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Unraveling the allure of the northern mountainous regions at the end of the year.
As the year draws to a close, destinations in the northern mountainous region continue to attract tourists from all over. Besides boasting unique natural landscapes and rich highland cuisine, the end of the year is also the best time of year for cloud watching.
With 17 years of experience in the tourism, hospitality, and digital travel industries, Varun Grover, Country Director for Vietnam and Southern Thailand at Booking.com, said: “As the old year draws to a close and the new year approaches, Vietnamese travel enthusiasts are eager to explore new destinations or spend time with family and friends on a relaxing vacation after a busy year. Some prefer to visit highlands to fully enjoy the cool winter air, while many others favor long coastlines to bask in the warm sunshine.”
According to Booking.com data (data reflecting room searches with check-in dates between December 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024), some popular domestic destinations for escaping the winter in the northern mountainous region include Sapa, Moc Chau, Tam Dao, Dong Van and Ha Giang...
For international tourists visiting Vietnam during the same period, Tam Dao is also considered one of the most sought-after tourist destinations near Hanoi for winter holidays.
Tam Dao - an ideal destination for a trip near Hanoi.
As the year draws to a close, the weather in Northern Vietnam begins to turn cold, and flowers start to bloom, welcoming the approaching new year. Traveling to the mountainous regions during this transitional period, visitors will have the opportunity to wear warm winter clothing and witness the romantic sight of the first snowflakes of the season. Besides the weather, the highlands of Northern Vietnam also impress with their many dreamy flowers, captivating visitors even more.
In northern Vietnam, the most characteristic flower is the peach blossom, which blooms most abundantly in Sapa from the end of the year until just before Tet (Lunar New Year). Plum and apricot blossoms bloom profusely mainly in Moc Chau, Son La. The late winter and early spring are also the peak seasons for the wild sunflowers in the mountains of Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai. And in Tam Dao, in the cool weather of late year, wild sunflowers display their golden hues, covering the hillsides and pathways.
The golden color of wild sunflowers paints the entire sky in Tam Dao.
The cold weather also makes people fall in love with a series of "warm" dishes typical of the mountainous region. Not only because of the unique ingredients, but also because of the local people's cooking methods, these elements create a very distinctive beauty of mountain cuisine that makes anyone who stops here feel nostalgic and remember it forever.
Make a distinctive mark on the tourism market with quality products.
With the growing trend of traveling closer to Hanoi, Tam Dao is one of the ideal destinations in the northern mountainous region for short getaways, chosen by many tourists over other places. However, Tam Dao still lacks many attractive accommodations with international standard services to offer guests unique experiences. Towards the end of the year, for the first time, Tam Dao will see the arrival of a high-end hotel brand, promising to strongly attract tourists.
The Country Director for Vietnam and Southern Thailand at Booking.com stated: “With global temperatures continuing to rise, travelers will increasingly seek destinations with cooler climates. According to our Travel Forecast 2024 research, 75% of Vietnamese travelers indicated they would use their holidays to escape the heat. With its cool climate year-round, Tam Dao is the perfect destination for those wanting to escape the heat and enjoy nature. Furthermore, Tam Dao is only 80 km from Hanoi, making it a great and easily accessible option for a quick getaway.”
Tam Đảo is gradually seeing the emergence of more high-end hotels and resorts to attract tourists.
Thanks to its majestic natural scenery and impressive architectural structures, Tam Dao is a tourist destination that attracts many visitors every year. It also offers visitors a fresh perspective when exploring cultural and spiritual tourist attractions such as Tay Thien Pagoda, Huong Canh Pottery Village, the ancient stone church, the Golden Pagoda, and Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery… In addition, there are must-see check-in points when you set foot in Tam Dao such as: the Heaven's Gate, Silver Waterfall, the Television Tower, Rung Rinh Peak, and Cloud Bridge… Right at the foot of Tam Dao mountain, the golf course and resort complex is also an ideal stop for families, organizations, and individuals on weekends.
Considered a "core" tourist destination of Vinh Phuc province, Tam Dao boasts cultural tourism associated with ethnic minorities, spiritual tourism, and strengths in agriculture and forestry. Blessed with a unique high-altitude climate, Tam Dao has long been a resort destination unmatched by a few other places in the country, such as Moc Chau, Sa Pa, Mau Son, Ba Na, and Da Lat. Currently, Vinh Phuc province has been chosen as the four main pillars of tourism: cultural tourism, sports tourism, ecotourism, and MICE tourism (tourism combined with conferences, seminars, and corporate culture building). Along with this, golf tourism in Vinh Phuc also presents an opportunity for Tam Dao to develop additional products in the high-end market segment.
