Thanh Hoa Province

Region · 🇻🇳 Vietnam

Thanh Hóa is a large province in north-central Vietnam, about 150 km south of Hanoi. It has one of the country's oldest histories. Its main sights are the Citadel of the Hồ Dynasty, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the beach resort of Sầm Sơn, and the forests of Pù Luông in the west.

Most visitors stop for a day from Hanoi or Ninh Bình, or spend a weekend on the beach.

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When to visit

May to September is the beach season at Sầm Sơn, with warm water but also hot and crowded weekends. October to November is mild and drier. Winter from December to February is cold and grey, and the sea is rough. Typhoons can hit between July and October.

Best time to visit: January, February, November, December

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Great

21° (feels like 20°) · extremes 7°–27°
13° at night
5 rainy days
3 sunny days
2 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
20°C · cool for a dip
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in February

Great

23° · extremes 9°–31°
15° at night
6 rainy days
2 sunny days
2 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
20°C · cool for a dip
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in March

Good

27° (feels like 28°) · extremes 13°–33°
18° at night
9 rainy days
1 sunny day
2 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
21°C · cool for a dip
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Fair

30° (feels like 33°) · extremes 16°–37°
21° at night
10 rainy days
2 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
24°C · warm for swimming
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in May

Poor

32° (feels like 36°) · extremes 20°–37°
24° at night
18 rainy days
5 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
28°C · warm for swimming
UV index 8 · very high

Up to 5 days above 35°

Typical weather in June

Poor

32° (feels like 37°) · extremes 24°–36°
26° at night
18 rainy days
5 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in July

Poor

32° (feels like 37°) · extremes 25°–35°
26° at night
21 rainy days
5 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in August

Poor

31° (feels like 36°) · extremes 24°–34°
26° at night
23 rainy days
4 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in September

Poor

30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 21°–33°
24° at night
20 rainy days
4 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in October

Fair

28° (feels like 30°) · extremes 17°–31°
21° at night
16 rainy days
4 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Light breeze
28°C · warm for swimming
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in November

Great

25° (feels like 26°) · extremes 12°–30°
18° at night
9 rainy days
6 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Light breeze
26°C · warm for swimming
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in December

Great

21° (feels like 20°) · extremes 8°–27°
14° at night
5 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
22°C · cool for a dip
UV index 4 · moderate

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2); NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Top sights

Citadel of the Ho Dynasty is a stone citadel built in 1397, with massive limestone walls and gates. It was listed by UNESCO in 2011.
Sầm Sơn Beach is the main beach at the resort town, with a long promenade and seafood restaurants.
Làng nghề đúc đồng Chè Đông is a village known for bronze casting.

Pù Luông Nature Reserve, in the west of the province, has rice terraces and homestays. See Pu Luong.

What to experience

Walk the Citadel walls: The south gate is the best preserved.
Swim at Sầm Sơn: The beach is busy in summer, with lifeguards in marked zones.
Eat seafood on the promenade: Fresh squid, crab and fish.
Visit a bronze village: See traditional casting.
Take a trip to Pù Luông: Terraces and homestays in the hills.

Tours & Activities

Thanh Hoa Province — Map

Day trips

Pu Luong: Pù Luông is about 3 hours west of the city by road.
Ninh Binh: Ninh Bình is the next province north, about 1 hour away.
Hanoi: Hanoi is about 3 hours north.
Nghe An: Nghệ An lies to the south.

Where to explore

North: Ninh Binh and Hanoi are the main tourist centres.
West: Pu Luong has the terraces and forest.
South: Nghe An is the next province.

Getting there

By train: Thanh Hóa station is on the north–south line. Vietnam Railways
By road: Buses and cars run along Highway 1 and the expressway from Hanoi.
By air: Thọ Xuân Airport has a few domestic flights.
To Sầm Sơn: Buses and taxis take about 30 minutes from Thanh Hóa city.

Getting around

Taxi and ride-hailing: Available in Thanh Hóa city and Sầm Sơn.
Motorbike hire: Good for the Citadel and the coast.
Bicycle: Flat roads suit cycling around Sầm Sơn.

Driving

Is a car worth it? For the Citadel, Sầm Sơn and Pù Luông, a car or motorbike is the easiest.
Roads: Highway 1 is busy. The expressway from Hanoi is faster.
Summer weekends: Traffic to Sầm Sơn is heavy.

Food & drink

Thanh Hóa food is hearty. Try nem chua, fermented pork rolls, chả tôm, fried shrimp rolls, and fresh seafood at Sầm Sơn. Local rice cakes and sweet snacks are common gifts.

Breakfast

Pho PhởBeef or chicken noodle soup with a fragrant broth, fresh herbs, and rice noodles; commonly eaten for breakfast.

Lunch

Bun Cha Bún chảGrilled pork patties and slices served with rice vermicelli, herbs, and a sweet-sour dipping sauce; a Hanoi specialty.

Bun Bo Hue Bún bò HuếA spicy, lemongrass-scented beef noodle soup from the city of Hue.

Cao Lau Cao lầuA noodle dish unique to Hoi An, with thick chewy noodles, pork, and greens, traditionally made with local well water.

Snacks & street food

Banh Mi Bánh mìA French-influenced baguette sandwich filled with pork, pate, pickled vegetables, and herbs.

Banh Xeo Bánh xèoA crispy turmeric rice-flour crepe filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, wrapped in lettuce and herbs.

Goi Cuon Gỏi cuốnFresh (uncooked) spring rolls filled with shrimp, pork, herbs, and vermicelli, wrapped in rice paper.

Sweets & desserts

Che ChèA category of sweet dessert soups or puddings made with beans, fruit, jelly, and coconut milk, served hot or over ice.

Drinks

Ca Phe Sua Da Cà phê sữa đáStrong drip coffee served over ice with sweetened condensed milk; Vietnam's signature drink.

Bia Hoi Bia hơiCheap, light draft beer brewed fresh daily and sold at street-side stalls, especially in Hanoi.

Safety & health

Thanh Hóa is safe for visitors.

Swim only in marked zones at Sầm Sơn. Currents can be strong.
Typhoon season runs from July to October.
The beach is crowded in summer. Keep valuables close.
Agree prices for seafood before ordering.
Use sun protection.

History

Thanh Hóa has been inhabited since prehistoric times and is the home of the Đông Sơn bronze culture. Several dynasties, including the Later Lê and the Nguyễn lords, came from the province.

In 1397 Hồ Quý Ly built the stone citadel of the Hồ Dynasty as a new capital. The dynasty lasted only seven years, but the citadel survives. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 2011.