The Ho Family's Citadel in Thanh Hoa

Tinh Thanh Hoa Holiday Weather today


Date/time of update: March 29, 2024, 12:20 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Light Rain

Temperature: 23.58°C
Temperature feels like: 24.37°C
Minimum Temperature: 23.58°C
Maximum Temperature: 23.58°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1013hPa
Humidity:91%
Visibility: 10000m
Wind speed: 0.35m/sec
Wind Direction: 72 degrees
Cloudiness: 100%
Sunrise: 2024-03-28 10:54:04
Sunset: 2024-03-29 11:11:10

Thanh Hoa Province is 160km south of Hanoi, constantly struck by natural disasters like typhoons, floods and droughts. Thanh Hoa was among the poorest provinces of Vietnam until very recently.

Thanh Hoa Travel Guide

Probably hardship breeds talents that Thanh Hoa has always been home to a number of influential people in Vietnam, many virtually helped to shape up the history of the country such as Ba Trieu (the Trieu Lady), Ho Quy Ly, Le Loi, Trinh Kiem… Students and workers from the province are well-known for their talent and hard work.

A view of captivating mountains and river at the La Han Bridge in Canh Nang Township, Ba Thuoc District, Thanh Hoa Province
A view of captivating mountains and river at the La Han Bridge in Canh Nang Township, Ba Thuoc District, Thanh Hoa Province

Tourist infrastructure in Thanh Hoa caters mainly to Vietnamese tourists and not up to international standards in many areas. This is changing nowadays as several luxury resorts are present on the beaches. Staff at restaurants and hotels don't often speak much English still. Prices are quite high in Thanh Hoa City and at Sam Son Beach in the summer (peak Vietnamese tourist season). In other areas, things are relatively cheap. A trip to Thanh Hoa may bring you unexpected experiences!

Mountains at Cam Thuy Thanh Hoa
Mountains at Cam Thuy Thanh Hoa

What To See, Tourist Attractions in Thanh Hoa

Thanh Hoa is rich in history and idyllic in natural landscape but the province is not visited much by foreign travelers. Below you can find more information on the tourist attractions in Thanh Hoa which could be on your travel itinerary planning a holiday in Vietnam.

1/ The Pu Luong Nature Reserve

The untouched nature reserve of Pu Luong is adjacent to Mai Chau – a popular tourist attraction in Hoa Binh Province. The nature reserve offers either relaxing holidays amid pristine nature or wonderful trekking tours through forests and rice terraces. The accommodations available include simple homestay at local Thai people who live on houses on stilts or ecological lodges. The nature reserve is 190km southwest of Hanoi.

A view of breathtaking mountains at Pu Luong Nature Reserve
A view of breathtaking mountains at Pu Luong Nature Reserve

 

Breathtaking rice terraces and mountains at Pu Luong in the monrning sunlight
Breathtaking rice terraces and mountains at Pu Luong in the monrning sunlight

 

Path to the Ba Village, a Thai Community on top of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve (800-1200m above sea level)
Path to the Ba Village, a Thai Community on top of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve (800-1200m above sea level)

 

Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam
The Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam

2/ Ben En National Park

The complex of the Ben En National Park includes a pristine lake of 4,000 hectares surrounded by amazing limestone mountains and forests. You can visit the national park on a nature tour or a birding tour, or a butterfly watching tour… which should take 2 days from Hanoi. Accommodations at the national park include a simple guesthouse or homestay with poor conditions. The national park is 200km southwest of Hanoi.

The Muc River at the Ben En National Park in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam
The Muc River at the Ben En National Park in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam

3/ Ho Family’s Citadel

The Ho Citadel dating back to the 15th century is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visiting the Ho Family’s Citadel you can learn a lot about the history of Vietnam, the construction process and the amazing architecture. Agrarian life of local communities is also of immense interest. Ho Family’s Citadel is 150km south of Hanoi and you can day-trip to this site from the capital city.

Farm work at the Ho Family Citadel in Thanh Hoa Vietnam
Farm work at the Ho Family Citadel in Thanh Hoa Vietnam

 

Daily life at the Ho Family Citadel in Vinh Loc, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam
Daily life at the Ho Family Citadel in Vinh Loc, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam

 

Ho's Citadel in Thanh Hoa Vietnam
Ho's Citadel in Thanh Hoa Vietnam

Corn fields at Vinh Loc, Thanh Hoa
Corn fields at Vinh Loc, Thanh Hoa

4/ Sam Son, Hai Hoa, Hai Tien Beaches

Luxury resorts are springing on the pristine beaches in Thanh Hoa. The most popular of these is certainly Sam Son which is mostly visited by the Vietnamese tourists during the summer. You visit these beaches in the winter, they are mostly empty! A part from the luxury resorts, there are several simple hotels and guesthouses on these beaches.

