Travel guide: Tam Dao – An ideal destination in the North
Tam Dao (Tam Đảo), a small mountainous town of Vinh Phu province, is favored by many young locals. At 1000m (3000ft) high, Tam Dao has a cool weather throughout the year like Da Lat and Sapa. In addition, the 70km (44miles) from Hanoi has made it an attractive place for Hanoi people on weekends and holidays.
The reason it is called Tam Dao is because this place has three tall mountains rising above the clouds, namely Thach Ban, Thien Thi, and Phu Nghia which can be seen from Hanoi on sunny days. On January 25th, Tam Dao was recognized as a National Tourist Area.
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>> Check out hotels and motels in Tam Dao
No matter what season you come here, visitors can enjoy the changing weather of all four seasons in a day. Tam Dao used to be one of the favorite vacation spots for the French. Currently, Tam Dao possesses both mountainous landscapes and many new European-style buildings, making it an ideal destination for tourists who want to escape from the city on weekends.
Which season is beautiful in Tam Dao?
Tam Dao is a suitable destination to explore all year round because each season has its own beauty. In spring, when you come to Tam Dao, you have the opportunity to admire many types of flowers showing off their colors. During the summer, it becomes crowded on weekends as people come here to escape the heat since the temperature is always about 4-5 degrees Celsius lower than Hanoi, with the highest usually reaching 27-28 degrees Celsius.
If you want to hunt for clouds in Tam Dao, then November to January is a suitable time. This is winter, when temperatures drop low and cover the town in mist, creating a romantic and quiet atmosphere. You should keep an eye on weather forecasts. According to local residents’ advice, clouds will appear when the sun comes out after a rainy day.
How To Get to Tam Dao
From Hanoi, you can go to Tam Dao by car or motorcycle. There are also bus, limousine, and taxi services from Hanoi to Tam Dao, round trip tickets cost around 200,000 – 300,000 dong per person. The travel time from Hanoi is about 2 hours. Note that if you choose to ride a motorcycle, it is safer to use a geared bike as the roads have many slopes and curves. The distance from Hanoi to Tam Dao is about 50 km on National Highway 2 followed by 24 km on National Highway 2B and finally nearly 13 km of mountain road leading to the town center.
In the town of Tam Dao, if there is no means of transportation available, tourists should consider renting a motorcycle at a price of 150,000 -250 ,000 dong per day depending on the type.
Contact here:
Nhat Nam Limousine
- Ha Noi: 5h00 -> 21h00
- Tam Dao: 5h00 -> 21h00
- price: 200.000vnd
- call: 0868 983 456
Tien Thinh Limousine
- Hà Nội: 5h00 -> 21h00
- Tam Đảo: 5h00 -> 21h00
- 200.000đ
- 0934 455 899
Minh Thuy Limousine
- Hà Nội: 7h00 -> 17h30
- Tam Đảo: 8h00 -> 16h00
- 150.000đ
- 0964 885 884
Green Limousine
- Hà Nội: 7h30 -> 10h00
- Tam Đảo: 12h30 -> 14h00
- 130.000đ – 160.000đ
- 1900 575 725
Tuan Anh Limousine
- Hà Nội: 7h00 -> 17h00
- Tam Đảo: 7h00 -> 17h00
- 180.000đ
- 0969 252 028
Khac Cuong Limousine
- Hà Nội: 5h30 -> 18h00
- Tam Đảo: 5h30 -> 18h00
- 100.000đ – 130.000đ
- 0978 914 895
Đan Anh Limousine
- Hà Nội: 8h00 -> 16h00
- Tam Đảo: 12h00 -> 16h00
- 200.000đ
- 0966 763 228
Attractions in Tam Dao
Depending on the time, purpose, and travel style, you can choose from the following destinations for a day trip or a two-day-one-night itinerary.
1. The town square: with its iconic fountain, curved stone steps, and the words “Tam Dao.” This is the first check-in point that almost everyone who comes here takes some memorable photos.
2. The Stone Church – Tam Dao ancient church: is the tourist symbol of the town. Tam Dao Church is built with stone on a high land ridge in Gothic architecture, with two floors and a height of 10 meters. The lower floor is spacious, with many paths alongside the main road leading to the upper floor. On the second floor, there is a wide courtyard with many stone arches, where people can relax, enjoy sunsets, and take photos. Inside the second-floor foundation is a holy church built in 1937 for people to worship, next to it is a tall bell tower.
