What it is
Bach Thuan is an orchard village in Hung Yen province, about 60 km southeast of Hanoi. The village sits along a stretch of the Red River alluvial plain where the soil is sandy-loam — ideal for fruit trees. Longan ("nhan") is the signature crop here, with trees dating back several generations lining narrow paths between family compounds. The village also grows guava, kumquat, and jackfruit depending on the season.
Historically, Bach Thuan was part of Thai Binh province before administrative redistricting placed it under Hung Yen. The orchards have been worked by the same families for decades. This isn't a manufactured agritourism project — it's a working agricultural village that happens to be pleasant to walk through, especially when the fruit is ripe.
Why travelers go
Most people who end up in Bach Thuan are looking for a genuine day trip from Hanoi that doesn't involve a bus full of tourists or a ticket booth. The village offers a few hours of slow walking under canopied fruit trees, buying longan straight from the branch, and eating home-cooked food in someone's garden. It pairs well with a visit to Hung Yen city itself, which has its own understated appeal — old pagodas, a riverfront market, and [pho](/posts/pho-vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)-noodle-soup-guide) ga that holds its own against Hanoi's versions.
The draw is simplicity. No entrance fees, no guided tours, no Instagram installations. Just fruit trees, brick paths, and the occasional dog barking from behind a hedge.
Best time to visit
The longan harvest runs from late June through August, peaking in July. This is when the village is most alive — families sorting fruit, trucks loading crates, the smell of ripe longan everywhere. If you want to pick and eat fruit, come during this window.
Spring (March–April) is also good for walking. The weather is cool enough to be comfortable, the kumquat and guava trees are in various stages of fruiting, and there are fewer visitors than in summer. Avoid November through February unless you enjoy grey drizzle and bare branches.
How to get there from Hanoi
Bach Thuan is roughly 60 km from central Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ). You have three realistic options:
Motorbike: The most flexible choice. Take Highway 5 (QL5) east toward Hai Duong, then turn south on DT378 toward Hung Yen city. From there, local roads lead to Bach Thuan. Total ride: about 1.5 hours depending on traffic through Hanoi's eastern suburbs. Fuel cost: around 40,000–50,000 VND each way.
Bus: Catch a bus from Giap Bat or Nuoc Ngam station to Hung Yen city (about 50,000–70,000 VND, 1.5–2 hours). From Hung Yen city, you'll need a Grab bike or xe om (motorbike taxi) for the last 8–10 km to Bach Thuan — expect 30,000–50,000 VND.
Grab car: If you're splitting with others, a Grab from Hanoi runs about 350,000–450,000 VND one way. Not cheap solo, but reasonable for a group of three or four.
Photo by HONG SON on Pexels
What to do
Walk the orchard paths
The village has a network of narrow concrete and brick paths threading between family orchards. No map needed — just pick a direction and follow the tree cover. Most paths loop back to the main road eventually. During harvest season, families often wave you in to try fruit.
Buy fruit direct from growers
Longan in season sells for 25,000–40,000 VND per kilogram at the farm gate — significantly cheaper than Hanoi markets. Bring a bag. The "nhan long" variety from this area is notably sweet with thin skin and small seeds.
Visit Chua Hien (Hien Pagoda)
A modest village pagoda about 500 meters from the main orchard area. It's not a major heritage site, but it's atmospheric — old banyan tree in the courtyard, incense smoke, a caretaker who might offer you tea if you seem respectful and unhurried.
Cycle the surrounding area
If you bring a bicycle (or rent one in Hung Yen city), the flat roads around Bach Thuan are ideal for a lazy 15–20 km loop through neighboring villages. The terrain is dead flat and traffic is light once you're off the main provincial road.
Photograph the harvest work
During July and August, the visual material is excellent — ladders leaning against trees, woven baskets overflowing with longan, workers in conical hats ("non la") sorting fruit by size. Ask before photographing people directly; most folks are friendly about it.
Where to eat nearby
Bach Thuan itself doesn't have restaurants in any formal sense. Your best bet is Hung Yen city, about 8–10 km away.
Look for "bun thang" — a clear, delicate noodle soup with shredded chicken, egg, and pork that Hung Yen does particularly well. There are a few shops along Tran Hung Dao street in the city center.
Also worth trying: "banh cuon" (steamed rice rolls) from morning market stalls near the Hung Yen central market. Thin, silky sheets filled with minced pork and wood ear mushroom, served with a side of cha lua (pork sausage). A full plate runs 25,000–35,000 VND.
Where to stay
Bach Thuan has no hotels. Stay in Hung Yen city or treat this as a day trip from Hanoi.
In Hung Yen city, basic nha nghi (guesthouses) run 200,000–350,000 VND per night. Cleaner mid-range options near the city center go for 400,000–600,000 VND. Nothing fancy, but serviceable — air conditioning, hot water, Wi-Fi.
Alternatively, do the whole trip in a day from Hanoi. Leave by 7:00 AM, spend the morning in the orchards, eat lunch in Hung Yen city, and ride back by mid-afternoon.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
Practical tips locals would tell you
- Wear long sleeves and closed shoes if walking deep into the orchards. Mosquitoes are aggressive in shaded, humid areas, especially after rain.
- Bring cash. There are no ATMs in the village and mobile payment isn't widely accepted by fruit sellers.
- If you want to pick fruit yourself, ask first. Most families are happy to let visitors pick a branch or two for a small payment, but walking into someone's orchard uninvited is rude.
- The village floods occasionally during heavy rains in July–August. Check weather before heading out during monsoon season.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Coming outside fruit season and expecting a spectacle. In winter, Bach Thuan is just a quiet village with bare trees. Pleasant, but not worth a dedicated trip unless you're already in the area.
- Not bringing a bag for fruit. You will want to buy longan. Sellers sometimes have plastic bags, sometimes don't.
- Relying on Google Maps for exact navigation. The smaller paths within the village aren't well-mapped. Follow signs to "lang vuon" once you're in the commune, and ask locals if lost — point at a longan and say "lang nhan o dau?" (where's the longan village?).
- Trying to do Bach Thuan and Ha Long Bay in one day. They're in completely different directions from Hanoi. Pair this with Hung Yen city or, if ambitious, a stop at Bat Trang pottery village on the way back.
Practical notes
Bach Thuan works best as a half-day trip from Hanoi or a short stop on a longer Red River Delta loop. It's not a destination that demands planning — just a motorbike, some cash, and a willingness to wander slowly under fruit trees.
Last updated · May 22, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
