Weekend trip to Tien Lang

Located just 85km from Hanoi (via the Tu Ky - Hai Duong route), or accessible via Highway 10, this tourist area boasts a hot mineral spring gushing from the earth at a depth of 850m, with a temperature of 54ºC. It has been recognized by the Vietnam Geological Survey, Russian and Czechoslovakian research institutes as one of Vietnam's five exceptionally valuable mineral springs due to its trace mineral elements. Tien Lang natural mineral water is similar to Mirgorod (Russia), Bazne Darkov (Czechoslovakia), Baisov (Bulgaria), and Salivs de Jura (France). Besides soaking, bathing, and inhaling, the mineral water here is also used for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of several conditions such as chronic peripheral neuritis, endocrine dysfunction, chronic upper respiratory tract infections, and some skin diseases.

This entire ecological area spans 10 hectares. Here, you can soak in hot mineral water with indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, enjoy mineral mud baths, saunas, hot spring hydrotherapy, and physical therapy. Those who don't want to bathe can relax on the tennis court, badminton court, billiards court, or go fishing, or sing karaoke… When you're tired, you can stroll through the gardens along the small, man-made stream, admiring the vibrant water lilies in the small pond.

I was surprised to see such a large Huong Que restaurant here, with a capacity of nearly 3000 guests, spanning two floors dedicated to serving food, hosting seminars, conferences, banquets, and wedding receptions. Upon entering, we immediately encounter a giant traditional Vietnamese pipe, measuring 3.2 meters in length and nearly 20 centimeters in diameter – a potential Guinness World Record holder for Vietnam. This reminded me that Tien Lang is a very famous tobacco-producing region in Northern Vietnam.

Ngoc Lan Hotel is located at the very back of the eco-tourism area. The older generation can enjoy a peaceful night in the fresh air, surrounded by the romantic scent of wildflowers and meadow grasses. The younger generation can light a campfire outdoors and sing to their heart's content…

Trang thông tin du lịch và phong cách sống Travellive+

Mr. Pham Quang Vinh - General Director of Phu Vinh Co., Ltd. - the managing unit of Tien Lang Hot Spring Tourist Area, and also Chairman of the Hai Phong Tourism Association, told me: "Our motto We always uphold the motto - Serving customers is our joy and happiness. Our goal is to always value and appreciate feedback and suggestions from customers, constantly improving our products and services, diversifying them in form and enriching them in content to best serve our customers.”

Another interesting point is that just about 10 km from the Tien Lang hot spring resort, we can visit the memorial site of the renowned cultural figure Nguyen Binh Khiem, a great poet, thinker, and teacher (1491-1585) whose life spanned almost the entire 16th century. Here, we can visit the tomb of Mr. Nguyen Van Dinh - Nguyen Binh Khiem's father, visit the temple dedicated to Nguyen Binh Khiem, and take photos under his 5.7m tall, 8.5-ton statue, behind which are two giant bas-reliefs. But what is unique and something I've never seen anywhere else is the entire "garden of statues" depicting Nguyen Binh Khiem living among the people. The statues are so lifelike, sometimes in the garden or courtyard, sometimes as an old woman, sometimes as a simple old farmer, sometimes as a child riding on the back of a buffalo... but all are directed towards him - the cultural figure Nguyen Binh Khiem.

I'm sure a two-day weekend trip to these two locations will be very rewarding.