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Hữu Lũng East Side and New Areas: WoofStuck, Cobra, Infinity Cave and the 2025 Crags | Vietnam Climbing Crags

Oct 21, 20261 min
TL;DRThe east side of the Hữu Lũng valley and the newer 12 sub-areas, 120 routes: WoofStuck is shaded all day but has an 8b, Cobra demands 70 meters of rope and 16 quickdraws, Infinity Cave is a big cave that stays dry in the rain. Primitive Wall is still under development, Floatin' Shore's grades are indicative only, The Arch means a 20-minute clay path that turns extremely slippery when wet, so budget a whole day.

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🌏 中文版

The nine walls of the main valley are covered in the previous article. This one takes the other half of the same valley: the WoofStuck area below Duc Bungalow, Papaya Wall north of the village, The Arch south of the village, and the new walls that went up between 2023 and 2025. 12 sub-areas, 120 routes in all.

What this guide helps you decide: which homestay to book to keep things simple, which day to go scout the new routes, and which wall to drop on the day it rains.

What kind of crag

The style here is clearly different from the main valley. The main valley is old wall inside the orchards, built around slabs, tufa and medium-length routes; this east side has higher grades overall, longer routes, and was developed only in the last ten years.

  • WoofStuck (13 routes, 6b+–8b): the crag description reads "the right side is steep, solid rock offering hard, continuous climbing with very few and very small holds; the center is honeycomb rock and slopers on a steep slab; the left has an alpine feel, long routes on fragile rock". Shade all day.
  • Passe-Muraille (11 routes, 6b+–8b+): "a huge 80-meter tower in a remote valley where buffalo roam". Long and steep, with the usual limestone techniques, including "music-box tufa and wobbly drop-knees". No entry fee, and you can park right at the wall.
  • Thánh Gióng (23 routes, 5c–7c+): "a giant wall that unfolds like karst origami, in a remote valley". The right section is multi-tufa, the middle climbs weak rock lines, the left is a finger-style, bouldering-style vertical face that is unusual for this area.
  • Cobra Wall (14 routes, 6a+–7c): "a very beautiful and very crazy wall, long routes that need endurance and power. At least 70 meters of rope and 16 quickdraws."
  • Primitive Wall (7 routes, 6a–7b+): a tall, wide wall with two levels of caves. Still under development.
  • Infinity Cave (10 routes, 5c–9a): a huge cave with good views, and it stays dry in the rain. It holds some of the hardest routes in the area.
  • Yuji Fire Cave (4 routes, 7a+–8c): a small cave you reach through a section of fixed rope, with grades on the hard side.
  • Weeping Wall (9 routes, 6b–7c+) and The Crying Moon (8 routes, 6a–6c+): neighboring new walls opened around 2025.
  • Floatin' Shore (9 routes, 6b–8b): "one of the few crags with shade all day", and the climb up from the quiet, beautiful valley floor is worth it.
  • Papaya Wall (7 routes, 5a–6a+): "an ideal beginner crag, with grades from 5a to 6a+, all no longer than 20 meters".
  • K Wall (5 routes, 6a+–6c): at the far west end of the valley, on the same side as Dead End.

The whole area is being developed fast. Passe-Muraille started development in 2018 and was finished in 2019; Primitive Wall's first ascents were in March 2023; Floatin' Shore's route names and data come from a VietClimb post of October 8, 2025; Weeping Wall is simply labeled "new crag 2025". The descriptions and grades on these walls are still changing.

When to go

The sun conditions here differ from the main valley, and the pattern is reversed:

Sub-areaSunRainHow to plan
WoofStuckShade all day—First choice on hot days and at midday, but the shade gets a bit cold in winter
Passe-MurailleSun in the morning—Afternoon shade, morning sun; good from 9 am to noon. The source carries no rain tag
Thánh GióngSun in the morning—The approach is a 5 to 10 minute steep slope, so count the walk out if you climb in the afternoon
Infinity Cave—Stays dry in the rainBig cave, a wet-weather option on a par with Dragon Wall
Floatin' ShoreShade all day—When you want a cool, hard line
Yuji Fire Cave——Cave section; the source carries no sun or rain tag
Weeping WallSun in the afternoon—Morning shade, afternoon sun, the opposite of the main valley
Papaya Wall——The source carries no sun tag; the routes are short, so do not hang around at midday in hot weather

The wet-weather rule on the east side is the same one as the main valley: pick the walls theCrag marks "dry in the rain" — on this side only Infinity Cave carries that mark, and the rest have no rain data at all, which is the same as having none. But the real risk is not on the wall, it is on the approach. The approach to Primitive Wall crosses a cement bridge, the approach to Yuji Fire Cave involves water and a section of fixed rope, Floatin' Shore means climbing 100 meters of loose scree, and The Arch is a 20-minute clay path uphill — in the rain these paths are more worth worrying about than the rock.

