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Thanh Hoa, a land of natural beauty imbued with countless historical traditions, the shadow of national heroes. Although not a famous tourist destination on the map, Thanh Hoa captivates the hearts of travelers with its sunny and windy nature, as well as the picturesque landscapes and the authentic charm of its people. If you plan to visit Thanh Hoa, don't miss out on these interesting check-in spots!
List of Thanh Hoa tourist destinations
Fish God Stream in Cam Thuy
Located at the foot of Truong Sinh Mountain, Lương Ngọc Village, Cẩm Lương Commune (Cẩm Thủy, Thanh Hóa), the Fish God Stream is an intriguing destination that not everyone knows about. Also known as Ngọc Stream, it is about 3 - 4 meters wide, surrounded by towering limestone mountains.
Fascinating scenery at the Fish God Stream (Photo: Collection)
What particularly attracts attention and excitement for tourists when visiting here is beneath the clear blue water lies tens of thousands of large fish, weighing about 2 - 8 kg, with some even reaching 30 kg, displaying unique shapes and vibrant colors. Each fish emits a glowing light as it swims. The puzzling aspect is that despite the stream stretching for hundreds of meters, the 'fish gods' only appear in the last 60m from the cave entrance and never swim further away.
The 'fish gods' only appear in a specific section of the stream (Photo: Collection)
The fish resembles a catfish, with black scales, a dark back, moss green color, and a rounded body in the middle, often referred to as a 'slope' fish. Local residents say the fish rarely come out when the weather turns cold in the late afternoon but prefer to 'play' when the sun is shining brightly. There are still many questions surrounding this species of fish that have not been answered.
The fish gods have a very unusual appearance (Photo: Collection)
During the dry season, the water level in the stream is not deep, allowing tourists to reach down and stroke the fish. Despite the large number of fish, the water here is not at all fishy. Local residents often use the water under this stream for bathing, washing, etc. This is an ideal place for a Thanh Hoa tour as well as a fascinating spot for a check-in photo in Thanh Hoa.
You'll capture an interesting check-in photo when you visit the Fish God Stream (Photo: @hoanganh94)
Hiêu Spring – where everything falls turns into “stone”
Located in the Pù Luông Nature Reserve, Hiêu Village is a favorite destination for backpackers visiting Thanh Hoa. It attracts tourists with the legend of a stream turning trees into stone.
Hiêu Spring with majestic scenery (Photo: Collection)
Due to its large limestone content, Hiêu Spring petrifies the roots of trees lying beneath its waters. In the sections where Hiêu Spring flows into terraced fields, the water flows gently, but as it ascends to its source, the flow becomes increasingly stronger. Tourists love to bathe here because the water is clear and cool. Enjoying the pure spring water here, all tiredness and discomfort will vanish!
Travelers love coming here to enjoy the refreshing, cool water (Photo: Collection)
Pù Luông Nature Reserve
After indulging in the cool waters of Hiêu Spring, you can visit the Pù Luông Nature Reserve, where breathtaking natural landscapes and diverse ecosystems are preserved.
The majestic scenery of Pù Luông from above (Photo: Kenh14)
When you set foot here, you will surely be amazed by the truly majestic, vast, pristine, and equally fascinating natural scenery. Once in a lifetime, experience exploring Pù Luông by motorbike, riding on winding mountain passes to behold before your eyes a magnificent natural landscape: The terraced fields shimmering under the sunlight.
Pù Luông with its terraced fields overlapping and winding (Photo: Collection)
June is the ideal time to visit Pù Luông, when the ripe golden rice fields gracefully curve around. Pù Luông is truly an ideal destination for relaxation, where opening your eyes reveals the majestic mountains, lush green trees, and closing them lets you hear the breath of the forest, the whisper of the wind.
Reconnect with nature when you set foot in Pù Luông (Photo: Collection)
If you ever have the chance to visit Pù Luông, experience Pù Luông at Pù Luông Retreat, a trendy resort in this natural reserve area recently. From Pù Luông Retreat, just sitting outside on the veranda, you can take in the vast expanse of Pù Luông within sight. Another hot service is the infinity pool. The outdoor pool, surrounded by nature, majestic mountains, seems to merge with the landscape. Leaning against the pool, feeling those mountains, those terraced fields embracing you, you'll feel incredibly serene.
