Thai Nguyen is roughly 80 kilometers away from Hanoi, in addition to the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Bac Giang. It options numerous revolutionary bases and scenic spots.

WHEN TO GO

Thai Nguyen experiences a scorching and humid tropical monsoon local weather, characterised by 4 seasons of the northern area. Because of the various terrain of plains, midlands, and mountains, totally different areas of Thai Nguyen have various temperatures. The typical temperature within the hottest month (June) is 28.9 levels Celsius, whereas January averages 13.7 levels Celsius.

The primary months of the yr are the time when conventional and non secular festivals take heart stage, together with the Doom Temple, Lengthy Tong Temple, Hich, Cling Pagoda, and Mount Van-Mount Vo festivals. Through the summer time, the tea hills are vibrant inexperienced and supply a picturesque backdrop for vacationers to discover and seize pictures.

WHAT TO EXPLORE

Nui Coc Lake

Vacationers take a ship experience at Nui Coc Lake. Picture courtesy of Dulichhonuicoc

Nui Coc Lake vacationer space is a pure panorama located within the southern a part of Dai Tu District, about 15 kilometers from Thai Nguyen’s capital metropolis. The world options 89 islands, and guests can get pleasure from actions akin to basket boat experience, exploring the Fairy Story Home Underworld, visiting the Three Pine Bushes Cave or the Golden Waterfall Sacred Pagoda.

Ghenh Che Lake

Positioned in Binh Son Commune of Track Cong Metropolis, roughly 20 kilometers from Thai Nguyen’s capital, Ghenh Che Lake is an irrigation lake inbuilt 1986. Protecting an space of about 80 hectares, it consists of 45 peninsulas. The lake has gained recognition amongst vacationers as an eco-tourism and fishing vacation spot, significantly on weekends.

Ghenh Che Lake, seen from above, presents a mix of glistening waters and luxurious greenery. Picture by VnExpress/Nguyen Dinh Toan

Not too long ago, new tourism providers have been launched, together with boat rides to discover the lake, eating choices, tenting services, and picnic areas.

Kem Stream and La Bang Tea Space

Kem Stream is in La Bang Commune, Dai Tu District, roughly 35 km from Thai Nguyen Metropolis. The stream originates from the highest of Tam Dao Mountain. Guests can comply with the rapids alongside the stream and admire the cascading waterfalls that resemble terraced fields. La Bang is famend for its tea plantations, the place guests can discover the luxurious inexperienced tea hills, take images, and expertise tea selecting with the locals.

Thai Nguyen tea hill, the place lush greenery stretches so far as the attention can see. Picture by VnExpress/Phan Thai

Moreover, the Craft Village Info Middle showcases handicraft merchandise from the La Bang Tea Cooperative, providing guests an opportunity to savor Thai Nguyen’s tea specialties.

Phoenix Cave – Mo Ga Stream

This national-ranked scenic spot is in Phu Thuong Commune of Vo Nhai District. Phoenix Cave is related to the legend of a pair of phoenix birds. The cave entrance is positioned atop a mountain at an altitude of roughly 500 meters. Contained in the cave, guests can discover three flooring adorned with centuries-old stalactites forming intriguing shapes on the cave’s ceiling. Water cascades down from the cave mouth, creating a number of small waterfalls.

On the foot of Phuong Hoang Mountain, Mo Ga Stream flows naturally, providing clear and refreshing water. The Phuong Hoang Cave vacationer space gives providers akin to eating places, a swimming pool, motels, occasion group, and memento outlets.

Inside Phoenix Cave, guests can observe centuries-old stalactites. Picture courtesy of Thai Nguyen Tourism Promotion Info Middle

Cling Pagoda

Cling Pagoda, a nationwide monument since 1999, is about 2 kilometers from the middle of Thai Nguyen. Located inside Chua Cling Mountain, previously referred to as Hoa Trung Rock Mountain and Lengthy Tuyen Mountain, this website homes Cling Pagoda Cave, also called Tien Lu Cave, adorned with beautiful stalactites.

