Stay updated with the latest news of the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam and information for traveling to Vietnam. Read more here.
Vietnam Travel Information
Soc Son District in Hanoi
What comes into your mind first when talking about Hanoi? Is that the bustling Ta Hien Beer Street, the nostalgic Old Quarter night market, or the magnificent Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum? Now, let's pass those familiar locations and take an adventure to the other side of the city. Check out our guide to Soc Son District in Hanoi.
Table of Contents
- An Overview of Soc Son District in Hanoi
- How to Get to Soc Son District in Hanoi
- Where to Visit in Soc Son District in Hanoi
- What to Eat in Soc Son District in Hanoi
- Where to Stay in Soc Son District in Hanoi
An Overview Soc Son District in Hanoi
- Soc Son District is a common getaway for Hanoians, thanks to the abundance of resorts and picturesque sceneries
- The total area of Soc Son District is 306,5 km2
- Soc Son District has borders with: Bac Giang and Bac Ninh Province to the east; Vinh Phuc Province to the west; Me Linh District to the southwest; Dong Anh District to the south; Thai Nguyen Province to the north.
- Soc Son District is about 30 km away from Hoan Kiem Lake and it is home to Noi Bai International Airport - the second largest airport in Vietnam
How to Get to Soc Son District in Hanoi
From the heart of Hanoi, you will have no difficulty reaching Soc Son District by bus, motorbike, and taxi. Here, we choose Hoan Kiem Lake (Hoan Kiem District) as the departure and Soc Son District as the destination.
Traveling to Soc Son District in Hanoi by Bus
The fastest way is to take the bus route 55A from the Tran Quang Khai - Ham Tu Quan junction to Yen Phu Water Plant; then you catch the bus route 58 to Twin Mountains; from Twin Mountains, you jump on the bus route 56A and drop at the radio station of Soc Son.
Duration: About 2.5 hours
Price: VND 15,000 - 24,000
Related article: Tips for Taking a Bus in Hanoi
Look for bus tickets below:
Traveling to Soc Son District in Hanoi by Motorbike
To discover Hanoi's central districts, renting a motorbike and riding it by yourself is cheap and cheerful. But if you plan to travel a 30-km distance, you should think twice since this is more challenging than moving around the urban area.
Duration: 1 hour
Rental price: VND 150,000 - 300,000/day
Related article: What to Know about Motorbike Rental in Hanoi
Traveling to Soc Son District in Hanoi by Taxi
What's more convenient and comfortable than opting for a taxi? For your convenience, you should choose reputable taxi brands like Vinasun, Mai Linh, Group. Otherwise, you can book a GrabCar or BeCar on your phone.
Duration: 40 - 50 minutes
Price: VND 400,000 - 500,000
Related article: 3 Tips to Avoid Taxi Scams
Where to Visit in Soc Son District in Hanoi
Despite being a part of Hanoi, Soc Son District does not have the vibe that you normally link to megacities. Instead of the bustling streets, the district offers poetic scenery and cultural heritages which make it become an ideal getaway for your weekend.
Soc Mountain Historical Relic
Address: Ve Linh Village, Phu Linh Commune, Soc Son, Hanoi
Opening hours: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Built by the Dinh Dynasty (968-980), the relic started off with 2 constructions which are Soc Temple and Non Nuoc Pagoda. Later, new temples, pagodas, and statues were built and the whole area was recognized as a national relic in 1962. Each year, the relic welcomes thousands of visitors coming for the Giong Festival.
Soc Temple is where locals worship Phu Dong Thien Vuong (Heavenly King of Phu Dong) or Thanh Giong (Saint Giong)
Mau Temple is a sacred place for people to commemorate Giong's mother
Thanh Chuong Viet Palace
Address: Hien Ninh Commune, Soc Son, Hanoi
Opening hours: 9 AM - 5 PM
Entrance ticket: VND 150,000
Thanh Chuong Viet Palace seems like a historic site at first glance but it is actually a private museum of Mr. Thanh Chuong - a Vietnam's reputable artist. Coming here, you will be introduced to an architectural exhibition with various constructions from the stilt houses of Muong people to ancient houses in the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1884).