Infinity pool – Resort amidst the vast nature (Photo: Collection)
Sầm Sơn Beach
Sầm Sơn is a beach, an icon of Thanh Hóa tourism. Sầm Sơn Beach belongs to Sầm Sơn town, Thanh Hóa province. Sầm Sơn Beach stretches 6km from Lạch Hới estuary to the foot of Trường Lệ mountain. Visiting Sầm Sơn is like entering a picturesque landscape where mountains, forests, and the sea, sky, and earth intersect harmoniously.
Sầm Sơn, vast and lush green (Photo: Collection)
Tourists visiting here are all delighted with the long stretch of beach with clear, cool water, and the white sandy shore adorned with coconut palms, gently swaying in the breeze.
The afternoon is the time when everyone goes down to the beach to relax and unwind. Sầm Sơn Beach is particularly crowded in the summer, when everyone wants to go to the beach, immerse themselves in the vast space to shake off all fatigue and worries. The nightfall on Sầm Sơn Beach is truly surreal, with the streets lit up, the sea seems to recede, pitch black, only the sound of waves and the rustle of coconut palms swaying in the wind.
Sầm Sơn attracts a large number of tourists in the summer (Photo: Collection)
Visiting Sầm Sơn beach tourism not only allows you to relax in the beautiful natural environment but also indulge in the freshest seafood on the bustling fishing boats of local fishermen just arriving at the dock. And when you come to Sầm Sơn, you can visit some nearby historical sites such as Trường Lệ mountain, Độc Cước temple,... With beautiful scenery and standard tourist services, Sầm Sơn promises to be an ideal destination for your trip.
Come to Sầm Sơn for the most exciting experiences for your trip (Photo: Collection)
Drum Roof Island
Drum Roof Island is also located in Trường Lệ mountain range, Sầm Sơn town. It is named like that because the two rocks resemble two birds turning their beaks towards each other. This is a Thanh Hoa tourism destination that attracts many tourists to take photos and visit because of its interesting features. Standing on Drum Roof Island, you can hear the sound of waves crashing on the shore where Sầm Sơn beach is at your feet, while also hearing the sound of pine leaves rustling above. Drum Roof Island is a beautiful symbol, an image of Thanh Hoa, so if you're traveling to Thanh Hoa, be sure to have a check-in photo here!
Drum Roof Island (Photo: Collection)
Get yourself a check-in photo at Drum Roof Island (Photo: @hongngoc1809)
Bến En National Park
Dubbed as the “Hạ Long Bay on land” of Thanh Hoa province, Bến En impresses tourists with its pristine beauty of thousands of limestone mountains and the image of the Slow-flowing Mực River, creating a very poetic and peaceful scenery.
Tranquil scenery at Bến En (Photo: Collection)
Bến En National Park offers tourists the peace, wilderness, and simplicity of nature. We can frolic with goats and cows on the grassy meadows, marvel at the majestic mountain ranges, and the serene, crystal-clear lake water. Arriving at the upper reaches of the Mực River, you can encompass the entire scenery of Bến En, with distant islands that you can visit by boat to admire rare flora and fauna.
You can take a boat to visit the islands (Photo: Collection)
Hồ Dynasty Citadel
Hồ Dynasty Citadel stands as a prominent and iconic historical symbol of Thanh Hoa. It has been recognized by CNN as one of the 21 greatest heritage sites in the world.
The Hồ Dynasty Citadel is located in Vĩnh Lộc district, Thanh Hóa province, built by Hồ Quý Ly in 1397. Despite being 600 years old, the Hồ Dynasty Citadel remains steadfast and enduring against the test of time.
The majestic Hồ Dynasty Citadel with its sturdy gates (Photo: Collection)
Upon arrival, tourists are greeted by the sturdy citadel gates with three entrances, surrounded by lush greenery that exudes the rustic charm of the homeland. The citadel gates, crafted from intricately carved green stones, are a favorite check-in spot for travelers exploring Thanh Hoa tourism.
Tu Thuc Cave
There was once a beautiful poem about Tu Thuc Cave: “Whoever returns to Nga Thien, my homeland – Visit Tu Thuc, visit the celestial scenery.” Tu Thuc Cave has long been known as a paradise on earth, where the fates of Tu Thuc and the beautiful fairy were intertwined in legend, as recounted by many locals.
Tu Thuc Cave (Photo: Collection)
The cave is nestled on the slope of a small rocky mountain. The path to the cave is a 100-meter-long staircase, surrounded by lush trees and intertwining branches, creating a soft, gentle scenery. The main cave area consists of two parts: the outer part is quite spacious with an arched ceiling, below the arch is a stalactite resembling a peach. The glittering stalactites, green like fish scales, flow down to form overlapping circles called “treasure trove,” while the yellow stalactites are known as “gold reserves,” the white ones as “salt reserves,” and the silver-brown stalactites as “rice reserves.”
