Best Places to Visit in Vĩnh Phúc – Temples, Lakes & Mountain Retreats

1.Tam Dao National Park

Tam Dao National Park which is situated in the Tam Dao mountain range about 60 km to the north of Hanoi, combines the beauty of nature, history and diverse culture. In 1996, the park was founded and is found across Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen and Tuyen Quang, covering about 36,883 hectares and attracting both nature lovers and those interested in Vietnamese culture.

Important Cultural Aspect
Effects of Colonialism on the Identity of Vietnamese
In the early 20th century, the French made Tam Dao into a hill station to avoid the summer heat and they built villas and a stone church there which are still there today. While it displays signs of colonialism, Tam Dao still looks, tastes and feels Vietnamese.

Spiritual Heritage
Tay Thien Quoc Mau Buddhist Temple is one of the prominent spiritual sites in Tam Dao; it stands on a hill right near the center of the town. People love to come to this temple, especially in February when the Tay Thien Festival worships the Green Dragon Mother Goddess in the forest.

• Relevance to the Arts
  In the beginning of the 20th century, French colonialists chose Tam Đảo for its cool climate and built villas, a stone church and similar structures that have not been demolished. Poor’s architecture combines elements from Vietnamese and French architecture which represents its history under French rule.
• The park also has the Tây Thiên area which holds the Tây Thiên Quốc Mẫu Temple and many pagodas. Buddhism in Vietnam plays an important role here and as a result, a lot of pilgrims and tourists visit the area.

🌡️Weather and Best Time for a Visit
Placed at elevations from 100 to over 1,500 meters above sea level, Tam Đảo stays cool all year. Since the park’s elevation changes, the climate is different at every level which adds to the park’s ecosystem. I recommend going in spring or autumn, because at this time the weather is mild and you will see the best possible views of the scenery.

2.Truc Lam An Tam Zen Monastery

The Trúc Lâm Tây Thiên Zen Monastery is found in Dai Dinh Commune, Tam Dao District and it is located about 85 kilometers west of Hanoi in the Vinh Phuc Province. Set up in 2005, it is built on the historical site of the Thien An Pagoda, where the 3rd-century Indian monk Khuong Tang Hoi is thought to have brought Buddhism to Vietnam.

• Importance to History and Culture
• In the 13th century, Emperor Trần Nhân Tông established the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen sect and the monastery was built to serve it. This group aimed to bring Zen practice and Vietnamese customs together, highlighting “entering the world” (Cư trần lạc đạo) which encouraged meditation in usual life and not giving up worldly matters.
• Under the direction of Zen Master Thích Thanh Tu, a man who helped revive the Trúc Lâm tradition in modern Vietnam, the Trúc Lâm Tây Thiên Zen Monastery was built. Establishing the monastery at the old place of Thien An Pagoda shows that Vietnam’s Buddhist roots are alive and can respond to spiritual needs today.

• How the Places Mix Design and Spirit
• The monastery stands on Thach Ban Peak which is 300 meters above sea level and provides great views of Tam Dao mountains. Buildings in Tan Vien fallow Vietnamese tradition, with main gateways, halls, bell towers, drum towers and a hall set up for honoring deceased nuns.
• The Buddha Shakyamuni statue made of sapphire which has a ruby in his hand, is one of its main attractions. Through this statue, the monastery demonstrates its strong support for preserving Vietnam’s Buddhist art and craftsmanship .

3.Thien Vien Truc Lam Tay Thien

Registration TourLinkSet high in the mountains near Tam Đảo, Vĩnh Phúc Province, Vietnam, the Trúc Lâm Tây Thiên Zen Monastery lets visitors find peace and reconnection with nature. Visiting the monastery recently and going on a hike and a ride on a scenic cable car shows how the monastery blends nature and spiritual traditions.

Why the place is considered significant from a historical and a spiritual perspective

• Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen is the lineage that the monastery belongs to which was initially established by Emperor Trần Nhân Tông in the 13th century. Thom Zen combines the elements of Zen with aspects from both Confucianism and Taoism, creating a special Vietnamese form of Buddhism. The Trúc Lâm Tây Thiên Temple was founded in 2005 above the ruins of the ancient Thien An Pagoda; it was here that the Indian monk Khuong Tang Hoi is said to have introduced Buddhism to Vietnam nearly 2,000 years ago .
• Being situated on Tây Thiên Mountain gives the monastery more spiritual appeal. The legend says that compared to the Queen Mother Tây Thiên, Lang Thi Tieu, aided King Hùng Chieu Vuong in protecting the nation and teaching the people how to grow crops .

4.Thap Truyen Hinh Tam Dao

On top of Mount Thien Thi, the Tam Đảo Television Tower is a famous landmark in Vĩnh Phúc. The structure’s height of 1,250 meters gives visitors a chance to view both nature, innovative architecture and the area’s history.

Historical Significance

The Tam Đảo Television Tower was built around 1999 to strengthen the region’s ability to communicate and share news. The location of the tower on Mount Thien Thi helps with its function too and acts as a model for Vietnam’s current development in technology. Since there were no nearby factories or towns and the area was so rugged, workers had to be very inventive to build the tower.

