5 Ideal Tourist Destinations Near Hanoi

Located not far from Hanoi, these tourist destinations are ideal for families or groups of friends to relax and unwind at a reasonable cost. Book your Sapa hotel, Hanoi hotel… to start your weekend trip smoothly.

1. Sapa

Located 38km from Lao Cai city and 376km from Hanoi, Sapa is a wonderful resort destination with a cool climate and charming natural scenery.

Hotels: Popular choices include Bamboo Sapa Hotel or Chau Long Sapa 1 Hotel. If you are traveling with young children, you can ask the hotel to prepare porridge. Avoid buying porridge from the market as the quality may not be good. In Sapa, you can rent a motorbike for 100,000 VND/day to explore the villages of the Hmong and Dao ethnic groups.

Ten attractive tourist destinations in Sapa include: Ham Rong Mountain, Silver Waterfall, Heaven’s Gate, Lao Chai – Ta Van village, ancient stone field, Ban Ho, hot spring bathing… In Ta Phin Dao village, you can visit homes and learn about the lives and customs of the locals.

Sapa’s culinary specialties are diverse and affordable. You can enjoy delicious grilled potatoes, corn, and many other fragrant dishes along the roadside near the church.

Specialties that tourists can buy as souvenirs include various vegetables and fruits such as chayote, chayote shoots, mustard greens, peaches, apricots, plums… Traditional medicines such as reishi mushroom, Cynomorium songaricum, and Red Dao herbal baths should be purchased from reputable sources with licenses from the Department of Health.

When buying souvenirs, be mindful of prices, whether the seller is ethnic minority or Kinh. Experience shows that some sellers tend to overcharge. Also, as it’s a tourist area, be wary of pickpockets and other unscrupulous individuals.

When returning to Lao Cai City, you can visit Ha Khau. Required documents include: a photocopy of both sides of your ID card, a list of your group members, and copies of birth certificates for accompanying children. Two 3×4 color portrait photos (write your full name, year of birth, and place of birth on the back).

Transportation to Sapa: You can buy a train ticket from Hanoi to Lao Cai, then travel to Lao Cai City and continue by car or take a sleeper bus directly from Hanoi to Sapa.

Young people can also travel to Lao Cai by motorbike, but be very prepared and have good driving skills. The roads are winding and steep, making it very dangerous if you’re not a confident driver. If you’re going on a motorbike trip, you can rent a motorbike right in Hanoi. For a group of 3-5 people, you should prepare at least 3-4 million VND.

2. Thung Nai

Thung Nai is known as the “Ha Long Bay in the heart of Hoa Binh.” This tourist area is located more than 100km from Hanoi in Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province. Visiting Thung Nai, tourists will truly step into a world of poetic river and mountain scenery. Especially on hot days, you can enjoy the fresh air, the scent of the forest, the mountain breeze, and the cool water.

Directions to Thung Nai from Hanoi: Follow Thang Long Highway to Hoa Lac, then turn onto the road to Xuan Mai. Follow that road to the Xuan Mai intersection (17km), turn right and go straight along National Highway 6 to Hoa Binh City (about 40km). From Hoa Binh, continue along National Highway 6 towards the Northwest to the foot of Cun Pass (note that you should go through the city, not the bypass – about 5km). At the foot of Cun Pass, there will be signs directing you to Thung Nai. From there, it’s another 10km to Thung Nai.

To book a boat here, it’s best to organize a large group, perhaps two families going together. This will make it easier, as it’s difficult to rent a boat with only 1-2 people. The cost for 1-2 people to visit Thac Bo Floating Market is comparable to that of a group of 10-15 people. Your family should book accommodation in advance if you plan to stay overnight.

Backpacking to Thung Nai is a reasonable choice for families in Hanoi and surrounding provinces. While there, you should visit Thac Bo Floating Market, which is held on Sundays (about 20 minutes from Coi Xay Gio guesthouse). At the foot of Thac Bo temple are fish farms. Don’t forget to visit Ngoi Hoa village, a pristine Muong ethnic minority village. There’s also another small island called Crow Island, so named because it’s a popular stop for crows.

At night, you can rent a boat to cruise out onto the river, enjoying the unusually tranquil scenery, with only the cool breeze and the atmosphere of fishing boats. If you wish, you can even catch your own fish from the Da River reservoir, grill them, and enjoy them with a glass of strong wine. For a more lively experience, you can team up with one or two other groups to organize a nighttime entertainment.

Besides grilled fish, if you want to buy souvenirs, take some time to browse the orchid stalls at Thac Bo market.

Transportation:

Take a high-quality bus from Hanoi to Hoa Binh at My Dinh bus station (10-15 minutes per trip). Once in Hoa Binh city, take a taxi.

If you’re driving to Thung Nai by car, you need to drive carefully. Although the road is narrow and not very steep, the scenery is beautiful and can be captivating for many. However, if you’re not a skilled driver and don’t often drive long distances, you shouldn’t take the risk.