The cave still preserves traces of ancient legends, if you pay attention, you can even see human footprints engraved on the rocks. With such mystical and ethereal scenery, you'll feel like stepping into a surreal fairy tale when you visit this place.
Cloud Waterfall
Cloud Waterfall is renowned as the most beautiful waterfall in Thanh Hoa, it's a destination in Thanh Hoa associated with the legend of the 9 beautiful fairies, with 9 tiers of cascades symbolizing their 9 levels of love from ancient times.
Cloud Waterfall, majestic and enticing for adventurers (Photo: Collection)
To reach Cloud Waterfall, follow the Ho Chi Minh road for about 130km then turn onto the only dirt road straight ahead for 9km. From afar, you can already hear the sound of the waterfall rushing down the mountain. With a height of 100m, the 9 cascades stacked on top of each other create a beautiful strip of white water.
The ideal time to visit Cloud Waterfall is in the summer when the waterfalls flow gently and peacefully. There are sections where the water flows strongly, but there are also sections that are gentle and tranquil like the local girls here. On both sides of the waterfall are pristine forests with giant ancient trees that require 2 - 3 people to hug. This is an ideal destination for those who love to explore the majestic nature.
Muong Cave
On the way to Pu Luong, you will stumble upon Muong Cave, a pristine valley, less than 150km from the city center.
Muong Cave (Photo: Collection)
The entrance to Muong Cave winds through the natural sky frame, with one side featuring winding terraced fields and the other side towering mountains. The scenery here exudes a strong sense of adventure, full of challenges and adventures. Looking down from above, Muong Cave is covered with tightly packed roofs and valleys, surrounded by vast forests protecting the village.
Muong Cave (Photo: Collection)
Lost in this place, you will be overwhelmed by the majestic limestone mountains, with shimmering limestone sparkling in the sunlight and the cold air emanating from the cave's depths creating a mysterious, eerie atmosphere.
Temple of Lady Trieu
The temple was built to commemorate the great contributions of Lady Trieu during the historical years of fighting against the Eastern Wu invaders. It is situated on the summit of Mount Tung, where the heroic female general fell, sacrificing herself for national independence. The Temple of Lady Trieu is located right on National Highway 1A, convenient for tourists' vehicles to stop by and visit on their journey through Thanh Hoa tourism.
The Temple of Lady Trieu exudes ancient beauty, deeply marked by history (Photo: Collection)
After several renovations, the Temple of Lady Trieu now features traditional architecture of the North Central Coast region with outer gates, ponds, pavilions, inner gates, auxiliary chambers, and more. Visiting the temple, you'll encounter sturdy stone gate pillars, intricately carved walls, solid stone pavilions, and sacred shrines. After offering incense, you can take a stroll around the serene Thiên Tĩnh courtyard, admiring the lush greenery and immersing yourself in the tranquil and sacred atmosphere of the temple grounds. During the beginning of spring, people from all over gather here to pay tribute to the national heroine.
Festival at the Temple of Lady Trieu (Photo: Collection)
Dragon Jaw Mountain
Dragon Jaw Mountain is a sacred historical site closely associated with the heroic exploits of the people of Thanh Hoa during the resistance war against the Americans. The spirit of determination to fight and win is clearly engraved in the words 'Determined to Win' on the flank of Fairy Wing Mountain, which has discouraged many enemy troops. In ancient times, Ham Rong was also a strategically important location in battles in Thanh land, as recorded in the book 'Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi': 'This mountain is tall and beautiful, overlooking the Dinh Minh River, from high up, one can see the sky and water, a truly majestic scenery.'
Dragon Jaw Mountain with the national flag flying high at the summit (Photo: Collection)
Ham Rong Mountain runs from Duong Xa village along the bank of the Ma River to the foot of Ham Rong Bridge. It is named Ham Rong because the mountain has a winding terrain like a giant dragon with 9 undulating sections, the end of which bulges out like a large dragon head with a huge mouth. At the foot of Ham Rong Mountain is Tien Son Cave with beautiful stalactites closely associated with the folk legends of the people. A natural experience intertwined with history is truly fascinating!