Contained in the cave, a Buddha shrine enhances the non secular ambiance. The cave entrance cliff options an historic Chinese language couplet: “Pure surroundings is probably the most lovely. The sweetness created by people is unmatched.” Chinese language poems carved by famend artists Vu Quynh, Dang Nghiem (fifteenth century), and Cao Ba Quat (nineteenth century) will also be admired alongside the cave partitions.

Duom Mountain – Duom Temple

Duom Mountain, previously referred to as Diem Son, is famend for its attract, rating as a scenic gem of Thai Nguyen within the Dai Nam Complete Encyclopaedia, the official geographical report of Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty compiled within the late nineteenth century. The mountain’s six rocky peaks, resembling dragon heads from a distance. Draped in historic moss, the vertical cliffs are adorned with historic moss.

On the northeastern foot of the mountain, a distinguished temple devoted to the esteemed Duong Tu Minh graces the panorama. Minh, a frontrunner of Phu Luong authorities and the consort of two Ly kings, earned quite a few deserves whereas safeguarding the northern border of Vietnam. Duom Temple was designated a nationwide relic in 1993. The Duom Temple Competition takes place yearly on the sixth day of the primary lunar month.

ATK Dinh Hoa particular nationwide relic

ATK Dinh Hoa, a particular nationwide relic, seen from afar. Picture by VnExpress/Khac Tho

Through the resistance conflict in opposition to the French colonialists (1946 – 1954), Dinh Hoa, Dai Tu and Phu Luong Districts have been designated because the Central Security Zone – the resistance capital of the nation. In 2012, Dinh Hoa was acknowledged as a particular nationwide relic.

Guests can discover places akin to Khau Ty Hill, dwelling to President Ho Chi Minh’s working workplace, and Basic Secretary Truong Chinh’s workplace at Na Mon Hill.

Relics of Thai Nguyen Rebellion 1917

On August 31, 1917, the Thai Nguyen rebellion shook the French colonial authorities in Indochina. Though unsuccessful, it marked the primary time in Vietnam’s fashionable historical past that an rebellion gained energy in a province, issued a declaration of independence, raised a nationwide flag, and established its personal military.

At this time, the websites of the Cong Su Palace, Kho Xanh Barracks, Thai Nguyen Jail, and Gia Sang Protection Line have been labeled as nationwide historic monuments, with solely ruins remaining.

Museum of Vietnam’s ethnic tradition

Positioned within the metropolis heart, alongside the Cau River, the Museum of Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Teams homes over 40,000 unique paperwork and artifacts that showcase the standard tradition of 54 ethnic teams in Vietnam. Inside, there are galleries presenting the tradition of varied ethnic teams, categorized by language teams: Vietnamese – Muong, Tay – Thai, Mong – Dao, Mon – Khmer, Nam Dao, and Chinese language – Vietnamese.

Viet Bac Armed Forces Museum

Located on Quang Trung Road, Tan Thinh Ward, the Viet Bac Armed Forces Museum – Navy Zone I reveals practically 10,000 unique artifacts associated to Viet Bac, the first base and battlefield through the resistance conflict in opposition to the French colonialists. The museum’s out of doors show space showcases 28 large-sized artifacts akin to plane, rockets, radars, and artillery that have been instrumental in reaching victories through the resistance wars.

WHAT TO EAT

Sticky rice cake

Bo Dau’s sticky rice cake chung is a specialty from Phu Luong, Thai Nguyen. It has a thick and large rice layer and a scrumptious filling of inexperienced bean paste and pork stomach. The cake is wrapped in inexperienced dong leaves with strings created from the river-leaf creeper discovered within the Thai Nguyen mountains.

Bo Dau’s chung cake is famend for its vibrant inexperienced shade. Picture by VnExpress/Nguyen To Quynh

Bo Dau’s chung cake stands out with its vibrant inexperienced shade from the dong leaves, an aroma mingled with the savory taste of beans, and the richness of the pork stomach. The craft village of Bo Dau in Co Lung Commune, Phu Luong District, is simply 8 kilometers away from the town heart, making it handy for guests to come back, get pleasure from, and buy these truffles as presents.

