Getting all misty-eyed: Looking down on Tam Dao town in Vinh Yen Province, about 70km north of Ha Noi.
Hotel hideaway: Hotels cling to the side of Rung Rinh Peak, affording visitors a wonderful view of Tam Dao National Park. — VNA/VNS Photo Huu Oai
It takes just two hours by car from the centre in Ha Noi to reach a tourism resort in Tam Dao Town, Vinh Yen Province, 70km north of Ha Noi.
Tourists are wont to visit this 26,883ha eco-tourism site of the Tam Dao National Park, especially if there is an interest to study ecological environment in the Rung Rinh Peak at over 1,200m above sea level where the ground is covered by a thick layer of leaves.
The expansive, heavily forested mountain, which runs 80km northwest between Son Duong District in Tuyen Quang Province and Me Linh District of Vinh Phuc Province, is home to a wide range of 643 species of fauna and flora, located in a tourism triangle so to speak consisting of Dai Lai Lake, Tam Dao mountain range in Vinh Yen; Tay Thien in Vinh Phuc Province and Nui Coc Lake in Thai Nguyen Province.
Routes
An eco-tourism project in Tam Dao area was set up by the administration of National Park last year, mainly to serve visitors and researchers from all over the world who wanted to trek into the forests.
From the National Park office, tourists can go by cars or motorbikes to the centre of Tam Dao town through 20km zigzagging mountain roads, where they will be able to enjoy cool weather with average temperatures of 17oC year round.
Visitors are sure to enjoy the peace and tranquillity found in this small town built during the French colonial era in the early 20th century. It is far from the hustle and bustle, not to mention sizzling temperatures, in Ha Noi and other cities.
The environment is clean and fresh with green calming colours of forests on the mountains surrounding the town.
Residents say they are used to the climate change every day. It is usually foggy and slightly cold very early in the morning before it starts to warm up in the day, reaching scorching summer like temperatures by noon.
However, the weather turns cooler a few hours after lunch with layers of clouds overrunning from the mountains to spread their haze over the town as cool air replaces the heat.
Trekking
Having visited landscapes in town like Bac Fall, temple and television tower, adventurers can trek 10km from town on sloping trails through a low forest and walk on carpets of leaves, a sensation similar to walking on cotton blankets.
According to the head of the tourism department of National Park, Nguyen Duc Khai, this eco-tourism site has attracted foreign researchers studying botanical gardens with various wild flowers and special plants like wild orchids and Amentotaxus argotenia, which grow in high range mountains in Tam Dao area.
Tourists can expect to pay between US$80-$100 for a two-day adventure tour on Rung Rinh Mt., which includes camping overnight in the tropical forest.
"Tam Dao area is a special climate area. We have only recently developed a tourism plan because we want to preserve the national park as well as promote responsible tourism," said Khai.
"Tourists can partake in their adventure by using the prescribed route and visit other sites in Tay Thien and Xa Huong Lake," he added.
One attractive sport activity in the summer is kayaking in Xa Huong Lake, located 5km from the national park office.
Tourists can use a machine-boat service to travel around the lake during the Tam Dao tour.
Visitors can also get deeper insight into Buddhism by going to pay homage at Thong Temple, 10km from the town centre. It takes two hours to climb to the temple atop the mountain and running alongside it is a beautiful stream.
Having stopped over atop the mountain, visitors can avail of an opportunity to look at monks’ life at a branch of Truc Lam Zen, where they devote their lives to Buddhism.
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