According to Decision 1508/QD-UBND of 2021 approving the Project: Development of tourism in Tam Dao district until 2025, with orientation to 2030 of Vinh Phuc province, the number of visitors to Tam Dao in recent years is as follows: from 2016 to 2018, the number of visitors tended to increase, from 1.65 million (2016) to 1.8 million (2018). By 2019, due to the general impact of the pandemic, the number of visitors decreased to 1.5 million. In 2020, the total number of tourists only reached about 550,000. In 2022, Tam Dao district attracted 700,000 visitors, a 40% increase compared to 2021. By the first nine months of 2023, Tam Dao was estimated to have welcomed 338,600 visitors, a 63% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
All of this shows that Tam Dao is a destination with strong appeal to tourists, and the appearance of the first 5-star hotel in this mountain town will create momentum for it to truly meet the expectations of many tourists, making it the "World's Leading Destination Town in 2022" (as recognized by the World Travel Awards).
Domestic tourists remain the primary source of visitors to Tam Dao, accounting for an average of 99.8% of the total number of visitors to the area. The domestic market mainly comes from northern provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh City… The tourism products most favored by domestic tourists are spiritual and religious tourism, and resort tourism.
Furthermore, Tam Dao's tourism resources hold significant potential for developing ecotourism, historical tourism, and cultural exploration products. These products are not only attractive to domestic tourists but are particularly valuable for attracting international visitors, given that international tourists currently account for a very small percentage of the total number of tourists visiting Tam Dao.
The Tam Dao tourism market took off with the opening of a 5-star hotel at the end of 2023.
According to statistics (Decision 1508/QD-UBND of 2021), international tourists accounted for a very small percentage, only 0.2%, of the total number of tourists visiting Tam Dao in 2019. During the period 2016-2019, the number of international tourists to Tam Dao increased steadily, but since the pandemic, the number of international tourists has dropped sharply and shows no signs of recovering.
In the coming period, service facilities will be invested in and built, and the quality of products and services will be improved... Especially with Vinh Phuc currently being a hot spot attracting FDI capital for projects with advanced and high technology, Tam Dao will have great potential for long-term international tourists. It is predicted that by 2025, the number of overnight tourists will increase, accounting for over 18% of the total number of tourists. By 2030, the number of overnight tourists is projected to account for over 23% of the total number of tourists. In the coming years, as tourism products and services become more diverse and of higher quality, the spending level of tourists (both international and domestic) will gradually increase.
The first 5-star hotel officially opens in Tam Dao.
With its natural potential, Tam Dao is asserting its position on the tourism map, especially with the arrival of Hôtel de l'Amour Tam Dao – the first 5-star hotel in the area – at the end of this year. The addition of a 5-star hotel in 2023 aligns with the development trend of Tam Dao tourism and presents an opportunity for Hôtel de l'Amour Tam Dao as a pioneer, opening up a new direction for high-end tourism in the locality.
If you want to go cloud hunting, the winter months (from November to January) are when temperatures drop, and Tam Dao will have noticeably more fog and clouds.
Strategically located in the heart of Tam Dao town, guests can easily access nearby tourist attractions. The fresh, cool air, cloud-watching opportunities, and pleasant weather are all positive attributes that make this area attractive to visitors.
More than just a luxurious getaway immersed in the enchanting scenery of fluffy white clouds, Hôtel de l'Amour Tam Đảo stands out with its modern aesthetic and classic touches. Couples staying here can also experience a timeless and romantic love story in every moment.
Hôtel de l'Amour Tam Đảo emerges with a modern aesthetic, subtly accented with classic touches amidst layers of fluffy white clouds.
In this picturesque and majestic setting, visitors can also capture priceless souvenir photos of moments like the sea of clouds rolling in or the romantic sunset disappearing behind the towering mountain range.
More than just a trip, choosing a vacation at a resort in the misty town of the sea of clouds will be truly special. Although getting there is like an adventure, the reward is absolute relaxation and enjoyment by immersing yourself in the majestic beauty of nature.
Additional information:
To celebrate its grand opening and welcoming its first guests, the hotel is offering a special promotion for a relaxing getaway in the cloud-covered paradise of Tam Dao, starting from just VND 1,135,000++/person.
Guests will enjoy a luxurious and upscale vacation including: 1 night's stay in a comfortable and elegant room with a view of Tam Dao Square; 1 standard breakfast served at La Vie en Rose Restaurant; complimentary tea, coffee, and bottled water in the room; free use of the heated swimming pool, gym, Family Lounge, and other hotel amenities… The Hôtel de l'Amour Tam Dao program applies to stays from December 28th to March 31st.
government:https://hoteldelamourtamdao.com/
