What it is

Suoi Khoang My Lam is a natural hot mineral spring about 12 km south of Tuyen Quang city center, tucked into a valley at the base of low limestone hills. The water surfaces at 38–42°C year-round, rich in sulfur, calcium, and silica — the kind of mineral profile that Southeast Asian spa resorts charge serious money for. Here, it's still relatively cheap and refreshingly unpolished.

The springs were first developed for bathing in the 1960s, initially as a recovery facility. By the 1990s, the site had opened to regular visitors, and a modest resort complex grew up around the original pools. Today it operates as the My Lam Hot Spring Resort (Khu du lich Suoi Khoang My Lam), with public soaking pools, private tubs, a swimming pool, and basic hotel rooms. It's not luxury — think concrete pools, tiled changing rooms, and a canteen — but the water is real and the setting is genuinely quiet.

Note: Following the 2025 administrative merger, Tuyen Quang province now incorporates the former Ha Giang province. The springs remain in the same physical location and are still most easily accessed from Tuyen Quang city.

Why travelers go

Most foreign visitors pass straight through Tuyen Quang on their way to Ha Giang (하장 / 河江 / ハーザン)'s mountain roads. That's fair — Ha Giang is spectacular. But if you're driving north from Hanoi and want to break the journey somewhere that isn't a roadside "nha nghi," My Lam is a legitimate stop. The draw:

  • Genuine hot mineral water, not heated tap water. You can smell the sulfur.
  • A half-day soak costs 80,000–150,000 VND depending on pool type.
  • The valley is quiet midweek. Weekend crowds are mostly local families.
  • It pairs well with a night in Tuyen Quang city before continuing north toward the Ha Giang loop.

Best time to visit

The springs are open year-round, but the sweet spot is October through March — cool-season soaking is far more pleasant than sweating into 40°C water during a 35°C July afternoon. January and February can get properly cold in this part of the north (10–15°C at night), which makes the hot pools feel earned.

Avoid major holiday weekends — Tet especially — when the pools get packed and accommodation books out. Midweek visits in November or December are ideal: cool air, warm water, empty pools.

How to get there

From Hanoi

Tuyen Quang city is roughly 130 km north of Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ), about 2.5–3 hours by car or motorbike via QL2 through Vinh Phuc and Phu Tho. Buses from My Dinh station run every 30–45 minutes (100,000–130,000 VND, 3 hours). From Tuyen Quang bus station, grab a local taxi or xe om south on DT185 — the springs are 12 km out, about 20 minutes.

From Ha Giang area

If you're finishing the Ha Giang loop and heading south, Tuyen Quang city is now roughly 150 km from the former Ha Giang city center via QL2. Budget 3–4 hours depending on mountain road conditions.

By motorbike

The road from Tuyen Quang city to My Lam is flat, paved, and straightforward. No mountain passes, no gravel. Anyone comfortable riding in Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム) can handle it.

Amazing scenery of calm lake surrounded by massive limestone cliffs on sunny day in Tuyen Quang province of Vietnam

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

What to do

Soak

The main event. The resort has several pool categories:

  • Public outdoor pools — large, shared, cheapest option (80,000 VND). Swimwear required.
  • Private mineral baths — smaller rooms with individual stone or tiled tubs (150,000–200,000 VND per session). Better for couples or anyone who doesn't love communal bathing.
  • Swimming pool — standard chlorinated pool, separate from the mineral springs. Fine for kids.

Most people spend 2–3 hours soaking. The mineral water is slightly cloudy with a faint egg smell — normal for sulfur springs.

Walk the grounds

The resort sits in a green valley with paved paths winding through gardens and fishponds. Not a major hike, but pleasant after soaking. A loop around the property takes about 30 minutes.

Visit Tuyen Quang city

The city itself is small and low-key. The riverfront along the Lo River is pleasant for an evening walk. Tan Trao historical site is about 40 km further out if you're interested in wartime history.

Where to eat

The resort has an on-site canteen serving standard Vietnamese rice plates (com binh dan) for 40,000–60,000 VND. It's functional, not memorable.

Better eating is back in Tuyen Quang city:

  • "Pho" stalls near the central market — solid northern-style pho, clear broth, around 35,000–45,000 VND.
  • "Banh cuon" Tuyen Quang — the city does a good version of steamed rice rolls, thinner than Hanoi's, often served with a sweet dipping sauce rather than fish sauce. Look for stalls on Tran Hung Dao street in the morning.
  • Grilled stream fish — restaurants along the Lo River serve ca nuong (grilled whole fish) that's worth ordering if you're staying for dinner. 150,000–250,000 VND per fish depending on size.
  • Local "bia hoi (비아호이 / 鲜啤 / ビアホイ)" joints along Binh Thuan street pour fresh draft beer for 10,000–15,000 VND per glass, same as anywhere in the north.

Where to stay

At the springs

My Lam Hot Spring Resort has basic hotel rooms from 400,000–700,000 VND/night. Rooms are clean but dated — think 2000s-era Vietnamese hotel: tile floors, hard beds, hot water from the springs piped to the bathroom. The advantage is walking straight to the pools in the morning.

In Tuyen Quang city

More options and better value. Budget hotels along Binh Thuan street run 250,000–400,000 VND. A few newer places near the river offer decent mid-range rooms for 500,000–800,000 VND. Nothing fancy, but serviceable for a transit night.

Picturesque scenery of swimming pool with blue water with deckchairs and umbrellas in tropical resort in sunny day

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

Practical tips

  • Bring your own towel — rentals at the pools are thin and overpriced.
  • Bring flip-flops for the pool deck. The tile gets slippery.
  • Don't soak for more than 20–30 minutes at a stretch. The mineral water is warm enough to dehydrate you faster than you'd expect. Drink water between sessions.
  • Cash only at the resort. There's an ATM in Tuyen Quang city — withdraw before heading out.
  • If you're riding a motorbike north toward Ha Giang after soaking, leave by early afternoon. You don't want to be on mountain roads after dark.

Common mistakes

  • Expecting a luxury spa. This is a public hot springs facility, not a resort in the Bali sense. Adjust expectations and you'll enjoy it.
  • Coming on a Saturday in summer. Hot pools + hot weather + weekend crowds = not relaxing.
  • Skipping Tuyen Quang city entirely. The city has good cheap food and a calm riverfront. It's worth an evening, not just a drive-through.
  • Not budgeting enough time. The springs work best as a half-day stop, not a 45-minute dip between bus connections.

Final note

Suoi Khoang My Lam isn't going to make anyone's top-ten Vietnam list. It's a simple, honest hot spring in a quiet valley — the kind of place where you soak until your fingers prune, eat grilled fish by the river, and sleep well before driving north into the mountains. For travelers heading toward Ha Giang or looking for a reason to slow down between Hanoi and the highlands, it's a worthwhile detour.

— FIN —

Last updated · May 21, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.