Tam Dao Travel Guide

General Information

Around 80 kilometers from Ha Noi, Tam Dao Town, which is located in the Tam Dao mountain range, in Tam Dao town, Vinh Phuc province, is regarded as a must-see destination for those wishing to escape from the scorching heat in the capital city and looking for a peaceful fresh cool atmosphere with temperate weather and marvelous, mist and romantic scenery.

Tam Dao now is the complex of different amazing types of both leisure and relaxation, including an amusement park, resorts, guest houses, hotels, garden villas, along with sport fields, swimming pool park, dance floor, etc. Located about 900 meters above sea level, Tam Dao is touted as Da Lat in the North because of the cool weather all year round with average temperature of 20 to 22^oC and a little bit cold like early winter at night. Going to Tam Dao to relax, take a long rest with the purely fresh air, contemplate the open sky with free-flying clouds, eat delicious local foods and freely have a walk on sloping roads are interesting activities for two-day trips at weekends.

Tam Dao Weather

Although average temperatures in Tam Dao vary greatly, it generally is quite cool all year round. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Tam Dao, the hottest months are June, July, and then August, when the highs are regularly approximately 33.8^oC. You should have a look at the kinds of weather and temperature by seasons below to have a specific and reasonable plan for your trip.

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. The temperature ranges from 33.8^oC to 20.8^oC. Rain sometimes happens with the possibility of significant precipitation in 5 to 11 days per month. Spring is the slowest for tourism, which should be on the list of those who expect for attractive deals.

Summer (June through August)

The temperatures still keep high in these months, but much lower than it is in the town and city, which makes this destination to be the pleasant time for tourism. There may be still chances for precipitation within 8 to 16 days per month. However, this is the second busiest time for tourism, the prices, therefore, go slightly higher.

Fall (September through November)

These months have the idea weather with the temperature ranging from 31.2^oC to 23.1^oC. Due to that, this is always the busiest of all year round. The hotels, thus, may be higher priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is somewhat cool this time of year in Tam Dao to be enjoyable form warm weather travelers. The temperature during the season is between 23.9^oC and 17.2^oC. There is little rain in this season. Just a few visitors spend their interest on having a trip on this vacation.

Getting to Tam Dao

Tam Dao destination is about 80 kilometers from Hanoi, which will take you 2 hours to travel from the capital to there. There is a great wide range of means to get there:

• By car: From Hanoi, go to Thang Long Bridge in the direction of North Thang Long Noi Bai (the road to Noi Bai Airport), go about 25km to the crossroads between National Highway 2, AH14 and Road From Thang Long to Noi Bai, turn left to Highway 2 about 500m, turn next to Hanoi – Lao Cai Expressway about 25km, to the turning point of Tam Duong, Vinh Phuc, you go next along the 2B National Highway about 20km and then you get to the center of Tam Dao tourism area.
• By motorbike: Take the same route as the private car road. One thing that should be well noticed is 13km small path with many Z-shaped sections, large slope. You should take 100% carefulness in these cases.
• By coach: Getting in any coaches named Hanoi – Viet Tri, Hanoi – Yen Bai, Hanoi – Vinh Yen from My Dinh coach station. Ticket fare is 50,000 VND. These cars stop at Vinh Yen city. Take a taxi or motorbike taxi to Tam Dao. (about 20km)
• By train: From Hanoi or Gia Lam station, you can catch the Hanoi – Lao Cai train to Vinh Yen station, which will cost you 35,000 VND. Then a taxi or a motorbike taxi will be your next choice of means of transportation.

What to See in Tam Dao

To make your trip to Tam Dao amazingly enjoyable, you should spend your time on the highlighted places which have been attracting hundreds of tourists each year.

Tam Dao means three highest mountains named as Thien Thi, Thach Ban and Phu Nghia emerging above the clouds at the height of 1300 meters above the sea level. For ages, Tam Dao has been well-known for the poetic and majestic scenery that could be listed as Tam Dao National Park, Telecommunication tower, Silver waterfall, Rung Rinh Peak, Sky Gate, etc.

1. Tam Dao National Park

Tam Dao National Park covers an area of 36,883 hectares, runs 80 km from north-west to south-east, and has more than 20 peaks with altitudes of over 1000m.