Beautiful Ham Rong Mountain near Ham Rong Bridge (Photo: Collection)
Long Quang Cave
Long Quang Cave is mysterious and tranquil, located on Ham Rong Mountain, where many poets and scholars were once captivated, such as Nguyen Trai, and Emperor Le Thanh Tong. The two entrances on both sides of the cave resemble two dragon eyes, or are called Dragon Eyes. Standing from Long Quang Cave, you can overlook the entire region, with vast and spacious scenery. Inside, you may encounter spontaneous and romantic poems left by ancient poets who were inspired by the beauty of this land.
Long Quang Cave (Photo: Collection)
Quang Nham Beach
Quang Nham Beach is one of the oldest beaches in Thanh Hoa. About 30km down National Highway 1A, we can set foot on this beautiful and pristine beach. Visit Quang Nham Beach in the early morning to capture the most beautiful moments of sunrise over the sea with the most characteristic and rustic activities of the local people. Quang Nham Beach is not as crowded and bustling as Sam Son but carries a peaceful and deserted beauty, especially on windy days. In the early morning sunlight, the shadows of the boats casting nets far out to sea create a majestic yet dreamy, down-to-earth natural scenery.
Harmony between people and nature in the sunrise painting at Quang Nham Beach (Photo: Collection)
Tiên Sơn Cave
Tiên Sơn Cave is perceived by locals and tourists as a fairyland, mystical and sparkling with various shapes and colors of stalactites. While Phong Nha Cave is likened to an underground palace with its magnificent underground river system, Tiên Sơn Cave captivates visitors with the splendor of a beautiful stalactite castle.
Sunlight illuminating a corner of Tiên Sơn Cave (Photo: Collection)
Tiên Sơn Cave is situated 200m above ground level, so tourists wishing to visit must climb long, somewhat steep stairs. But despite the strenuous effort, nature rewards you along the way with serene and breathtaking surroundings: vast rice fields, cornfields, and gentle flowing rivers blending together to create a peaceful rural scene often seen in magazines. And upon conquering the uphill journey, the scenery of Tiên Sơn will undoubtedly leave you satisfied, forgetting all the fatigue you've just experienced.
Mesmerizing stalactites are a fantastic reward for your journey to conquer Tiên Sơn Cave (Photo: Collection)
The first impressive sights that catch the eyes of travelers are the high and spacious caverns, the multicolored stalactite columns sparkling magically under the lights, and the sunlight. When you lightly tap on the stalactite columns, the sound echoes throughout the cave, sounding like a call from some distant realm. As you venture deeper, the path becomes more winding, and the larger stalactites force you to crouch down. After walking 400m, you'll encounter a 10m-deep abyss, but it's too dangerous to explore further. The cool air, the distant sounds reverberating from the stone walls, and the mysterious atmosphere here will surely enchant, captivate, and leave you spellbound.
Tiên Sơn Cave with its vast space (Photo: Collection)
Vinh Sơn Beach
There exists a pristine, serene Vinh Sơn Beach amidst the dreamy cityscape of Thanh Hóa. To set foot on Vinh Sơn, you must traverse a route from Hòn Trống Mái, through Đền Cô Tiên, Độc Cước, following the secluded asphalt road to reach the destination.
Vinh Sơn Beach with its rugged, unique beauty (Photo: Collection)
In contrast to the crowded, bustling scene at Sầm Sơn Beach, Vinh Sơn is sparse, tranquil, less known to tourists, with only a few locals seen bathing here. Its solitude allows one to fully appreciate the beauty bestowed by nature. The curved beach stretches with a vast expanse of smooth sand. Along the shore, lush green trees form a dense vegetation belt. The sea at Vinh Sơn is shallow, reaching only knee or waist height for adults. Throughout the day, the sea remains calm, without any large waves, offering an extremely peaceful and serene atmosphere, ideal for relaxation and rejuvenation. Parents with small children can rest assured letting them play by the beach, as the deserted beach and shallow water make it easy to supervise the little ones.
Children playing on Vinh Sơn Beach are also very safe (Photo: Collection)
On Vinh Sơn Beach, there are bamboo restaurants built in the style of stilt houses. After a refreshing swim, you can visit these restaurants to enjoy seafood and admire the sunset over the sea. Surely, you and your family will have interesting, intimate, peaceful, and truly memorable experiences.
The panoramic view of Vinh Sơn Beach unfolds before your eyes (Photo: Collection)
Hải Tiến Beach
Today, when mentioning Thanh Hóa or Thanh Hóa tourism, people no longer only refer to Sầm Sơn Beach but also remember Hải Tiến Beach. Newly exploited since 2015, Hải Tiến Beach is likened to the beautiful Hawaii of North Central Vietnam. With a length of up to 12km boasting the longest white sand beach in the Gulf of Tonkin, along with its clear blue sea, and the scattered coconut groves swaying in the wind, Hải Tiến beach tourism offers visitors a picturesque natural landscape that still retains its pristine, rustic beauty, radiating with the majestic beauty of nature.
