Tam Dao Hill Station

A French Founded Hill Station At About 900 M In The Tam Dao Range, A Cool Weekend Escape From Hanoi With Misty Pine Slopes, Waterfalls, A Rooftop Cable Car To A Buddhist Temple And Fog Most Of The Year. Busy On Summer Weekends. A Place For People Already In The North, Not A Reason To Fly In · Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc

Tam Dao is a hill station about 80 km north-west of Hanoi, founded by the French in the early 20th century as a cool retreat from lowland heat. At roughly 900 m it sits in cloud much of the year, which is the whole point: mist on pine slopes, damp stone and temperatures several degrees below the capital. People call it the Sapa of the south of Hanoi, which flatters it, because it is smaller, more built up and far closer. The draws are the Tam Dao Cable Car up to the Thien Vien Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen monastery, the Silver Waterfall, short forest walks and the ruined Stone Church left from the French era. Hotels and a tourist-board area known as Tam Dao 2 spread along the ridge. It suits Hanoi residents and expats wanting a cool weekend, and photographers who like fog. It is worth the detour on a weekday or in the hot months. It is not worth a special flight from abroad, and summer weekends are crowded.

Tam Dao town on the Tam Dao mountain range, about 80 km north-west of Hanoi, Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc, Vietnam

The town never closes, and the lanes, the viewpoints around the Stone Church ruin and the walk to the Silver Waterfall approaches are FREE to enter at any hour. The cable car runs in daytime only, commonly from morning to late afternoon, and can be CLOSED in strong wind, heavy fog or for maintenance, so confirm on the day. The monastery keeps daytime hours and is quiet at midday. Waterfall and park areas may charge a small gate fee in daytime. Many small restaurants shut early on weekdays out of season. Weekend and holiday hours stretch later and prices rise.

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