If you are looking for a short trip near Hanoi that combines natural scenery, cultural depth and a convenient place to stay, the 2-day-1-night journey to Tam Chuc - Phu Ly - Vu Dai Village is well worth considering.
After just over an hour of travel, visitors can leave behind the familiar rhythm of the capital and step into a landscape of mountains, pagodas, Northern Vietnamese countryside and nostalgic literary stories. The first day is dedicated to Truc Temple, Ngu Dong Thi Son and Tam Chuc Pagoda. In the evening, guests stay overnight in central Phu Ly. On the second day, the journey continues to Vu Dai Village, Ba Kien House, the tomb of writer Nam Cao and the traditional braised fish craft village.
The itinerary is not too far and not too packed, making it suitable for families, groups of friends, middle-aged travelers or anyone who wants a gentle weekend with enough meaningful experiences.

Why Choose the Tam Chuc - Phu Ly - Vu Dai Village Route?

The beauty of this route lies in its balance. Guests can begin with natural scenery and spiritual spaces, rest overnight in Phu Ly to recharge, then end the journey with a destination connected to Vietnamese literature.
Truc Temple - Ngu Dong Thi Son offers a green, peaceful atmosphere. Tam Chuc opens up a vast landscape of lake and mountains, ideal for sightseeing, worship and enjoying a poetic waterside setting. Vu Dai Village then brings visitors back to the Northern Vietnamese countryside, a place associated with Chi Pheo by writer Nam Cao and the famous traditional braised fish dish.
In the middle of the journey, Phu Ly plays the role of a convenient stop. Staying overnight in the city center makes the trip less rushed, especially when traveling with young children, elderly family members or family groups.

Day 1: Hanoi - Truc Temple - Ngu Dong Thi Son - Tam Chuc - Tien Loc Palace

7:00 AM: Depart from Hanoi
Guests can begin the journey at around 7:00 AM. The route from Hanoi to Kim Bang and Phu Ly is quite convenient, suitable for family cars, small groups or self-guided travelers.
Along the way, visitors may stop for breakfast or a light coffee before continuing the trip. Since the first day includes several outdoor sightseeing spots, it is helpful to prepare comfortable footwear, drinking water, hats, sun protection and polite clothing for spiritual sites.

9:00 AM: Visit Truc Temple - Ngu Dong Thi Son
The first suggested stop is the scenic area of Truc Temple - Ngu Dong Thi Son. This destination features a refreshing natural landscape, combining mountains, water, bamboo groves and a unique cave system.
Truc Temple is set in a peaceful space and is connected to many cultural stories of the Kim Bang area. After visiting the temple, travelers can continue exploring Ngu Dong Thi Son. Inside the caves, stalactites in different shapes create a fascinating atmosphere that feels both wild and contemplative.
The setting of Truc Temple - Ngu Dong Thi Son is suitable for those who enjoy light walking, love nature and want to begin the trip with a calm destination before visiting Tam Chuc.

11:30 AM: Lunch and Rest
After the morning sightseeing program, guests can have lunch at a local restaurant or a pre-booked dining spot in the area. Lunch should be light and easy to enjoy, avoiding dishes that are too heavy, as the afternoon continues with travel and sightseeing at Tam Chuc Pagoda.
If the group includes young children or elderly guests, it is best to allow extra time to rest after lunch. A short pause will help everyone regain energy for the afternoon itinerary.

1:00 PM: Visit Tam Chuc Pagoda
In the afternoon, guests travel to Tam Chuc Tourism Area, one of the most prominent spiritual destinations in the Ha Nam - Ninh Binh region. The destination impresses visitors with its wide lake, surrounding limestone mountains and large-scale pagoda complex.
Depending on available time, visitors can explore key areas such as Tam Chuc Lake, Tam Quan Gate, Quan Am Hall, Phap Chu Hall, Tam The Hall, the Sutra Pillar Garden and Ngoc Pagoda.
Tam Chuc Lake has a spacious and peaceful beauty. Across the water, small islands and limestone ranges create a distinctive landscape of mountains and water. On a beautiful day, this is an ideal place for walking, taking photos and feeling the serenity of a spiritual land.
If time and health allow, guests can walk up to Ngoc Pagoda to enjoy a panoramic view of Tam Chuc from above. Late afternoon is often a beautiful moment, when the sunlight softens and the lake-and-mountain scenery becomes gentler.
A small note: Tam Chuc is a large area, so visitors should check information about electric cars, boats, operating hours and prepare comfortable footwear to make moving around easier.

5:00 PM: Return to Phu Ly and Check in at Tien Loc Palace
After finishing the program at Tam Chuc, guests travel back to central Phu Ly to check in at Tien Loc Palace. The hotel is located on National Highway 1A, offering convenient connections between the sightseeing spots on the first day and the Vu Dai Village itinerary on the following morning.
After nearly a full day of travel, a clean and comfortable place to rest will help the whole group restore their energy. Guests can check in, freshen up, relax and prepare for a gentle evening in the city.

