Top 10 Must-Visit Destinations in Phu Tho Province

Hung Kings Temple Complex is essentially the abbreviated name for the tourist complex worshiping the Hung Kings and the royal court on Nghia Linh Mountain, now located in Hy Cuong commune, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province. Hung Kings Temple is a special national historical relic recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1962.

On December 6, 2012, UNESCO recognized the Worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This special national historical relic is located on Nghia Linh Mountain, Hy Cuong commune, Viet Tri city, built to commemorate the merit of building and defending the nation of the Hung Kings. The relic complex includes four main temples: Lower Temple, Middle Temple, Upper Temple, and Well Temple. In addition, there are many gradually constructed monuments such as steles, Thien Quang pagoda, oath stone, Hung Kings' tomb, Au Co Temple, Lac Long Quan Temple...

Every year on the 10th day of the third lunar month, which is the death anniversary of the Hung Kings, Hung Kings Temple Complex organizes many activities and festivals such as the King's Procession Ceremony, the Offering Incense Ceremony, attracting the participation of many people from all over the country to express their gratitude to the ancient kings. This unique cultural feature has become an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people: 'No matter who goes against the tide. Remember the anniversary of the Hung Kings' death on the 10th of March.' Therefore, the best time to visit Hung Kings Temple is during the beginning of spring. At this time, the weather is relatively mild and cool. This is also the time when many big festivals take place. Coming to Hung Kings Temple in spring, you will experience a lively, bustling atmosphere.

Address: Hy Cuong, Viet Tri, Phu Tho

Ao Chau Pond stretches across four communes: Ha Hoa town, Y Son, Am Ha, and Phu Khanh in Ha Hoa district. It has long been considered the 'precious gem amidst the midland' for its pristine beauty reminiscent of a miniature Ha Long Bay amidst the ancestral land. Legend has it that while searching for the capital land, the Hung Kings and the courtiers of Van Lang kingdom set foot in a land with 99 hills and 99 streams. While admiring the beauty here, they witnessed two golden buffaloes fiercely fighting, then suddenly both plunged into the water and disappeared. Since then, the pond has been called the Golden Buffalo Lake.

'Ao Chau Pond is both deep and cool,
Both shores are covered with lush greenery.'

With an area of ​​about 1500 hectares, Ao Chau Pond spreads out in a serene azure blue, encompassed by water, sky, and lush foliage. The hilly terrain has created hundreds of streams meandering through the areas, with many beautiful waterfalls pouring into the pond. Thanks to the year-round water retention and absence of drought, it creates conditions for natural vegetation to thrive, mainly consisting of ferns, sedges, rushes, tea, and low shrubs… Some hillsides are later covered with grass, lotus ponds, pine trees, and on some islands, locals have planted fruit trees such as lychee, longan, jackfruit, and pomelo…

Address: Ha Hoa, Phu Tho

Scenic Landscape of Ao Gioi - Fairy Stream originates from Mount Na, flowing through rocky crevices, forming silver-white silk strips across the mountain slopes, standing out amidst the lush green of the forests, blending into the azure of the sky, creating a vivid, surreal scenery, both intimate and profound, clear and mysteriously poetic, captivating the hearts of visitors. Ao Gioi - Fairy Stream is located on Mount Na in Quan Khe commune, Ha Hoa district, 80 km northwest of Viet Tri city, 15 km from Ao Chau, with the advantage of being adjacent to road, waterway, and railway systems, contributing to the overall development of Phu Tho tourism.

The ecological area of Ao Gioi - Fairy Stream is surrounded by hundreds of large and small mountains with an average height of 500-600 m above sea level. With a height of 1,200 m, Mount Na rises majestically, appearing as a solid foothold in the vast upper region of the midland, covered in a dense green of tropical plants, intertwined with many precious species such as dinh, lim, gu, and vang tam... The forest is also home to groups of monkeys, deer, pheasants, wild boars, and civets... With a length of over 10 km, the streambed is filled with layers of stones and golden sand, purifying the water, making it clear, sparkling under the reflection of sunlight.

At the source of the stream is Tien Well, with an area of about 40m2 and a depth of over 10m. From the bottom of the well, cold, sweet water gushes up to form Fairy Stream. Fairy Stream meanders through many layers, creating numerous vertical waterfalls. Along the length of the stream, there are up to 14 waterfalls, some of which are 20m high, resembling white curtains, covering caves and rock crevices. At the foot of the tall waterfalls are giant rock slabs, eroded over time, forming small ponds with stone bottoms, creating a unique beauty only found in this fascinating ecological tourism area.

Address: Quan Khe, Ha Hoa, Phu Tho

Located on the blessed land of great significance, Mother Goddess Au Co Temple is a remarkable cultural-historical monument, symbolizing the spirit of patriotism and the tradition of national unity. The image of Mother Au Co giving birth to Lac Long Quan and the Hung Kings from a hundred eggs has become an immortal symbol ingrained in the thoughts, emotions, and minds of the Vietnamese people.

