Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam

Situated in Far North – East Vietnam, 80km from Hanoi. There is daily train from Hanoi to Quan Trieu, about 8km from center of Thai Nguyen City. Annual average temperature is 25ºC. Thai Nguyen has revolutionary tradition, historical vestiges including Van, Vo mountains, Dinh Hoa ATK vestige, and Duom Temple… Tourists are attracted by scenery of Nui Coc Reservoir.

Thai Nguyen Highlights

Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups
Location: Located in centre of Thai Nguyen City.
Characteristics: The museum is a repository depicting the culture of ethnic groups living throughout the Vietnam. 

The Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups was established in 1960 in an area of 39,000m2 of which 3,000m2 is used for exhibition. It contains more than 10,000 documents, and artifacts belong to the cultural heritage of 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. The museum also presents an extensive collection of agricultural, handicraft, and hunting tools. Typical ritual clothes with bright colors and decorative motifs of different ethnic minorities are also exhibited. The unusual costumes of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups used for worshipping their sorcerers are embroidered with lines and designs that supposedly perceive magical sounds.

The Viet-Muong showroom presents nearly 500 documents, objects, and photographs illustrating archaeological articles discovered in Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, and Go Mun in the North of the country. Exhibits of Vietnamese national agricultural and handicraft productions and brocades woven by Muong ethnic minorities are also displayed.

Exhibited in the Tay-Thai showroom are nearly 500 documents and artifacts related to the slash-and-burn agricultural technique and traditional trades of minorities, such as the Tay, Thai, Lao, and Lu. Women’s clothes and musical folk instruments such as the tinh string instrument, the flute, as well as displays of the traditional ceremonies of several minorities are also exhibited.

The H’mong-Dao showroom displays approximately 600 documents and artifacts reflecting the agricultural practices of the H’mong, such as slash-and-burn farming, terraced rice fields, hunting weapons, and clothes of the H’mong-Dao ethnic group.

The Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups is a repository depicting the culture of ethnic groups living throughout the nation. It is also a place for people to learn about the origins and traditional cultural identities of every ethnic group in Vietnam.

The Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8 to 11 am and 2 to 4.30 pm.

++ Nui Coc Lake

Location: Nui Coc Lake is located approximately 90km from Hanoi and 25km south west of Thai Nguyen City.
Characteristics: Nui Coc Lake lies in magnificent landscapes of a mountainous area. With charming natural scenery, Nui Coc is close to romantic love legend - the boy name Cong and the girl name Coc. 

Nui Coc Lake is a reservoir with the area of 25km2, 23m depth. The lake is surrounded by mountains and includes 89 islands, concealing mysterious legends, some covered with trees and others housing flocks of storks or mountain goats. Nearby the lake, Coc Mountain stands imposingly amid the blue sky, the bright sunshine over every blade of grass and twig, all creating marvelous and splendid scenery.

The lake comprises many islets; some are covered with trees, some with flocks of birds, and others with mountain goats. About 40 species of birds and 15 species of mammals have been recorded in the reservoir area. If you have time, cruise to visit Co Island covered with tree, enjoy the view of overall Nui Coc Lake.

++ Phuong Hoang Cave and Mo Ga Stream

Location: The cave is located atop Phuong Hoang (Phoenix) Mountain, 45km from Thai Nguyen City along National Road No. 1B in the Thai Nguyen-Lang Son direction.
Characteristics: The cave includes 3 layers: the upper layer is Doi (Bat) Cave, the central is Sang (Light) Cave, and the lower is Toi (Dark) Cave. 

Visitors spend around half an hour climbing up to the cave. Seeing from its foot, the mountain has the shape of two laying phoenixes. Legend goes that a long time ago, there were a couple of phoenixes living very happily and they were born two eggs. Everyday, the father bird looked for food and the mother bird sat the eggs. One day lured by a new flock, the father bird forgot his task and did not come back. Until he remembered his task and returned to the nest, his wife had been transmuted into a rock. Feeling regrettable, he laid on the opposite mountain, looking toward the nest with the hope that his wife could revive. Waiting hopelessly for a long time, he was also transmuted into stone. Since then the mountain has been named Phuong Hoang (Phoenix).

Reaching the mouth of the cave, visitors can see the landscape of this land. The Light Cave is spacious and well-ventilated. The stalactites in the cave glitter fancifully thanks to the light from the three main mouths of the caves. Visitors can freely imagine the forms of these stalactites such as a mother is carrying her son on her back on the way to the field, ancient people are hunting wild animals, and lanterns.

At the foot of the Phuong Hoang Mountain, there is Mo Ga (Chicken’s Beak) Stream Cave. Its entrance is 100m wide and there is a stream that flows out from the cave. In front, there are many small waterfalls, bathing places, rocks, and small rocky islands. The water is clear and the landscape is fantastic.

The Phuong Hoang Mountain is the most beautiful in Thai Nguyen with the imposing landscape and beautiful cave. The site attracts many visitors. Phuong Hoang vestige and the stream in Mo Ga Cave were listed as National Sites by the Government in 1994.

 Travel Guides in 67cities and Provinces of Vietnam:

Hanoi|Hochiminh(Saigon)|Halong|Hue|Hoian|Haiphong|Catba|Hoabinh|Caobang|laocai|Maichau|
Sapa|Sonla|Dienbienphu|Thainguyen|Phutho|Babe-Backan|Hagiang|langson|Bacninh|Hatay|
Haiduong|NinhBinh|Thaibinh|Quangninh|DongHoi|QuangBinh|Quangtri|Phuyen|Phutho|Thanhhoa|
Nghean|Hatinh|Danang|Taynguyen|Kontum|Gialai|Daknong|Daklak|Dalat|BinhDinh|Nhatrang|
PhanThiet|Muine|Vungtau|KienGiang|Phuquoc|Tayninh|Vinhlong|Travinh|Dongthap|Tiengiang|
Angiang|Cantho|Bentre|Camau|