In Pu Luong, visitors can explore highland villages in Ba Thuoc commune. This isolated area preserves many customs of the ancient Thai people and traditional stilt houses. Deep within the Pu Luong nature reserve, Hieu village is known for Hieu Waterfall, which has clear, strong water (photo). At the base of the waterfall are natural "bathing pools." Besides swimming at the waterfall, visitors can also visit palm hills, terraced rice fields, and primary forests. Photo: Tam Anh

Northern Vietnam's holiday weather often brings intense heat. To ensure a comfortable break, travelers should choose cooler destinations suitable for two to three-day trips. Tourism experts and VnExpress recommend places with temperatures 5-8 degrees Celsius lower than central Hanoi, offering fresh air, lush greenery, lakes, nature experiences, and fewer crowds.

Ba Vi National Park (Hanoi)

Ba Vi National Park is 60 km from Hanoi. The journey from central Hanoi takes about one and a half hours via the convenient Lang - Hoa Lac expressway. Many visitors come to Ba Vi for day trips, so booking an overnight stay is recommended to avoid crowds and enjoy the tranquility.

Admission for adults is 60,000 VND per ticket, with discounted rates of 30,000 VND for people with disabilities, and 10,000 to 20,000 VND for students. Ba Vi National Park operates from 7h to 17h30. For overnight stays, visitors must register with the park in advance or present a hotel booking. The fee for driving an oto into the park is 40,000 VND. Photo: Ba Vi National Park

Ba Vi features diverse terrain including forests, hills, mountains, rivers, and lakes. Visitors can camp at elevation 400, trek through the national park, relax at resorts or hotels at elevation 600, and visit Tan Vien Peak, Ho Chi Minh Temple, and the ruined church. The weather on Ba Vi Peak is consistently cool. In the evening, visitors should bring long-sleeved shirts or windbreakers. Photo: Ba Vi National Park

>> See more: 48 hours in Ba Vi

Pu Luong (Thanh Hoa)

Pu Luong is a mountainous region in northwestern Thanh Hoa province, 155 km from Hanoi, a journey of about 4 hours. The terrain consists mainly of limestone mountains, primary forests, and terraced rice valleys. In april, most of the rice in Pu Luong is green. Around the second week of may, the rice begins to ripen.

Pu Luong offers many eco-friendly resorts nestled on hillsides, isolated from each other, providing scenic views of the terraced fields. Photo: Pu Luong Ecocharm

In Pu Luong, visitors can explore highland villages in Ba Thuoc commune. This isolated area preserves many customs of the ancient Thai people and traditional stilt houses. Deep within the Pu Luong nature reserve, Hieu village is known for Hieu Waterfall, which has clear, strong water (photo). At the base of the waterfall are natural "bathing pools." Besides swimming at the waterfall, visitors can also visit palm hills, terraced rice fields, and primary forests. Photo: Tam Anh

Mau Son (Lang Son)

Mau Son is nearly 200 km from Hanoi, a journey of about 4 hours via expressways CT01 and CT09. The Mau Son mountain range comprises over 80 peaks, with the highest exceeding 1,540 m. The climate here is always cool in summer. It is also one of Vietnam's most beautiful spots for viewing ice and snow during strong cold spells.

Visitors can stay at various guesthouses on Mau Son Peak or return to Lang Son city, about 60 km away. Photo: Bui Vinh Thuan

Each season in Mau Son offers unique beauty, with cloud hunting from august to march annually. April to may is when locals prepare land and plant rice on terraced fields amidst hillsides and anise forests, while july to august marks the golden harvest season.

In early summer, Mau Son residents cultivate corn and admire hydrangeas, a characteristic flower of Mau Son. The photo shows a waterfall about 7 m high in Mau Son. There are many large, clear streams on the northern and southern slopes of the mountain. Photo: Bui Vinh Thuan

>> See more: 48 hours in Lang Son

Phia Oac (Cao Bang)

Located within the UNESCO Global Geopark Non Nuoc Cao Bang, Phia Oac - Phia Den National Park stands at an elevation of over 1,900 m, boasting beautiful natural landscapes and a fresh, cool climate. The French established a resort here in the early 20th century. Phia Oac is 250 km from Hanoi and 70 km from central Cao Bang, with a travel time of about 5 hours from Hanoi via CT07 and National Highway 3. Photo: Lalago

Phia Oac is beautiful in every season. In spring, visitors can admire a sea of clouds and many wild flowers like rhododendrons and forest orchids. Winter brings thick snow and ice, while summer makes it an ideal "heat escape." Additionally, visitors can explore attractions such as Khai Phat fort relic, the Dao Tien ethnic group's beeswax-printed brocade weaving village, Tinh Tuc tin mine, Kolia tea hill, and a salmon farm.

Visitors can stay at Kolia tourist area, offering bungalows or stilt houses located on Kolia Pass within the core zone of Phia Oac National Park, featuring an organic farm and ecotourism resort model. Photo: Kolia

>> See more: Sea of clouds on Phia Oac peak

Tam Anh