The Mother Goddess Au Co Temple is situated in Hien Luong commune, Ha Hoa district, and was built during the Later Le dynasty. Legend has it that Au Co gave birth to a hundred eggs, which hatched into a hundred sons. As the sons grew up, Lac Long Quan said to Au Co: I am of the Dragon lineage, you are of the Fairy lineage, water and fire are difficult to reconcile. Therefore, the two divided the fifty sons of the mother up the mountain and fifty sons of the father down to the sea to perpetuate the lineage, and later all hundred sons of both of them became deities.

Mother Au Co once visited the land that is now Hien Luong, Ha Hoa district, Son Tay prefecture, where she taught her descendants to cultivate rice, plant strawberries, raise silkworms, and weave fabric. When the settlement in Hien Luong became stable and prosperous, Mother Au Co and her descendants ventured to explore new lands.

Later, she decided to return to live with Hien Luong, the place most closely associated with her life. According to tradition, on the 25th day of the 12th lunar month in the year of the Rat, Mother Au Co and her fairies flew to heaven, leaving behind a strip of silk under a banyan tree. Later, the local people erected a temple to worship and commemorate her contributions to the Vietnamese nation. Today, the Au Co Mother Temple Festival is still held annually on the eve of the 7th day of the first lunar month.

Address: Hien Luong, Ha Hoa, Phu Tho

Ranked among the top three famous national parks in the country, Xuan Son National Park is located at the end of the Hoang Lien Son range and in the southwest of Tan Son district, on the triangle area between the borders of three provinces: Phu Tho, Hoa Binh, and Son La. When visiting Xuan Son, tourists can still feel the pristine beauty, largely untouched by tourism activities.

Xuan Son National Park covers a total area of 33,687 hectares, with the core area being 15,048 hectares and the buffer zone being 18,639 hectares, ranking 12th among the 15 largest national parks in Vietnam. It is considered the green lungs and an attractive tourist destination of Phu Tho. With forest coverage reaching 84%, the quality of forest ecosystems is stable and well-protected. The park is evaluated as having a clean and cool air environment, with an average annual temperature of 22 - 23°C.

According to statistics, Xuan Son National Park has 1217 species of plants, including 665 medicinal plant species, 300 species of edible forest plants, and high-level plants such as Re, de, oak, va, tau muoi, cho chi, doi, and kim dao. The cho chi forest in Xuan Son is considered the richest and most beautiful in the North, with many ancient trees hundreds of years old with a diameter of up to 2 meters and a height of 30 meters. The national park has 365 animal species, including 46 species listed in Vietnam's Red Data Book and 18 species listed in the World Red Data Book, including the rare red-bellied newt.

Address: Xuan Son, Tan Son, Phu Tho

National historical and cultural monument complex Tam Giang Temple, Dai Bi Pagoda located in Bach Hac Ward, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province. The temple is situated on the left bank of the confluence of three rivers: the Red River, the Lo River, and the Da River, which locals traditionally call the Hac Junction.

This is a beautiful landscape of the ancestral land, attracting many visitors for sightseeing and worship. The national historical and cultural monument complex Tam Giang Temple, Dai Bi Pagoda is a complete and unified relic cluster, including Tam Giang Temple, Mother Temple, Dai Bi Pagoda, footprints of Tho Lenh High-ranking official Bach Hac Dai Vuong, swimming dock, statue of Chieu Van Vuong Ta Thanh Thai Su Tran Nhat Duat, and relief sculpture of 18 typical Buddhist temples in Vietnam.

Tam Giang Temple worships the legendary historical figure of the Hung Kings era as the Earth God, who is the village deity - the river god Bach Hac, who made great contributions to wandering the world to find precious medicines to cure ailments for the people. When he passed away, his spirit continued to assist the generals in fighting against foreign invaders to protect the country. Dai Bi Pagoda, an ancient temple built by Chieu Van Vuong Tran Nhat Duat and his granddaughter Princess Thien Thuy during the Tran dynasty (in 1328), is nearly 700 years old. Surely, this will be a spiritual tourism destination you should not miss when visiting the homeland of Phu Tho.

Address: Bach Hac, Viet Tri, Phu Tho

Located on Tran Phu Street, by the side of Van Lang Park - the center of Viet Tri City - Hùng Vương Museum is likened to a “history book in artifacts” attracting numerous visitors from afar to visit, learn, and explore the unique values ​​of the history and culture of the ancestral land. The Hùng Vương Museum is located in the central position of the ancient capital of Van Lang, so it carries within it a vast treasure of history and culture with over 12,000 original artifacts. Among them, the Museum selects 2,000 beautiful, unique artifacts with high historical, cultural, and aesthetic value for display.