The palace has appeared in some international newspapers namely The New York Times and Herald Tribune
Inside the palace, there are many restaurants serving Vietnamese cuisine and shops selling souvenirs. You can also enjoy water puppetry performances in Long Dinh theater
Dong Quan Lake
Address: Quang Tien Commune, Soc Son, Hanoi
Entrance Ticket:
- Full day: VND 45,000
- Overnight: VND 55,000
Tent Rental:
- For 3-4 people: VND 160,000/night
- For 15 people: VND 260,000/night
Dong Quan Lake is where you can get closer to nature and away from the dust and noise of the city. Thanks to the green forest and blue lake, the atmosphere here is always cool and fresh. As the area is quite spacious and airy, you should go on a picnic or organize team building games apart from admiring the landscape here.
The mesmerizing view of Dong Quan Lake from above
Ham Lon Mountain
Address: Ham Son, Soc Son, Hanoi
Thanks to the height of 462m above the sea level, Ham Lon Mountain is also called "the roof of Hanoi". It is highly recommended to conquer this mountain and once you have been at the top, get ready to be dazed at the lush plants and the purple hue of Sim flowers.
You have two options to reach Ham Lon peak: go on the trail or climb directly along the stream
What to Eat in Soc Son District in Hanoi
Soc Son's one of the mountainous districts in Hanoi, where a few ethnic minorities dwell. Therefore, the cuisine here combines the old and the new, perfect for large families.
Hieu Thao Restaurant
Address: Flower Garden, Phu Linh Commune, Soc Son, Hanoi
Opening hours: 9 AM - 11 PM
Menu: Hotpot, Grilled Seafood, and Grilled Meat
Price: VND 150,000 - 500,000
Trang Anh Restaurant
Address: 13 Khuong Viet Street, Soc Son, Hanoi
Opening hours: 8 AM - 10 PM
Menu: Chicken Hotpot, Grilled Chicken, Sticky Rice
Price: VND 150,000 - 550,000
Vu Nghia Eatery
Address: 132 Route 3, Tien Duoc Commune, Soc Son, Hanoi
Opening hours: 9 AM - 10:30 PM
Menu: Vietnamese dishes
Where to Stay in Soc Son District in Hanoi
Hidden Villa
Address: Minh Phu Commune, Soc Son, Hanoi
Price: VND 4,000,000 - 5,000,000 (whole villa)
Just like its name, the surroundings of this villa looks mysterious and somehow remind us of the Twilight movie
Sitting in the bedroom, you will have a panoramic view of the pine forest
Rustic Home
Address: Minh Phu Commune, Soc Son, Hanoi
Price: VND 3,500,000 - 5,500,000 (whole villa)
The rustic interior with wooden furniture and warm brown tone
The space in front of the house is where you can throw a BBQ party or sip tea and have self-reflection
La Teisu Hotel
Address: 6 Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Mai Dinh Commune, Soc Son, Hanoi
Price: VND 400,000 - 700,000
From Noi Bai International Airport, you only have to travel a 3-km distance to reach La Teisu. Built in 2019, the hotel's facilities are quite modern.
The staff here are complemented by many guests due to their amiability and enthusiasm
Look for more hotels in Soc Son District here:
A Conclusion of Soc Son District in Hanoi
In comparison with Hanoi's central districts like Ba Dinh or Hoan Kiem, Soc Son District is tranquil and has a sense of the countryside. A getaway in this suburban area will bring you a new perspective to Hanoi and ease your soul with its scenic nature.
Have you ever been to Soc Son District in Hanoi? Let us know and share your experience by giving comments below!
See also:
Copyright
© Written by Uyen Ho for itourvn.com
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
Comments