3. Cau May: Cau May is a popular check-in spot in Tam Dao for many young people. Here, you can admire a peaceful corner of Tam Dao with countless green canopies reaching out to embrace the sunlight. In this refreshing green painting, there are also touches of golden light from white broom forests and vibrant and beautiful fields of wild sunflowers.
4. Van pagoda (Chùa Vân), whose full name is Tam Dao Tinh Vien Van Son, was built in 2009. Located 9km (5miles) aways from Tam Dao town, on the route from Hanoi to Tam Dao, the pagoda has very beautiful view. You can also stay overnight here.
5. Telecommunication tower, 93m (270ft) high, is located on the peak of Thien Nhi mountain – 1400m (4600ft) high. Way up to the mountain is quite hard but romantic with many kinds of flower: Orchid, Cuc quy and many other wild flowers.
6. Silver waterfall (Thác Bạc): 50m (165ft) high, is the most beautiful waterfall in Tam Dao. To get to the fall, from Tam Dao town, you have to go along a trail, down to a deep valley. In the end, you will see the waterfall hiding in the mountain. Thac Bac is a tourist spot right in the center of town for those who want to go trekking and listen to the “white noise” from the waterfall to relax. Climbing about 400 steps, you will see water pouring down from above. Note that if you go on a rainy day, the road may be slippery, so be careful when moving and avoid wearing high heels. If you don’t have spare shoes, you can rent sandals from convenience stores along the way for 20,000 dong. If you come on a sunny day, Thac Bac is definitely a suitable place for you to rest and play with the cool continuous flow of the waterfall.
7. Rung Rinh peak (đỉnh Rùng Rình) is an ideal destination for adventurers. The nature is fairy-like with a lot of gigantic trees covered in orchids and moss, birds singing all day and majestic mountains. Furthermore, you can see Tam Dao-2, the remain of what used to be a French resort nearly a century ago.
8. Public pool is located halfway up the mountain, very romantic. The water is very clean. You should bath at noon or early afternoon to avoid the cold in the morning and evening ($2.5/ticket). The pool is picked as relaxing place by many tourists.
9. Sky Gate (Cổng Trời) where you get to know a Tam Đảo behind the cloud – my favorite view.
10. Thuong Ngan princess temple (Đền bà chúa Thượng Ngàn) has many things to see. When arriving at the garden statues, I was very surprised by the statues of Buddha, Bodhisattva, Arhat hiding in the mist. The path leading to the temple is only about 300 stone steps, but it impresses with its cool green bamboo forest. The space here is peaceful and comfortable, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the mountains and forests. Visitors should wear simple, modest clothing and hiking shoes, paying attention not to wear shorts or short skirts when entering the temple.
11. Strolling around the town. Evening is the best time, from 6pm, when fog covers the town. Very romantic and fanciful. Remember to put on warm clothes and hat.
Hotels and motels in Tam Dao
Depending on the purpose of your trip, you can stay at a hotel or a homestay – the two most popular types of accommodation in Tam Dao. Among them, hotels are a more convenient choice as they are located near the town center. Homestays often attract guests with beautiful views, with rooms usually equipped with large glass windows overlooking the mountains, but their location is usually 1-2 km away from the center.
Room prices in Tam Dao range from 450,000 VND to 2 million VND per night. Some beautiful and conveniently located homestays for young people include 90s Homestay, Cuden, Levent, Kumo Chan… If you prefer upscale resorts and hotels, you can consider Tam Dao Belvedere, Venus Hotel & Spa Resort , Bach Xanh Resort & Spa , May Villa…
1. 90s Homestay: Located on the high mountain slope, most of the rooms at 90s overlook the sunny Vinh Yen valley. On cloudy days, you can hunt for clouds right from your room without having to go far. In addition, we also have a very lovely Dream House!! This is a unique treehouse in Tam Dao.
With spacious and green surroundings, not crowded like in town, 90s is perfect for couples, families or groups of friends to enjoy a complete vacation in Tam Dao. You can order meals, BBQ/hot pot at the 90s restaurant and experience a beautiful dining space.
2. Popular motel, you can contact Mr. Thai (Principal of Tam Dao secondary school) +8498.2475.367 or Mrs. Thuc (sister of Mr. Thai) +8498.7280.863, they will help you enthusiastically.