Charming Nature and Man-Made Design

You must walk up 1,394 steps inside the tower which leads through forests and gives wonderful views of the surrounding area. There is thick vegetation along the trail which shades and soothes those hiking on it. Standing at the top gives tourists a chance to see the Tam Đảo area, including the many mountains and valleys around it. Because of all the mist in the area, the scenery feels especially magical.

5.Quảng trường Tam Đảo

Vĩnh Phúc Province’s Tam Đảo Square, located right in Tam Đảo’s center, is the main hub of the hill station. Usually called the center of town, it mixes lovely surroundings, various cultures and modern conveniences to make it appealing to everyone.

• Significance for Students
  Tam Đảo was set up in 1907 during the French colonial period as a hill station to avoid Hanoi’s heat. There are still French villas and a stone church in the town, showing the influence from the settlers. The square maintains its colonial feel, even after being renovated and is still where the community holds events and cultural gatherings.
• In 2022, Tam Đảo was designated a National Tourist Site by Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism because of its special role in the country’s tourism.

Visiting Information

The place is in Khu 1, Tam Đảo Town, Vĩnh Phúc Province, Vietnam.

Serves Customers: Always open, all hours.

The temperatures are most pleasant in spring and autumn and summer offers a refuge from the heat in the plains.

6.Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort

Sir Nick Faldo has designed the impressive international-standard, 18-hole Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort which covers 73 hectares. The golf course is part of Trung Mỹ Commune, Bình Xuyên District and thanks to its location close to Tam Đảo, you can enjoy remote, beautiful golfing all around the region. Hanoi is about 60 km from the resort which allows both foreigners and Vietnamese to visit.

🗾 History and Development
Nam Tam Đảo Joint Stock Company which is part of Lạc Hồng Investment, took the lead in starting the project to build a leading golf destination in northern Vietnam. In November 2021, the golf course was officially opened which was a big step for the regional tourism and leisure industry.

• What is Included
• English professional golfer and course designer Sir Nick Faldo was commissioned to create the golf course. Natural surroundings are integrated into the course by Faldo’s design strategy. There, the design took advantage of the scenery around Thanh Lanh Lake and the Tam Đảo mountains, allowing players to experience water, hills, regular fairways and a bit of Links-style golf.
• The golf course is 7,000 yards long and includes five different tee boxes for players of every level. The last holes are found right by the lake, letting players enjoy views of the mountains as they head to the clubhouse.

• The commune is in Trung Mỹ, district of Bình Xuyên, province of Vĩnh Phúc in Vietnam

7.Dai Lai Golf Club

The golf course known as Dai Lai Star Golf & Country Club is in Ngọc Thanh Commune, Phúc Yên City, in Vĩnh Phúc Province, Vietnam and is recognized as a premier 36-hole facility. Ngọc Thanh Golf & Country Club lies 40 kilometers to the north of Hanoi and gives golfers a peaceful round on the Ngọc Thanh mountains and the banks of Dai Lai Lake.

History and how the science developed
Peter Waddell was the designer and Linkshape Australia the constructor, with Dai Lai Star Golf & Country Club founded in November 2010. The course was built using international designs, using both hilly and water areas, giving golfers of any level a pleasant and challenging game.

Design and what the phone offers
The golf course is well known for how well it fits with its natural setting. The resort is created to fit into its surroundings and this gives it unique height differences and panoramic views of Dai Lai Lake. The course designer put water hazards and sand traps in key locations which makes each hole both more difficult and more attractive. Thanks to the course’s design, players feel the serenity and the obstacles given by the environment.

• The address is Ngọc Thanh Commune, Phúc Yên City, Vĩnh Phúc Province, Vietnam.
• Duration: More than 3 hours

8.Tam Dao Golf & Resort

Tam Đảo Golf & Resort is a championship golf course with 18 holes in beautiful Tam Đảo in Vĩnh Phúc. The resort was founded in 2007 by IMG which is a leading international sports company, to give visitors an extraordinary golf experience in the beautiful area.

• Historical Background
• In the early 20th century after 1880, Tam Đảo became a famous hill station for the French. French officials looking for cooler weather in 1907 led to the establishment of Dalat as a leisure town. The fact that the climate was cool and the land was beautiful made people build more than 200 villas and facilities in the area.
• In the early part of the 2000s, Vietnamese officials noticed the tourism potential in Tam Đảo and set about developing it further. Because of this, the Tam Đảo Golf & Resort was created in 2007 to invite tourists from both home and overseas to come and relax among nature in the area.

• Features and Design of a Golf Course
• Covering 7,200 yards, the golf course is made to test the abilities of both new and experienced golfers. Having sand traps, water hazards and elevation changes around creates excitement and adds to the scenery. The golf links keep a consistent appearance because they are mowed with Sea Isle Paspalum 2000 grass.
• In the middle of the course, the clubhouse comes with a pro shop, restaurants and rooms to stay in. The strong architectural style of the clubhouse goes well with its surroundings and makes the environment welcoming for everyone.

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