Rock climbing was first introduced to Vietnam in 2006 by foreign climbers. The sport is now becoming more popular and attracting an increasing number of local young people.

 A climbing wall at Vietclimb in Hanoi

The first instructors of the sport in Vietnam were Phan Thanh Nhien and Nguyen Mau Linh who climbed Everest in 2008.

There are now several places providing rock climbing in Vietnam. One of the most popular places is X-Rock Climbing at Phan Dinh Phung Sport Centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

An instructor here, Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, said that the facility features a 16 metre high climbing wall with routes for climbers of all abilities. Highlights include lead climbing and a difficult section with a 3.75 metre overhang.

"7C is the highest level here and only two foreign climbers have conquered this level," Nguyen revealed.

You can climb at the following locations:

1. X-Rock Climbing, Phan Dinh Phung Sport Centre, 75 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, District 3, HCM City.

2. X-Rock Mountain, 503 A Nguyen Duy Trinh Street, D2, HCM City

Tel: (08) 6 278 5794

3. VietClimb, No. 40, Lane 76, An Duong Street, Hanoi.