Ash cake

Ash cake is a delicacy cherished by the Kinh, Tay, and San Chay folks. The cake is crafted from yellow-flowered glutinous rice, which is soaked in ash water obtained from the burning of sesame and different vegetation. Chit (thysanolaena latifolia) leaves or dong leaves are used to wrap the truffles.

Ash cake shows a translucent and yellowish hue. Picture by VnExpress/Vo Thi Phuong Thao

Ash truffles are finest loved chilly, dipped in molasses or honey, delivering a potent, barely pungent style, and a refreshing sensation on the tongue. These truffles are believed to have cooling properties in digestion, making them a preferred alternative throughout holidays.

5-colored sticky rice

The Tay folks within the Dinh Hoa space typically put together five-colored sticky rice fduring holidays and Lunar New Yr. This sticky rice selection has 5 fundamental colours: pink from pink candy gourd, inexperienced from ginger leaves or pandan leaves, yellow from turmeric, purple from magenta plant or areca leaves, and the unique white.

Locals consider that this rice symbolizes love for mom, respect for father, affection and loyalty between {couples}, in addition to good luck and prosperity.

Nham

Nham is a particular salad from Ha Chau Commune, Phu Binh District, sometimes made through the ripe filling season within the late seventh or early eighth month of the lunar calendar. Nham is made utilizing a mix of 14 components and spices, akin to monkfish caught from the Cau River or largescale silver carp, grilled bacon, sesame, roasted peanuts, bitter star fruit, fig leaves, unripe sesame leaves, copra, chopped banana tubers, fermented soybean paste, and vinegar.

Nham’s vibrant and engaging colours appeal to diners. Picture by VnExpress/Bich Ngoc

Cooc mo truffles

Cooc mo is a conventional cake cherished by the Tay and Nung ethnic teams in Thai Nguyen. The truffles are crafted by rolling dong leaves into funnel-like shapes, stuffed with upland glutinous rice and crushed uncooked peanuts, tied with rattan rope, after which strung into pairs or small bunches earlier than being boiled for roughly two hours. The cooked truffles showcase the sunshine inexperienced shade of dong leaves.

Cooc mo cake is crafted by rolling dong leaves into funnel-like shapes. Picture by VnExpress/Hong Nhung

Though there isn’t any filling, when savored, one can expertise the fragrant and pliant texture of glutinous rice, complemented by the wealthy and savory style of peanuts. Relying on private preferences, these truffles will be loved with sesame salt or honey.

Sticky rice in bamboo tubes

Com lam (sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes) is made with glutinous rice and cooked in an elongated bamboo tube over charcoal or straw for about an hour. After cooking, the rice is peeled off layer by layer to disclose ivory-white layer wrapping the lengthy rice contained in the bamboo tube. Every bit of rice will be loved with sesame salt. The rice tubes will be eaten straight away or saved contemporary and scrumptious for as much as per week.

Mugwort Cake

Mugwort cake options mugwort, a vegetable generally grown by the Tay folks in dwelling gardens or alongside streams. The younger tops of wormwood are simmered with ash water from the cork tree, after which pounded with glutinous rice that has been cooked into sticky rice till it takes on a darkish inexperienced shade. The combination is molded into round shapes by hand. Mugwort truffles will be made with or with out fillings.

Mugwort truffles captivate diners with their vibrant inexperienced shade, making a distinction in opposition to black sesame and brown peanuts fillings. Picture by VnExpress/Tu Uyen

When a filling is included, it sometimes consists of crushed inexperienced beans, peanuts, or sesame combined with sugar. The cake boasts a novel style with the cool, barely numbing taste of mugwort leaves mixing harmoniously with the aroma of glutinous flour, together with the sweetness of the filling, leading to a pleasant and easy-to-eat deal with.

WHAT TO BUY

Tea

The soil and local weather of Thai Nguyen assist tea timber develop effectively, producing high quality tea buds, so it’s dubbed the “first-class tea”. Tan Cuong tea has the traits of clear tea, pale yellow inexperienced shade and match. When having fun with, one can really feel the acrid style on the tip of the tongue, the candy aftertaste lingers within the throat, with little bitterness.