On time, this side is worth more of your day than the main valley: WoofStuck, Passe-Muraille and Thánh Gióng each stand on their own, and even the crag description for The Arch recommends that "because of the approach, it is best to plan a whole day".

Getting there

Public transport

The shuttle options from Hanoi to Hữu Lũng (a bus at 09:00 and 16:00 daily from 490 Minh Khai, about 3 hours, 250,000 VND one way, Zalo 0084 813071992; or the Gia Lam coach at midday, 160,000 VND, which only reaches the market, 2.5 km from the homestay) are in the main valley guide. What this article adds is getting around inside the valley.

The base for this east side is Duc Bungalow, right below the WoofStuck wall. VietClimb describes it as "at the foot of the WoofStuck wall, and within a 20-minute walk of Infinity Cave, Cobra Wall, Thánh Gióng, Passe-Muraille, Yuji Fire Cave and the other crags".

  • There is no bus inside the valley. theCrag's approach note for Hữu Lũng reads "the most common way to reach the crag is by motorbike". VietClimb's homestay page also says motorbike rental can be arranged once you arrive.
  • The least effort option is to stay at Duc Bungalow and walk or ride. Most walls are within a 20-minute walk, and WoofStuck is 1 minute away.
  • The farther walls need a car or a motorbike. Primitive Wall is north of the village, across the cement bridge; Floatin' Shore is northeast of the village; The Arch is at the far south end, and even after driving there you still walk 20 minutes uphill.

Driving

  • Private car hire: 1,500,000 VND for four seats, about 2 hours, from Hanoi straight to the village, then you drive to each wall yourself.
  • Rental motorbike: about 2.5 hours from Hanoi to Hữu Lũng. theCrag warns that "you may not get an automatic, so be ready to ride a manual shift" and that "there are no gas stations nearby, but local shops sell bottled gasoline".
  • Road conditions in the valley: on the Dragon Wall side there is a "swamp", and theCrag says "if the swamp is dry you can park close to the rock" — after rain that no longer holds.

Parking

Sub-areaWhere to parkCost
WoofStuckPark at WoofStuck Homestay, 1-minute walk to the wall10,000 VND parking; 25,000 VND entry fee per person per day, collected by the owner on site
Passe-MurailleYou can park right below the wallNo entry fee
Thánh GióngGo south on the village main road to the Duc Bungalow junction, then west, leave the village along the bike path by the rice fields for about 200 m and park at the bend (21.616449,106.365953); then head south up the narrow ridge, cross the stream at the corner of the brick wall and climb 5 minutes of steep slope up to the ridge lineOwner collects the fee
Cobra WallTurn left at (21.6118016,106.3731426), follow the dirt road over the bridge, and at the fork turn left twice in a row onto the track; a motorbike can ride all the way to the wall, two people on one is harder goingOwner collects the fee
Primitive WallThe approach path is on the right after the cement bridgeEntry fee not discussed yet; the landowner has agreed to the development
Infinity CavePark by the rice fields, then follow the small irrigation ditchOwner collects the fee
Yuji Fire CavePark by the toilet blockOwner collects the fee
Floatin' ShorePark at (21.626624,106.385094), then about 100 m of scrambling over loose rock20,000 VND entry fee per person per day; the friendly landowner comes to the crag
Papaya WallHead east out of the village, cross the ditch by the plank walkway on the left, and park on the track beside the brick wall (21.631302,106.372601)25,000 VND entry fee per person per day, paid on entry to an old lady
The ArchPark at (21.565729,106.411170), then 20 minutes uphillOwner collects the fee
The Crying MoonThe source publishes no approach or parking instructionsOwner collects the fee

Rules before you go

Primitive Wall is still under development. The top of the crag page is two lines of warning: "Warning: still under development" and "there is still a lot of dust, rockfall hazard". The first ascents of the seven routes were in March 2023. The landowner agreed to the development, but the entry fee has not been negotiated, and the page says a fee "may be charged once the development is finished and the crag officially opens". Do not go to this area while the developers are still working on it.

The grades at Floatin' Shore are indicative only. The area page says: "the current grades are only indicative. Route names and data are taken from a VietClimb post of October 8, 2025." This is the table in the whole series where keeping the original grades matters most.

