Three places in Hanoi for a lovely weekend getaway

Yen So Park, Ba Vi National Park and Quan Son Lake are three wonderful places in Hanoi for a lovely weekend getaway.

Yen So Park

Yen So park

The masterplan for the 327ha site, which will include five natural lakes surrounding six themed gardens, is set to completely transform the area. The new scheme will include a cultural park, a commercial centre, 5-Star international hotels, shops, office towers and residential zones.

A commercial complex of the Yen So Park site will be developed, with an area totaling 34ha. The proposals feature landmark office towers that will deliver modern workspace, additional commercial units, luxury business hotels and serviced residential towers.

Ba Vi National Park

Ba Vi National Park

Ba Vi National Park is one of Vietnam’s most famous areas of outstanding natural beauty, and is centered around a three-peaked mountain jutting steeply out of the landscape.
The national park offers a great escape from the city with cool fresh mountain air in a mystical atmospheric backdrop of clouds, jungle and tropical rainforest. There is also a spa resort nestled at the foot of the mountain offering a host of natural therapies in an absolutely stunning setting.
The three mountain summits are Dinh Vua which is the highest (1,296m), Tan Vien (1,226m) and Ngoc Hoa the smallest (1,131m). Together they form a three humped crest which is often obscured by clouds at the highest point due to the varied climate at the park.
Pilgrims and tourists alike usually make the walk to the summit of the Tan Vien peak where an 11th sacred century shrine stands in memory of the Mountain God.

There are also superb tropical forest views and vistas all the way to Hanoi to be enjoyed from this peak. The fast-flowing Da River is located on one side of the national park; there are also several streams running through the park.
Originally created as a hill station during the French Colonial era, Ba Vi National Park has always been an excellent source of medicinal plants for the Dao ethnic group. Walking and hiking opportunities are popular in this area of lush tropical foliage with plenty of forest trails and mountain slopes.

In addition there is also a bird garden and an orchid garden, although the main attraction is the temple. It takes about 30 minutes of hard climb to make it to the temple but you are additionally well rewarded with panoramic views of the Red River Valley and beyond.
The outlook is best from April through December when even Hanoi can be seen in the distance. The national park offers lodging at Tan Da Spa Resort where you can experience hot springs, mud baths, wet steam baths and herbal baths for inpiduals, couples or families. The resort is built in the style of an ancient palace and reminiscent of the houses once found in the Vietnamese northern delta region.

Quan Son Lake

Just about 50km southwest of Hanoi’s centre, a “green gemstone” is tucked away in the suburban district of My Duc.

It is said that the lake consists of 100 limestone mountains on its surface, making it an onshore miniature of Ha Long Bay.

The best time to visit Quan Son is during the lotus season, which falls between mid-May and June. If you visit at another time, the green carpet locally called trang trang—an aquatic plant with small white flowers—is equally beautiful, creating a romantic scene on the lake.