Thai Nguyen is well-known for tea. Picture courtesy of Che Dung Hiep

Fermented sticky rice paste

This can be a native product of the folks of Uc Ky Commune in Phu Binh District, created from soybeans and mould fermented from the native glutinous rice. The paste has a darkish yellow shade, puree, thick like honey, sturdy aroma of sticky rice and soybean, leaving a candy style when eaten. Uc Ky fermented sticky rice can be utilized to make dipping sauce to accompany dishes in meals or marinate and put together day by day dishes.

Glass noodles

Viet Cuong Hamlet, primarily based in Hoa Thuong Commune of Dong Hy District, has been famend for practically 50 years for producing scrumptious glass noodles. Constructed from purple galangal root, these noodles have a particular brown shade with out the usage of any synthetic coloring. The manufacturing course of adheres to strict requirements, leading to powerful, tasty, and hygienic noodles that aren’t simply crushed.

Chinese language black olive

Chinese language black olive, a specialty fruit of the folks of Ha Chau alongside the Cau River, boasts a black filling, yellow pulp, and white kernel inside. The fertile soil and favorable local weather alongside the Cau River contribute to its wealthy style, attribute aroma, and thick flesh for Ha Chau’s Chinese language black olive. The ripening season sometimes falls across the seventh and the eight month within the lunar calendar.

The olive is utilized in quite a lot of dishes, together with braised with meat, fish, cooked with sticky rice, and in its fermented kind.

Bitter bamboo shoots

These bamboo shoots are sourced from the Ngan Me forest and are generally offered at Chua Cling and Dong Hy markets, in addition to alongside Nationwide Freeway 1B, crossing Gia Bay Bridge. To arrange them, peel the bamboo shoots, boil the entire plant twice, and luxuriate in them as soon as they’re prepared.

The best strategy to get pleasure from them is by boiling with chili salt, the place you will expertise their contemporary crispiness, slight bitterness, combined with the savory and spicy style of chili salt. Bamboo shoots will also be stir-fried or cooked in soup, providing quite a lot of flavors.

WHERE TO STAY

Vacationers can select from a spread of inns in Thai Nguyen Metropolis, akin to Habana, Da Huong, Could Plaza, Indochina, Hai Au, and The King Lodge. Costs per evening sometimes vary from VND400,000 to over 1 million (US$17-42).

Mojen Camp & Retreat campsite is nestled by a flowing stream. Picture courtesy of Mojen

Within the Nui Coc Lake space of Dai Tu District, a number of inns can be found, together with Lake Nui Coc Plaza, Cong Doan Lodge, and Mo Viet Bac Lodge. Costs per room per evening on this space vary from VND700,000-1.2 million.

Dai Tu District incorporates a glamping website referred to as Mojen Retreat, which has attracted the eye of many younger vacationers. The retreat provides lodging for roughly 60 folks at a value of VND1.2 million per individual per evening on weekends, together with meals and lodging.

In Track Cong Metropolis, guests can discover a number of inns, together with Inexperienced Lodge, Track Cong Lodge, Grace Lodge, and Ngoc Thuy Lodge. Costs per evening on this space sometimes vary VND350,000-700,000.

Some homestays can be found, akin to Hoang Nong Farmstay, Hai Ha Homestay, and Hoang Kim Homestay, with costs ranging round VND300,000-600,000.

HOW TO GET THERE

Guests have the choice to journey by bike, automobile, or bus. The Hanoi-Thai Nguyen-Bac Kan-Cao Bang Expressway, also called the brand new Nationwide Freeway 3, is a serious freeway within the northern area. Stretching for 85 kilometers inside the province, Freeway 3 serves as a significant hyperlink connecting Thai Nguyen to Hanoi and different northern provinces. Furthermore, Thai Nguyen is located about 50 kilometers away from Noi Bai Airport, making it handy for brief weekend getaways.

At main bus stations akin to My Dinh, Gia Lam, and Giap Bat, numerous bus firms function routes to Thai Nguyen. Tickets value VND70,000-150,000 ($4-6.50). Some really useful bus firms embrace Thanh Thuy, Duc Phuc, and Lac Hong.

Story by Quynh Mai

Supply: Thai Nguyen Tourism Division

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