6:30 PM: Dinner and Overnight Stay at Tien Loc Palace
In the evening, guests can enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant. This option is suitable for families, groups and self-guided travelers who want a convenient meal after a long day without having to move around too much.
After dinner, visitors may walk around central Phu Ly, have coffee, chat with loved ones or return to their room early. For those who prefer a gentle travel pace, a quiet evening at the hotel is enough to make the trip more pleasant.
Tien Loc Palace offers a suitable accommodation space for guests staying overnight in Phu Ly, with comfortable rooms, a restaurant, Enjoy Coffee, a gym on the 19th floor and various supporting facilities during the stay.

Day 2: Tien Loc Palace - Vu Dai Village - Ba Kien House - Hanoi

7:00 - 8:00 AM: Breakfast and Check-Out
In the morning, guests enjoy breakfast, take a short rest and complete check-out procedures. If traveling with young children or elderly guests, it is helpful to prepare luggage the night before to make the morning less rushed.
After check-out, the group departs for Vu Dai Village, a destination closely connected to the literary world of Nam Cao and his work Chi Pheo.

9:00 AM: Visit Vu Dai Village and the Tomb of Writer Nam Cao
Vu Dai Village in literature was inspired by the old Dai Hoang Village, the hometown of writer Nam Cao. This destination is suitable for visitors who love Vietnamese literature and want to learn more about the Northern countryside setting and familiar characters that appeared in Chi Pheo.
Guests can visit the tomb of writer Nam Cao to pay tribute to one of the representative authors of Vietnamese realist literature. The space here is not noisy, making it suitable for a slow visit, storytelling and a deeper appreciation of the cultural heritage of a land that once entered the pages of literature.

10:00 AM: Visit Ba Kien House
After visiting the tomb of writer Nam Cao, guests continue to Ba Kien House. This more-than-100-year-old traditional house is associated with the prototype of the character Ba Kien in Chi Pheo and preserves many architectural features of old Northern Vietnamese houses.
Stepping into Ba Kien House, visitors can feel the traces of time through wooden pillars, tiled roofs, the main hall and the familiar arrangement of an old rural home. For those who studied Chi Pheo at school, the visit feels like stepping out of the pages of a book to meet the literary setting in real life.
This is also a suitable stop for taking photos, listening to explanations and understanding the connection between literature, local history and Northern countryside life.

11:00 AM: Learn About Vu Dai Village Braised Fish
Beyond its literary story, Vu Dai Village is also famous for its traditional braised fish. Guests can visit a local workshop to learn about the preparation process, from selecting the fish, preparing clay pots and mixing spices to the many hours required for slow braising.
Vu Dai Village braised fish is also a popular gift that many travelers choose to bring home after the trip. If guests wish to buy it as a gift, they should ask in advance or place an order early, as the dish often requires careful and time-consuming preparation.

12:00 PM: Lunch
After visiting Vu Dai Village, Ba Kien House and a braised fish workshop, guests have lunch at a local restaurant or a pre-booked dining venue. Lunch can include several specialties of the Ha Nam - Ninh Binh region, depending on the group’s preferences.

1:30 - 2:00 PM: Return to Hanoi
After lunch, guests board the vehicle and return to Hanoi. The group is expected to arrive in the capital in the afternoon, ending the 2-day-1-night journey to Tam Chuc, Phu Ly and Vu Dai Village.

Preparation Tips for a Self-Guided Trip

To make the journey smoother, guests should check information in advance about entrance tickets, electric cars and boats at Tam Chuc, opening hours at each stop and the weather forecast. Since the itinerary includes many outdoor activities, comfortable shoes, drinking water, hats, sunscreen and polite clothing for spiritual sites are all essential.
If the group includes young children or elderly guests, the schedule should be adjusted to a slower pace. It is not necessary to visit every destination in a short time. What matters most is that everyone feels comfortable, has time to rest and can enjoy each destination at their own rhythm.

Stay at Tien Loc Palace for a Lighter Journey

Within the 2-day-1-night itinerary, Tien Loc Palace serves as a convenient resting point in the middle of the journey. After the first day of visiting Truc Temple - Ngu Dong Thi Son and Tam Chuc, guests can return to central Phu Ly, enjoy dinner, rest and prepare for the visit to Vu Dai Village the next morning.
With its location on National Highway 1A, comfortable guest rooms, restaurant, Enjoy Coffee, high-floor gym and various supporting facilities, Tien Loc Palace offers a warm accommodation space for families, groups of friends, business travelers combining work with leisure and self-guided visitors.
At Tien Loc Palace, the feeling of being at home comes from very real details: a warm room, satisfying meals, a familiar coffee corner, thoughtful facilities and attentive care throughout every moment of the stay.
 
If you are planning a 2-day-1-night trip to Tam Chuc - Phu Ly - Vu Dai Village, Tien Loc Palace is delighted to become a peaceful, convenient and well-prepared stop along your journey.
Contact Tien Loc Palace for consultation on the most suitable room category for your upcoming trip.