries, & bathrooms. The views are stunning from these rooms and are quite tranquil!

The best part is, there's busses that can get you up and down from the mountain if you decide hiking isn't your thing.

Lunch provided is free, consisting of all vegetarian Vietnamese food. The day we went we got tofu banh mi, squash soup, pandan sweet rice, grass jelly dessert soup, fruit punch and milk thistle tea. They also provided bags of dried milk thistle tea to take home as well.

Thien Long Son is many things, a temple, monastery, hiking destination, delicious food. A great place to spend time with family...