Sam Son Beach, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam
Sam Son Beach, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam

5/Trinh Lords' Temple

This temple is dedicated to Trinh Lords who controlled the Le Kings and part of Vietnam in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Gate to the Trinh Lords' Temple at Vinh Loc Thanh Hoa
Gate to the Trinh Lords' Temple at Vinh Loc Thanh Hoa

 

The temple dedicated to Trinh Lords at Vinh Loc Thanh Hoa, close to the Ho Family Citadel
The temple dedicated to Trinh Lords at Vinh Loc Thanh Hoa, close to the Ho Family Citadel

6/ Ham Rong Bridge (Thanh Hoa City)

The bridge was heavily bombed during the Vietnam (American) War and it was the symbol of the Vietnamese resilience.

Ham Rong Bridge in Thanh Hoa City
Ham Rong Bridge in Thanh Hoa City

Adventure Travel & Ecotourism, Things To Do in Thanh Hoa

1/ Nature Tours, Culture Tours in Thanh Hoa

AdventureGreen offers eco tours, nature tours to the Ben En National Park, cultural tours to the Ho Family Citadel. The tours can be combined with visits to tourist attractions in Ninh Binh or Mai Chau (Hoa Binh Province).

The Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa can offer trekking tours, hard trekking adventures, family adventure holidays for 2 days to 4 days
The Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa can offer trekking tours, hard trekking adventures, family adventure holidays for 2 days to 4 days

 

A palm forest at Pu Luong Nature Reserve
A palm forest at Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Tinh Gia Thanh Hoa VietnamThe arid soil at Tinh Gia, to the south of Thanh Hoa (near Nghe An Province)

2/ Trekking Tours in Thanh Hoa

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a great place for trekking and learning about the local Thai culture. AdventureGreen operates hard-trekking tours to Pu Luong which range from 3-5 days from Hanoi.

Trekking on a steep and rocky path in a dense forest at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa Province
Trekking on a steep and rocky path in a dense forest at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa Province

 

A hard trekking trail on a steep and rocky mountain slope at Pu Luong Nature Reserve
A hard trekking trail on a steep and rocky mountain slope at Pu Luong Nature Reserve

 

Vinh Loc Thanh Hoa Vietnam
The countryside of Vinh Loc District, Thanh Hoa

How to get to and how to get around Thanh Hoa

1/ By bus

There are big tour buses which travel between Hue and Hanoi and Ninh Binh daily. You can certainly catch these tour buses and get off somewhere near Thanh Hoa City. There are some tourist attractions near the city that you can travel to by motorbike taxi or taxi or local buses.

Bim Son Thanh Hoa VietnamBim Son, located to the north of Thanh Hoa Province (near Ninh Binh Province)

 

Route 217 at Cam Thuy Thanh Hoa which links to Ho Chi Minh Road linking the North, the Central Region and the South of Vietnam on the western side of the country
Route 217 at Cam Thuy Thanh Hoa which links to Ho Chi Minh Road linking the North, the Central Region and the South of Vietnam on the western side of the country

 

You can travel to Thanh Hoa Province via Ho Chi Minh Road
You can travel to Thanh Hoa Province via Ho Chi Minh Road

 

It is possible to travel to the west of Thanh Hoa Province via Mai Chau District in Hoa Binh Province
It is possible to travel to the west of Thanh Hoa Province via Mai Chau District in Hoa Binh Province

 

Arid land by Route 1A (connecting North, Central and South Vietnam on the eastern side of the country) at Tinh Gia to the south of Thanh Hoa Province
Arid land by Route 1A (connecting North, Central and South Vietnam on the eastern side of the country) at Tinh Gia to the south of Thanh Hoa Province

2/ By train

Alternatively there are several daily trains between Hanoi and Saigon stop at Thanh Hoa City. The train service is quite convenient nowadays. You can get to Thanh Hoa by train from Hanoi, Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Binh easily.

Vietnam Re-unification Express Trains which commute between Hanoi and Saigon stop at Thanh Hoa, too
Vietnam Re-unification Express Trains which commute between Hanoi and Saigon stop at Thanh Hoa, too

There are daily buses between Hanoi and Mai Chau for those of you who want to visit the Pu Luong Nature Reserve which is quite off the way from Thanh Hoa City.


Thanh Hoa Average Monthly Rainfalls and Temperatures


Vietnam Adventure Travel