6 camping destinations near Hanoi amid scenic nature

Ba Vi National Park

An hour and a half away from the capital, the 11,000-hectare Ba Vi National Park is a popular weekend destination that allows people to reconnect with nature. Located in the Ba Vi mountain range, the park has a rich and diverse range of tropical and subtropical flora and fauna, making it an ideal choice for camping.

Entry tickets to the park cost VND60,000 ($2.64) for adults and VND10,000 ($0.44) for children. Visitors can bring tents, barbecues, tables, and chairs or rent them at VND60,000-450,000.

If visitors want to camp overnight in the park, they have to pay a fee of VND50,000 per adult. At night the temperature drops, and so it is advisable to carry sleeping bags, blankets and warm clothes.

There are some good areas for camping overnight such as the cactus garden and pine forest areas and Ngoc Hoa cave. The park management has increased night patrols, and so safety is not a concern.

Between mid-November and early December is an ideal time to go camping since wild yellow flowers bloom in Ba Vi.

Dong Mo Discovery

For families with children, Dong Mo Discovery inside the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village in Son Tay Commune, around one hour from Hanoi center, is an ideal choice. The camping spot is a longan garden next to Dong Mo Lake, which allows campers to try their hand at water sports.

The camping fee here is VND60,000 per adult and VND30,000 for children aged six to 10. Visitors can rent a full camping package including tables and chairs and tents at VND150,000 per adult and VND60,000 per child. Grills are available at VND100,000.

Water bicycles and swan boat rides cost VND50,000 per person.

Son Tinh Camp

Son Tinh (Mountain Spirit) Camp in Van Hoa Commune in Ba Vi District spreads over an area of seven hectares, and has green forests, hills, a swimming pool, and outdoor sporting areas.

Renting a camping spot here costs VND60,000 per adult and VND30,000 for kids from three to 10. Camping overnight costs VND110,000 per adult and VND60,000 per child.

Visitors can rent camping tents for VND200,000-800,000 per night for two to 10 people.

There are also other choices such as a stilt house and conical-shaped houses starting at VND800,000.

Inside the site is a small pool for kids, who can also take part in outdoor activities such as sasuke and Tarzan.

At night the camping site screens an outdoor movie.

Nature Key Retreat

Nature Key Retreat Dong Mo in Son Tay Commune offers camping packages for two days and a night with a shuttle bus, campsite, tents, equipment, fun activities such as fishing, cycling and kite flying, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and outdoor movies with popcorn.

They cost from VND1.29 million.

The ticket price for people coming on their own or camping for one day is VND129,000 per adult and VND90,000 per child, and they can use the swimming pool, football field, grass slide, children's playing area, and pontoon boat.

A tent costs from VND300,000 for a day. The site has a dinosaur garden and numerous outdoor sporting activities for kids.

Campers can hire boats to admire the pristine natural landscape around Dong Mo Lake.

Ham Lon Mountain

Some 50 kilometers to the north of Hanoi is Ham Lon Mountain (Pig's Tooth) in Soc Son District rising to a height of 462 meters. Sometimes called “the roof of the capital,” it has become a favored camping destination in recent years.

Some families living in the area have earned a living by renting camping equipment such as tents, barbecues, dry firewood, and food. A tent costs VND100,000-320,000 for two to 16 people for 24 hours. Tables and chairs, blankets and stoves are available from VND30,000.

Visitors can trek up the mountain, kayak on Nui Bau Lake at its foot or simply gather with friends to set up a barbecue and escape the cacophony of the city.

Sixdoong

For people who do not want to go too far from Hanoi, Sixdoong in the Red River Rock Flower Garden at the end of Au Co Street is a good option.

It has a large lawn and tents for visitors to drink coffee and other beverages and chat with friends amid the clean air and idyllic surroundings.

You can also organize parties at this place. Tents cost VND299,000 for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or 5 p.m.-11 p.m., and VND599,000 for the whole day.

Drinks cost VND25,000-55,000.