Tam Dao National Park is covered by a rich flora consisting of 490 species the high classes belonging to 344 genera and 130 families. Forests abound with rare and valuable flora such as: Sam bong, Po mu, (fokienia hodginsii), Kim giao (polocarpus fleuryi), Lat hoa (chukrasia tabularis), Lim xanh (Erythrophlocum fordii), Do quyen (Rhoclodentron simmi), Sen mat (Madhuca pasquieri), Thong tre (Podocarpus nerlifolius).

The National Park is the home of diversified fauna, with 281 species 80 families and 26 orders, belonging to 4 main classes: animals birds reptiles and amphibious ones including many rare and valuable species:white-cheeked black monkey, snake-headed fish, silver pheasant, wood grouse, etc.

The first impression when coming here for the first time is the very cool weather with many floating clouds in the gorgeous blue sky. A peaceful atmosphere among the fresh green old trees would be the ideal place ever for relaxation and forest discovery. Besides, the forest paths are not difficult to walk, which is the best place for the fans of trekking tour and bird watching tours for rare bird type.

2. Telecommunication Tower

With the height of 93m on the peak of Thien Nhi mountain – 1400 high, it is not easy to get to the tower. However, all hard work will be paid off by the romantic and poetic scenery. There are many kinds of flower on the way you get there such as orchids, chamomile flowers and other nameless wild flowers which attracted hundreds of colorful butterflies. All of these create unique picturesque scenery.

3. Silver Waterfall

Silver Waterfall is regarded as the most beautiful waterfall in Tam Dao with the height of 50m. Contemplating the waterfall, you will have the mysterious feeling as if you were in a fairy tale with the most marvelous sightseeing in the world. The waters from the small streams fall down over 50m with the reflection of the rainbow in the sunshine, harmonized with the sound of the stream, the jungle and the leaves echoing into cliffs like the call from hundreds of years ago.

The path to Silver Waterfall is quite steep and slippery so you should wear sport shoes or casual shoes. It is available for rent on the way down the Silver Waterfall with the price at 1,000 VND/per pair.

4. Rung Rinh Peak

Rung Rinh Peak should be on the bucket list for adventures with fairy nature. Many trees are covered by orchids and moss, birds are chirping in all day, a number of majestic mountains are waiting to be discovered.

5. Sky Gate

To get there, from Tam Dao town, you go straight to the church of French, then turn left and just go straight. Having a look from Skygate, you will have an awesome overview of foggy Tam Dao city which seems to float undirectedly with white big clouds on the large blue sky.

Where to Stay in Tam Dao

Some suggested accommodations in this town:

• Belvedere Resort

Prices from VND 1,800,000-6,500,000 dong

Telephone number: 02103.824.149.

• Tam Dao Star Hotel

Prices from VND 300,000 – 350,000 dong/room, weekend price can reach to 650,000-800,000 VND / room

Telephone number: 0210.3824.246

• Le Bleu Homestay

Prices from VND 1,600,000 – 7,000,000 dong

• Hoa Binh Hotel

Prices from VND 600,000 – 1,200,000 dong

Telephone number: 0211 3824 230

What to Eat in Tam Dao

Tam Dao is not only famous for being ‘Da Lat of the North’ but also for fresh and impalatable local specialties.

1. Tam Dao chayote

Because of the cool climate, chayote is grown here and the taste is more delicious than anywhere else in Vietnam. Chayote is boiled and served with sesame salt. Moreover, chayote leaves are fried with garlic and beef, which creates a crunchy and appealing savor. The locals never use pesticides, so they are always clean and fresh.

2. Hill chicken

This is a cannot-miss dish when visiting Tam Dao. The meat is toned, solid and contains less fat. Hill chicken is processed to be many mouth-watering foods such as steamed, grilled or stir-fried, etc.

3. Tam Dao pork

Pork and chicken are top must-try meat dishes that are served in almost every restaurant in the town. Some dishes you can try are grilled pork, steamed pork with beer, fried pork with chili and citronella, etc. If you go with a large group of 10 people or more, you can order a whole pig and request the restaurant to cook different pork dishes.