The Arch approach is dangerous after rain. The page describes "a loose clay path 20 minutes uphill, extremely slippery when wet". Stay as far to the right as you can; you pass a hut on the way, and you hike through a private orchard. The page's own advice is "because of the approach, it is best to plan a whole day".

The gear at Cobra Wall is a hard requirement. "At least 70 meters of rope and 16 quickdraws" — that is what the crag page demands, not a suggestion.

Two specific risks at Thánh Gióng. The area carries warnings about "hornet nests in the last third" and that "the rope may drag a lot"; the approach is "a badly washed-out path" that turns slippery after rain.

Bolt and anchor warnings: Primitive Wall's "top anchor" has problems; WoofStuck has "loose rock" and bird nests; Passe-Muraille has "missing ring on the second pitch anchor", "missing hanger on bolt 2" and "loose bolts"; WoofStuck's Crystal Planet extension is 40 meters long. Bring a wrench and check the hangers and nuts before you climb.

4-pitch routes like Slo Pony Wall and Cobra: Peanut Butter & Jelly is 4 pitches, 72 meters, 39 bolts, and the area carries an approach warning about a "risk of a free hanging fall, requires rope ascent skills". A route like that is not solved by "bringing two extra quickdraws".

Emergency numbers: police 113, fire 114, ambulance 115; national rescue center 020 7008 5000 (24 hours, Vietnamese only). There is no ambulance in the valley, so an injured climber has to solve the "how do I get out" problem themselves.

Routes by level

YDS and V-grade conversions follow the Mountain Project international grade comparison chart and are approximate; "approx." marks grades the sources give without a/b/c (such as 4 or 5+). The original grade is the one that counts.

Beginner: up to 6a (YDS 5.10a and below)

Almost all the beginner routes in this area are at Papaya Wall — it was designed as the beginner crag. The other option is the left section of Thánh Gióng, which is "a blank vertical face with finger-style, bouldering-style holds".

RouteGradeYDSLength or pitchesSectorNotes
Ramoneur De Façade5a5.715 mPapaya Walltop-rope route
Le Pont des Arts5b5.815 mPapaya WalltheCrag 2 stars
Le Pont Royal5b5.815 mPapaya WalltheCrag 2 stars
Chupa me la Papaya5b5.815 mPapaya WalltheCrag 1 star
Meh Sữa5c5.917 mPapaya WalltheCrag 2 stars
Fork the System6a5.10a15 mPapaya WalltheCrag 2 stars
Trang's Love5b5.828 mThe ArchtheCrag 2 stars; 20-minute uphill approach
Fireflies' path5c5.9—Infinity CavetheCrag 1 star
Tarzan6a5.10a25 mInfinity CavetheCrag 1 star
Rapunzel6a5.10a20 mPrimitive Wallthe area is still under development, rockfall hazard
Nest6a+5.10b18 mPrimitive Wallsame as above
The Root6a5.10a25 mThánh GióngtheCrag 1 star
Young Buffaloes6a5.10a30 mThánh Gióngno stars on theCrag
Next Excuse6a5.10a27 mThánh GióngtheCrag 1 star
Seal Rider6a5.10a28 mThánh GióngtheCrag 1 star
Touffadiction Variant5c5.925 mThánh GióngtheCrag 1 star; also a full 6b version
Danskerfe med campingvogn6a5.10a—The Crying MoontheCrag 2 stars
12 Monkeys6a5.10a—The Crying MoontheCrag 1 star

Intermediate: 6a+ to 6c+ (YDS 5.10b–5.11c)

The intermediate routes at Passe-Muraille are the first thing worth booking in the area: the 6b+ to 6c+ routes are concentrated in long lines of 30 to 35 meters, and they are free and you can park right at the wall.

