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Thanh HóaNorth Central Vietnam19.81° N · 105.78° E
A large province south of Ninh Binh with a UNESCO-listed stone citadel, the rice terraces of Pu Luong and a busy beach. Here is what is worth stopping for on a road journey.
Thanh Hoa is one of Vietnam's largest provinces, stretching from the mountains on the Lao border to the sea south of Ninh Binh. Its most important historic site is the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, built in 1397 from huge cut stone blocks and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2011. Inland, the Pu Luong Nature Reserve has some of the north's most beautiful rice terraces and Thai villages.
Honestly, most travellers see Thanh Hoa from the road or train between Hanoi and central Vietnam, and the provincial city has little to keep you. The reasons to stop are specific: the citadel for history lovers, Pu Luong for walkers, and Sam Son beach if you want to see a lively Vietnamese seaside resort, crowded and noisy in summer.
Our private, tailor-made journeys can stop at the Ho Citadel on the road south, or spend a few nights walking in Pu Luong.
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The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
A UNESCO-listed citadel built in 1397, with stone gates made of enormous blocks still standing in the countryside. Quiet, and quick to visit.
Terraced valleys, bamboo water wheels and Thai stilt-house villages, best explored on foot over two or three nights.
The historic site linked to the Le dynasty, with restored temples and tombs in a peaceful setting near the dynasty's home region.
A long sandy beach and one of northern Vietnam's busiest seaside resorts, lively with domestic holidaymakers in summer.
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Customise My TripThanh Hoa lies on the main north-south road and railway, so it is easy to stop on the way between Ninh Binh and central Vietnam. Tho Xuan Airport has domestic flights. Pu Luong is usually reached from Mai Chau or Ninh Binh by road.
Places that pair well with Thanh Hoa, with approximate travel times.
March to May and September to November are the most pleasant times for the citadel and for walking in Pu Luong, where rice is green in spring and golden around late September. June to August is hot and the beach is crowded. Winter is cool and often grey.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppFor specific reasons, yes: the UNESCO-listed Ho Citadel and the rice terraces of Pu Luong. The provincial city itself is not a destination, and most travellers stop on a road journey north or south.
A stone citadel built in 1397 as the capital of the short-lived Ho Dynasty, listed by UNESCO in 2011. The massive gates and walls survive among fields, and a visit takes about an hour.
By road, about 3 to 4 hours from Hanoi or about 2 hours from Mai Chau. Many travellers combine the two, or continue from Pu Luong to Ninh Binh.
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