Vinh Phuc province
If you're heading north from Hanoi to Sapa on the train, the first province you'll be passing through, wedged between rising mountains and the Hong River, is the small province of Vinh Phuc -- best known for Tam Dao Hill Station.
While the provincial capital has precious little to offer travellers, Tam Dao offers the opportunity for some moderate walking, pleasing scenery and if nothing else, an escape from the heat of the plains.
Given the provincial capital of Vinh Yen is just over 60km from Hanoi, and Tam Dao is just over 20km from Vinh Yen, this is an easy destination for an overnight trip from Hanoi, or the first stop in a longer northern exploration.
A note of warning, Tam Dao is especially popular with Vietnamese tourists on summer weekends, so try for a weekday trip if you can, or else pack your karaoke gear.