RouteGradeYDSLength or pitchesSectorNotes
La Voie Royale6a+5.10b20 mPapaya WalltheCrag 2 stars
Alpine Chimney6b+5.10d25 mWoofStucktheCrag 2 stars
Fake Honey Moon6c5.11a/b32 mWoofStucktheCrag 2 stars
Bandolle6c+5.11c32 mWoofStucktheCrag 3 stars
Not a Bad Day6b+5.10d30 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 2 stars
Dragon Slayer6c5.11a/b35 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 3 stars
Gallantry6c5.11a/b35 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 3 stars
Yalouz6c+5.11c35 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 3 stars
Rapport de Force6c+5.11c30 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 3 stars
Echo6a+5.10b30 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Le Vallon des Biquettes6a+5.10b25 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Expression Minerale6b+5.10d25 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Keepers of Fire6b5.10c35 mThánh GióngtheCrag 1 star
Docodemo Door6b5.10c30 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Quất thôi6b+5.10d30 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Monstera6b+5.10d30 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Hết pin chưa?6c5.11a/b32 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Babylon Spirit6a+5.10b32 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Magic Mushroom6a+5.10b20 mThánh GióngtheCrag 1 star
Beanstalk6b5.10c27 mThánh GióngtheCrag 1 star
Sisyphus6c+5.11c35 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Hồ Điệp Cốc6b+5.10d—Cobra WalltheCrag 1 star
Quá Đãaa6b+5.10d—Cobra WalltheCrag 2 stars
Quarter Of A Century6b+5.10d—Cobra WalltheCrag 2 stars
The Crab's Beta6b+5.10d—Cobra WalltheCrag 3 stars
Lam Ngài6b5.10c—Cobra WalltheCrag 2 stars
Snakes And Ladder6c5.11a/b—Cobra WalltheCrag 2 stars
Carst Eyes6c5.11a/b—Cobra WalltheCrag 2 stars
Đầu Xuôi Đuôi Lọt6a+5.10b—Cobra WalltheCrag 2 stars
X-QUANG6c5.11a/b28 mPrimitive Wallunder development, rockfall hazard
Second confession6b5.10c30 mInfinity CavetheCrag 2 stars
Ode to mediocrity6b5.10c23 mWeeping WalltheCrag 2 stars; 2025 new wall
Not as it seems6b5.10c25 mWeeping WalltheCrag 2 stars
DJ Hammer6c5.11a/b—Weeping WalltheCrag 3 stars
Travity6b5.10c37 mFloatin' ShoretheCrag 2 stars; grades are indicative only
Mo Chara6c5.11a/b30 mFloatin' ShoretheCrag 3 stars; grades are indicative only
We're Island6c+5.11c28 mThe ArchtheCrag 3 stars
L'Arrache-Coeur6c+5.11c28 mThe ArchtheCrag 2 stars
Quit your Job and Climb6b+5.10d30 mThe ArchtheCrag 3 stars
Arirang6a+5.10b—K WalltheCrag 2 stars
BTS6b5.10c—K WalltheCrag 2 stars
Mad Rock6b+5.10d—K WalltheCrag 2 stars
Gangnam Oppa6c5.11a/b—K Wallno stars on theCrag

Advanced: 7a to 7c+ (YDS 5.11d–5.13a)

WoofStuck is where this grade is most concentrated: the description of the right side as "hard and continuous, with very few holds" is written about this wall. Cobra Wall and Thánh Gióng are the long, endurance-style walls.

RouteGradeYDSLength or pitchesSectorNotes
Goosebumps7a+5.12a32 mWoofStucktheCrag 3 stars
Little Thakhek7b+5.12c35 mWoofStucktheCrag 2 stars
The Agressive Bum Gun Technique7b+5.12c35 mWoofStucktheCrag 3 stars
Pédale Dur(e)7c5.12d35 mWoofStucktheCrag 1 star
I Have A Dream7c5.12d35 mWoofStucktheCrag 3 stars
L'entrée des Artistes7c5.12d35 mWoofStucktheCrag 2 stars
Crystal Planet (ext.)7c5.12d40 mWoofStucktheCrag 1 star; the original 6b+ is 25 m
Pipi dans la Culotte7a5.11d30 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 2 stars
Les Sorbonnards7a5.11d60 m, 3 pitchesPasse-MurailletheCrag 1 star; the area carries a "missing ring on the second pitch anchor" warning
Swiping Corner7a+5.12a30 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 3 stars
Bold Nuts7a+5.12a30 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 3 stars
Psy Phenix7a+5.12a30 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 3 stars
Khoan cắt bê tông7a+5.12a20 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
Tufarathon7a+5.12a33 mThánh GióngtheCrag 3 stars
De-crepit7c+5.13a27 mThánh GióngtheCrag 3 stars
Ngựa Sắt7b5.12b30 mThánh GióngtheCrag 3 stars
Touffadiction6b5.10c35 mThánh GióngtheCrag 2 stars
The Co-Bra Path7c5.12d—Cobra WalltheCrag 3 stars
The Snake Charmer7c5.12d—Cobra Wallno stars on theCrag
A Roof Too Short7c5.12d—Cobra Wallno stars on theCrag
Dưa Dừa Dứa7b+5.12c—Cobra WalltheCrag 2 stars
Circle Of Life7a+5.12a—Cobra WalltheCrag 1 star
Số Đỏ7a+5.12a—Cobra WalltheCrag 2 stars
Allegory7a5.11d30 mInfinity CavetheCrag 3 stars
Shattered tufa and promise7a5.11d—Infinity CavetheCrag 2 stars
Bumble7b5.12b—Infinity CavetheCrag 3 stars
2pm Koumori Show7a+5.12a—Yuji Fire CavetheCrag 1 star
Bats Lullaby7b+5.12c—Yuji Fire CavetheCrag 2 stars
Bat Mobile7b5.12b—Yuji Fire CavetheCrag 3 stars
Chip Chip Fondue7a+5.12a—Weeping WalltheCrag 3 stars; 2025 new wall
Le Tocsin de la Raison7b5.12b—Weeping WalltheCrag 3 stars
Ruins of self7b+5.12c—Weeping WalltheCrag 3 stars
Tam to climb7c5.12d—Weeping WalltheCrag 3 stars
Withdrawal from Autopsy7c5.12d—Weeping WalltheCrag 3 stars
Wipeout7c+5.13a—Weeping WalltheCrag 2 stars
Nắng Quắt Queo7b5.12b—Floatin' ShoretheCrag 3 stars; grades are indicative only
Vitcoin7c5.12d—Floatin' ShoretheCrag 3 stars; grades are indicative only
Muczilla7a+5.12a26 mFloatin' ShoretheCrag 3 stars; grades are indicative only
L'Anarcho7b+5.12c28 mThe ArchtheCrag 3 stars
Heart of the Beast7b/b+5.12b25 mPrimitive WalltheCrag 3 stars; under development
Buckshot7a+/b5.12a24 mPrimitive WalltheCrag 2 stars; under development