Hải Tiến Beach is a promising tourist destination in Thanh Hóa (Photo: Collection)
Not only mesmerized by the vast natural beauty, but when you come here, you will also experience the life of fishermen as you witness the fishing boats docked closely together on the shore. If you have the chance to visit in the morning, the picturesque scene of fishing boats will surely leave you in awe.
As a potential tourist spot in Thanh Hóa, Hải Tiến Beach offers a wide range of services and activities to ensure you have a complete and memorable experience here.
Fishing boats docked closely together on the shores of Hải Tiến Beach (Photo: Collection)
Black Thai Village
This is an area with a high concentration of Thai ethnic people in Thanh Hoa. Here, hundreds of families live together in a village surrounded and protected by a system of closely spaced bamboo trees, forming reliable protective walls. The people here make a living by growing rice on the hillsides, and visiting here, you will surely enjoy the delicious bamboo-cooked rice wrapped in bamboo stems, filled with fragrant and delicious rice grains.
Black Thai Village is sheltered by trees, mountains, and forests (Photo: Collection)
The Black Thai people here live in stilt houses, a very familiar type of house in this area. Stilt houses not only protect them from external impacts but also contribute to a rich cultural aspect for the people in Black Thai Village.
Stilt houses – a rich beauty of the local people here (Photo: Collection)
Đông Beach
Located 60 km from Thanh Hoa, Đông Beach is a newly popular destination for tourists during recent Thanh Hoa tourism trips. Đông Beach captures the eyes of tourists with its stretch of golden sand under the sun along with the clear blue sea with gentle rolling waves. Tourists visiting here will enjoy taking photos at the long rocky beaches or flying freely in the sea breeze to capture the most natural, comfortable, and cheerful photos.
Đông Beach has restaurants located right by the coast (Photo: Collection)
The beach still retains its pristine beauty (Photo: Collection)
Along the coast, there are also restaurants with charming wooden chairs right on the beach, which will surely provide moments of relaxation and comfortable tranquility. Enjoying the fresh air while indulging in delicious seafood from the vast sea is truly an extremely enjoyable experience.
The long stretch of golden sand is a highlight of Đông Beach in the eyes of tourists (Photo: Collection)
Thanh Hoa's Lao tobacco village
Surely everyone has heard of Lao tobacco, a remedy deeply rooted in Vietnamese folk culture since ancient times. Every April and May, the people of Thượng Đình village, Quảng Định commune, Quảng Xương district, Thanh Hóa province, bustlingly prepare for a new harvest of Lao tobacco. The aroma of tobacco leaves permeates the air in Quảng Xương, creating the brand of Lao tobacco in this land.
The image of Lao tobacco leaves deeply ingrained in the subconscious of the locals (Photo: Collection)
To cultivate Lao tobacco plants, locals invest considerable effort in caring for them as they are prone to diseases and pests. In April and May, when the tobacco plants are thick, mature, and golden, people eagerly harvest a new crop of Lao tobacco.
The bright smiles of the people during the Lao tobacco harvest (Photo: Collection)
Thanh Hóa Lao tobacco is handcrafted, after harvesting, the tobacco leaves are rolled into large bundles up to 2m long. For the locals here, the image of Lao tobacco plants has become extremely familiar, deeply ingrained in their subconscious and even in the habits of the people here: 'Missing someone like missing Lao tobacco - Bury the pipe down and dig it up again'.
Lao tobacco is processed manually (Photo: Collection)
Phố Đòn market
Phố Đòn market is a unique cultural feature of Thanh Hóa. At Phố Đòn market, sometimes people do not exchange money with each other but with a chicken, a bundle of rice,... like the way of trading in ancient times, where a chicken can be exchanged for twenty eggs with a bundle of vegetables pleasing both parties. Each market session is full of colors with various types of goods, people coming and going, chatting and greeting each other, creating a unique picture of the countryside market in Vietnam, both familiar and extremely unique.
Colorful flea market scenes (Photo: Collection)
Here are some fascinating check-in spots in Thanh Hóa that VNTRIP.VN wants to share with you. If you're interested in these places and eager to embark on a Thanh Hóa travel journey, then quickly grab your backpack and set off now! Remember to share with us your memorable experiences of Thanh Hóa tourist attractions!