3. Tu Phuong motel is located on the highest point, has panoramic vision of the town, large rooms, clean food, good price. Tu and Phuong are the name of the enthusiastic host couple. Foreign tourists travel in big group would love this motel. You can contact +8498.933.9458
4. Minh Nguyet motel in region 1 – Tam Dao town. Tel: +84211.824.163 or +84904.138.333 or +84988.120.192
5. Anh Duong motel on a hillside, clean and large room (from $10 – $15), cheap and clean food (you can book meals here). The motel also has large yard for campfire (about 50 people). Contact Mrs. Duyen +84211.3824.225
6. Tam Dao Belvedere Resort is the best resort in Tam Dao in my view. The resort is located quite far away from the town (about 3km or 2 miles), close to Silver waterfall and Tam Dao national park, ideal for honeymoon or resting. Rates range from $70 to $250. Add: region 2 – Tam Dao town, tel +84211.3824.149 or office in Hanoi: +844.6281.4060
Famous specialties of Tam Dao
1. Chayote (Su su) – Ngọn Su Su is the most famous specialty of Tam Dao. They cover a large area on mountainsides, houses front, and on both sides of road. Chayote can be cooked into many dishes: chayote stir fried with beef or garlic, chayote fruit can be boiled and eaten with sesame or fish sauce, etc.
2. Hill chicken is fed with non-commercial food so the meat is thick and particularly flavourful.
3. Man pig (lợn mán) is similar to hill chicken, fed with human leftover and other natural food. If you travel in big group, about 10 people, you can order one pig from 6-8kg (13-17.5lb) with price about $15/kg. It will be cooked into so many different dishes. They can also organize a campfire party for your group.
4. Black sticky rice from Tam Dao: is a traditional dish of the San Diu ethnic group, especially during the annual Tomb Sweeping Festival. This dish is cooked with great care, glutinous rice soaked for 2-3 days to make the grains evenly round and plump, then cooked with water from lau xau leaves – a type of forest tree that is difficult to find – and crushed tea leaves. It is this special cooking method that gives the sticky rice its dark green color, naturally shiny and very appetizing. Not only famous for its chewiness and irresistible fragrance, black sticky rice is also known as a traditional medicine in Tam Dao, used to treat headaches, promote digestion, nourish blood,… That’s why whenever tourists visit Tam Dao, most of them seek out and enjoy this specialty dish.
Nice coffee shop in Tam Dao
Rock Cafe is a cafe with beautiful architectural style and serves European cuisine. The cafe is located opposite the Stone Church and next to the central square of the town. The cafe impresses with its cozy atmosphere in every corner. European dishes such as BBQ ribs, pasta, pizza, and drinks ranging from 30,000 – 300,000 dong.
Quan Gio is a coffee shop that offers panoramic views of the town from above with a unique charm, enjoying cool breezes and capturing unique photos. The drink menu here is quite diverse, including various types of cappuccino, latte, espresso, black coffee to tea, smoothies, soft drinks… priced at 40,000 dong per cup.
Co La Coffee Shop is a place for you to enjoy coffee while relaxing amidst floating clouds. Tourists often come here at sunset to admire the sunset and relax with friends and family in the gentle music. The cafe has many beautiful corners for check-in like wooden signs saying “From Tam Dao with love”.
Tips
- If you plan to go on the weekend, make a reservation 3-4 days in advance to avoid renting a room at a high price.
- Do not take the train unless you are sure and can ensure your safety when going downhill. Recently, there have been many accidents in Tam Dao due to brake failure when going downhill.
- Bring enough cash because there are no ATM systems available on Tam Dao. If you need money, you have to go down the mountain to withdraw it.
- Check or maintain your vehicle carefully before traveling, especially ensuring that both brakes work well.
- Prepare some medicine as finding pharmacies and grocery stores in Tam Dao is very difficult.
Tourists often buy su su as gifts when they come to Tam Dao. You should go to the market to buy them cheaply. - The deeper into the market, the more su su there will be and the cheaper it will be.
In conclusion
Tam Dao is a breathtakingly beautiful destination that offers a unique experience for all who visit. From its lush, green forests to its captivating culture and heritage, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing retreat, an outdoor adventure, or an opportunity to learn about the local culture, Tam Dao is the perfect place to make lasting memories. So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, book your ticket, and get ready for an unforgettable journey!
See more of our articles:
Beautiful Da Lat: All the Must-Visit Sites
Bach Ma National Park: Journey to the Hidden Charm of Central Vietnam
Must-try Outdoor Activities in the Central Highlands, Vietnam
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