Expert: 8a and up (YDS 5.13b and up)

The 8s in this area are concentrated in four places: WoofStuck, Passe-Muraille, Infinity Cave and Floatin' Shore. Infinity Cave's "Chipu hâm" spans the widest grade range of anything in Hữu Lũng.

RouteGradeYDSLength or pitchesSectorNotes
Artist direct8a5.13b—WoofStuckno stars on theCrag
Back to Reality8b5.13d35 mWoofStucktheCrag 3 stars
Aboriginal8b+5.14a30 mPasse-MurailletheCrag 2 stars
Lotus and Áo Dài8a/a+5.13b—Infinity CavetheCrag 3 stars
Vô cực Infinity8b+5.14a—Infinity CavetheCrag 1 star
Chipu hâm8c - 9a5.14b—Infinity CavetheCrag 2 stars; listed as two grades in the source
Mặt Trời8c5.14b—Yuji Fire CavetheCrag 2 stars
Mothsua8a5.13b—Floatin' ShoretheCrag 2 stars; grades are indicative only
Mi Nói Với Tao À?8a+5.13c—Floatin' ShoretheCrag 3 stars; grades are indicative only
Ariadne's Thread8b5.13d—Floatin' ShoretheCrag 3 stars; grades are indicative only

Trad

Hữu Lũng is almost entirely sport climbing. There are only three trad routes, two of them on the east side:

RouteOriginal gradeYDSLength or pitchesWallNotes
The Leviathan6b+5.10d50 mPrimitive WalltheCrag 1 star; still under development, rockfall hazard
The mighty jungle6a5.10a—Infinity CavetheCrag 2 stars
Bold baby5b5.8—Dragon WalltheCrag 2 stars; located in the main valley guide

Where to look things up

  • theCrag: WoofStuck, Passe-Muraille, Thánh Gióng, Cobra Wall, Primitive Wall, Infinity Cave, Yuji Fire Cave, Weeping Wall, Floatin' Shore, Papaya Wall, The Arch: approach maps, parking coordinates, entry fees, sun and anchor warnings for each sub-area.
  • theCrag: Hữu Lũng main page: 267 routes in the whole area, 21 sub-areas, the entry fee and recommended gear counts.
  • VietClimb: Duc Bungalow's location and the walking radius to the surrounding crags, shuttles and guides; they update new-wall information the fastest.
  • Guidebook: Grades and route counts here come mainly from online databases; the guidebook is the authority.
    • Vietnam Climbing, Luca De Giorgi and Gavi Piper, second edition 2023, 230 pages, ISBN 9781727545128, in English. It only covers 122 Hữu Lũng routes, and the east side and the walls opened after 2023 are basically outside its coverage, so the content of this whole article comes mainly from online databases rather than the printed book. A Vertical-Life app redemption code is included.

References