In the exhibition space of Hùng Vương Museum with 3 main contents: Permanent exhibition, thematic exhibition, and outdoor exhibition. Among them, the most important is the permanent exhibition section designed in a modern style, harmoniously combining the original artifact system with 49 artistic clusters spread over 5 themes (Nature, People of Phu Tho; Phu Tho in prehistoric and protohistoric times; Phu Tho in the period of Northern domination and building an autonomous feudal state; History of people's resistance to foreign aggression in Phu Tho; Phu Tho in the renovation process), helping viewers have the most comprehensive view of the history of formation and development of Phu Tho province from the time of Hùng Vương founding the nation to the present day and the characteristic features of material and spiritual culture of the people in the Ancestral Land.

Address: Viet Tri, Phu Tho

Thanh Thủy Hot Mineral Spring Tourist Area is located in La Phù and Bảo Yên communes, Thanh Thủy district, more than 40km from Việt Trì city, adjacent to Hanoi, situated along the Đà River, opposite Ba Vì mountain. Thanh Thủy Hot Mineral Spring Tourist Area is a prime area possessing hot mineral water source along with beautiful landscapes considered as invaluable natural resources bestowed upon Thanh Thủy for the development of resort tourism. Scientific research documents show that Thanh Thủy hot mineral water has a temperature ranging from 37ºC to 54ºC, classified as warm-hot mineral water.

The mineral water contains many trace elements such as Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, especially with a moderate amount of Radon to create a rare and precious type of water suitable for soaking baths, health recovery, and treatment. In recent years, the demand for resort vacations and weekend getaways has been growing rapidly. To meet this demand, many resorts and hotels have been built in Thanh Thủy to serve tourists for relaxation and hot mineral bathing.

Address: Thanh Thủy, Phú Thọ

Cloud Waterfall is located in Huong Can commune, about 25km from the center of Thanh Son district. On the top of Hem mountain, there is a small lake, water from which flows down the mountain side to create Hem stream and many consecutive layers of waterfalls, known as Cloud Waterfall. Cloud Waterfall consists of 13 large and small waterfalls, the highest of which is Upper Waterfall with multiple columns of foaming water.

On clear days, blending with the green of the mountains and the blue of the sky are the waterfalls flowing like soft silk in the sky. Many large and small waterfalls have created different levels of sound, some rushing, some flowing smoothly like the melodies of nature. Approaching the waterfall, the air feels cool and refreshing, different from the outside air, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in the cool stream after exploring the beautiful natural scenery.

Dream Waterfall is located in Cu Thang commune, 15km from the center of the district. Formerly, the waterfall was called Van Mo waterfall but gradually people started calling it Dream waterfall. Just from the name of the waterfall, tourists can imagine the rustic and poetic scenery. The road to the waterfall is surrounded by the green of the mountains, wildflowers on both sides of the road, contributing to the pristine beauty of the landscape here.

Dream Waterfall has 9 different levels, from afar, one can hear the sound of the waterfall pouring like the songs of mountain nymphs. Following the small stream to reach the foot of the waterfall, tourists will immerse themselves in the pristine beauty of the primeval forest. The waterfall is surrounded by cool green mountains, with a rich and diverse ecosystem. After exploring the beauty of nature, tourists can rest in the stilt houses and enjoy the unique local dishes of the Thanh Son ethnic groups.

Address: Thanh Son, Phu Tho

Long Coc Tea Hill is located in Tan Son district, Phu Tho province, about 125 km from Hanoi, and about 70 km from the center of Viet Tri city. The 'tea hill islands' make Long Coc known as the 'Halong Bay of the midlands'. Long Coc is considered one of the most beautiful tea hills in Vietnam, with great potential for tourism development.

This place attracts a large number of tourists and photographers. Sunrise is the best time to take photos of the tea hills, when the mist floats gently and lingers on the leaves, creating a surreal scene. Each tea hill is about 1 hectare in size, stretching continuously to the horizon. Standing on the top of a high hill, you will see the lush green color of the tea leaves in the vast space. Tea trees here have been associated with the lives of people in Long Coc for generations, identified as the main crop that brings high economic efficiency.

The Long Coc Tea brand is produced according to VietGAP standards, with safe tea products from traditional to high-quality new varieties, such as Dinh Bat Tien tea or Shan Bat Tien tea. As the weather transitions from autumn to winter, thick fog covers the Long Coc tea hills.

As winter sets in, clouds rush in and blend with the mist, covering the paths and covering the tea valley, truly impressing with this scenery. Many photographers and tourists have visited Long Coc many times to capture photos of mist and clouds on the 'tea hill islands'. When visiting Phu Tho, tourists can choose a tour to explore Long Coc Tea Hill - Xuan Son National Park, choose homestay accommodation to experience the cultural life with the local Muong people.

Address: Tan Son, Phu Tho