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Voykit pocket guide · Vietnam
Tam Dao
Do a day trip from Hanoi: 1 h bus + 20 km taxi, see the stone church and waterfall, return same day.
Tam Dao is a 930 m hill station north of Hanoi, founded as a French summer retreat. It is reachable in about 1 hour by bus plus a short taxi, making it a convenient day‑trip for nature walks and colonial‑era sights.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (dry, cool)
- Avoid
- May–Sep (rainy, hotter)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- VND
- Money
- VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₫150,000–250,000 excl. bed · Mid ₫250,000–400,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Fire 114 · Ambulance 115
- Plugs
- Types A, C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · Two-pin sockets take flat US pins and round European pins; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and cafés: Nothing; leave small change if you like.; Sit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Grab / taxi: Round up; tip in the app if you want.; Spa and massage: ₫50,000–100,000 to the therapist directly; some spas ask for more.; Guide and driver on a day tour: ₫100,000–200,000 per person for the guide, about half that for the driver.; Hotel porter: ₫20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled and filtered water everywhere; hotel refill stations are common. Café ice is factory-made.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues. Old plumbing: paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local bus Hanoi → Tam Dao | ₫30,000 |
| Taxi Hanoi → Tam Dao | ₫700,000 |
| Motorbike taxi, last leg | ₫80,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HAN · Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
- Nearest airport; about 2 h by road to Tam Dao via Vinh Yen — check
Typical fares
- Bus Hanoi → Tam Dao
- about ₫30,000, 1 h (check)
- Taxi, last 20 km up the mountain
- about ₫700,000 from Hanoi, 2 h (check)
- Motorbike taxi, last leg
- about ₫80,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Take a local bus from Hanoi (30,000 VND, ~1 h) to Tam Dao, then a taxi for the last 20 km (12 mi). Within town walk or motorbike taxi.Take a local bus from Hanoi (30,000 VND, ~1 h) to Tam Dao, then a taxi for the last 12 mi (20 km). Within town walk or motorbike taxi.
See and do
Known for
- Tam Dao stone church
- Tam Dao National Park
- Thac Bac (Silver waterfall)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Local bus from Hanoi's northern bus stations, then a taxi or xe om for the last 20 km (12 mi) up the mountainLocal bus from Hanoi's northern bus stations, then a taxi or xe om for the last 12 mi (20 km) up the mountain | About 2 h |
| Ninh Binh City | Bus or private car south via Vinh Yen and the highway | About 3 h |
| Thái Nguyên | Road via Vinh Yen and the highway northeast | About 2.5 h |
| Sa Pa | Back to Hanoi, then the highway and expressway northwest | About 6–7 h |
Sleep
- Tam Dao town
- Small guesthouses and boutique hotels; suitable for a night if you prefer slower pace.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chàosin chow |
| Help me! | Cứu tôi với!kuh-oo toy vuh-ee |
| 1, 2, 3 | một, hai, bamoht, hai, bah |
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tyen |
| Please take me to this address | Làm ơn chở tôi đến địa chỉ nàylahm uhn chuh toy den dee-ah chee nay |
| Excuse me! (to a younger server) | Em ơi!em uh-ee |
| I have a booking | Tôi đã đặt phòngtoy dah daht fong |
| What time? | Mấy giờ?may zuh |
| Thank you | Cảm ơnkahm uhn |
| Call the police! (113) | Gọi cảnh sát! (113)goy kahn saht |
| 4, 5, 6 | bốn, năm, sáubohn, nahm, sow |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá!daht kwah |
| I booked a Grab | Tôi đặt Grabtoy daht grab |
| I'll have this one | Cho tôi cái nàychaw toy kai nay |
| Do you have a room free? | Còn phòng không?kon fong khohm |
| Now | Bây giờbay zuh |
| No, thank you (street sellers) | Không, cảm ơnkhohm, kahm uhn |
| Fire! Call the fire service! (114) | Cháy! Gọi cứu hỏa! (114)chai! goy kuh-oo hwah |
| 7, 8, 9, 10 | bảy, tám, chín, mườibay, tahm, cheen, muh-ee |
| Come down a bit | Bớt đibuht dee |
Say it for greetings, prices and 'no ice'. Show the screen for addresses, allergies, medical problems and anything you need done exactly — a wrong tone on those costs more than the embarrassment of pointing at a phone.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nod and smile; handshake with men, let women offer first; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
- Names: Title plus given name — 'Anh Nam', 'Chị Lan' — the given name comes last; avoid: Calling someone by the family name alone (Nguyễn, Trần)
- Handing things: Both hands, especially money, cards and gifts to older people; avoid: Tossing things across a table
- Conversation: Expect questions about age, marriage and income; they place you, not pry; avoid: Raising your voice or correcting someone in front of others
- Temples and pagodas: Covered shoulders and knees; step over the raised threshold; enter by the right-hand door; avoid: Sitting with your back to an altar; climbing statues for photos
- Photos: Ask first, especially in minority villages; avoid: Paying children for photos — it keeps them out of school
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit, tea or sweets; accept at least a drink; avoid: Pointing your feet at people or the family altar
- Beckoning: Palm down, fingers waving towards you; avoid: Curling one finger — it is used for animals
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads can be steep; check weather before travel.
Low-crime hill town; the real risks are the steep, fog-prone mountain road, slippery waterfall paths after rain and cold, damp nights — bring a layer even in summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tam Dao yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tam Dao stone church
- Tam Dao National Park
- Thac Bac (Silver waterfall)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Tam Dao, revision 5204202 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5204202
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tam-dao). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.