First published June 2025 | Words by Joshua Zukas | 2 comments
Joshua is a contributing writer for Vietnam Coracle. A freelancer whose body of work focuses primarily on travel & architecture, Joshua covers Vietnam regularly for Lonely Planet, Michelin Guide, Insider, Ink Global & many of Asia’s top inflight magazines. He also writes intermittently for publications such as The Economist, Wallpaper & Interior Design Magazine. He holds an MSc in sustainable tourism….read more about Joshua
Đom Đóm Farm sits in the hills of Thái Nguyên, a province that many Vietnamese associate with green tea production. The province is part of a broader geographical zone sometimes called trung du, which loosely translates as ‘midlands’, and refers to a chain of provinces between the mountains close to China and the Red River Delta, including Phú Thọ, Bắc Giang and the southern half of Tuyên Quang (among others). The landscapes here are very different to the more mountainous provinces further north: instead of stacked terraces carved into the mountainside, trung du is characterised by hilly fruit, vegetable and tea farms. Thái Nguyên also holds the wilder side of Tam Đảo National Park, known for its overdeveloped mountain resort town that, in recent years, has garnered a poor reputation for noise and environmental mismanagement. Fortunately, that resort feels a world away from the quieter side of the mountains where Đom Đóm Farm is located. Given the relatively untouched nature of this section of the national park, the jungles around Đom Đóm Farm may well develop into an adventure hub, but for now it’s a relatively unknown Arcadia of waterfalls, streams and a small network of footpaths. The property itself is attractive, affordable and within easy reach of Hanoi, making Đom Đóm (which means firefly) Farm an excellent weekend trip option from the capital.
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REVIEW: ĐOM ĐÓM FARM
Address: Vang Village, Đại Từ District, Thái Nguyên Province, Vietnam [MAP]
Average Rates: $10-$15/night, room only (most guests come as part of a package that includes food & activities)
Website & Booking: www.naturestay.vn
CONTENTS:
MAP:
Đom Đóm Farm | Thái Nguyên Province
The Location: Đom Đóm Farm is 70km from Hanoi and 30km from Thái Nguyên City. One of the property’s biggest selling points is this proximity to the capital – just two hours by car and not much more by motorbike – making it an easy weekend trip from the city. The property sits surrounded by green, cultivated hills on one side and wild, jungle-cloaked mountains on the other. These mountains constitute part of Tam Đảo National Park, though the sprawling mountain resort town is on the other side of the range and, thankfully, cannot be seen (nor heard). The nearby farms grow a variety of crops, most notably green tea.
Grounds & Layout: Đom Đóm Farm occupies a small hill and is half-homestay, half-mountain lodge. At the heart of the property is a larger-than-normal stilt house with a common area and eating quarters on the lower floor and accommodation above. This stilt house overlooks the property’s own tea farm. Higher up the hill is a small platform, constituting another common area with beanbags, dining tables and a lounge area. At the top of the hill is the most eye-catching area in the property: a natural swimming pool with panoramic views of the mountains on one side and farmland on the other. Surrounding the pool are a few platforms that serve as additional common space, including an openair area for barbeques. All the sections in the property are connected by a small and winding network of rustic, plant-fringed trails.
Activities: Besides lounging in and around the pool, the activities at Đom Đóm Farm are clearly directed at adventure and outdoors enthusiasts. There are two waterfalls nearby: one is a 3km trek from the property and another is a short drive, followed by a 5km trek. Swimming and canyoning (i.e. abseiling down waterfalls) is possible at both. My friends and I only had time for the closer waterfall, which we reached after a short but challenging uphill bushwhack through the jungle. The path is steep, rocky and mostly overgrown, resulting in the kind of intrepid experience that you’ll usually only find in Vietnam’s more remote areas. Anyone with a reasonable level of fitness will manage but be prepared for anything that a subtropical jungle can throw at you, including leeches, spiders, spikey bushes and fallen trees. Good footwear is essential and anti-leech socks are recommended. For a full rundown of the activity and adventure opportunities, which are likely to grow in the coming years, take a look at the Đom Đóm Farm website. Less demanding activities include strolling or cycling (decent bikes are available) around the pretty village and its environs.
Rooms and Décor: Though there are plans to expand in the future, at the time of research Đom Đóm Farm’s accommodation area consists of just three no-frills rooms, all of which are on the upper floor of the stilt house (i.e. above the common area). Each room has two hard double beds, a deckchair, fans, aircon, windows, basic storage facilities and views of the property’s tea farm. The rooms are basic, but probably exactly what they need to be – a comfortable and clean place to sleep – as you’ll spend most of your time in one of the various common areas. Shared bathroom and shower facilities are downstairs next to the common area.
Breakfast, Dining & Drinking: Book breakfast the night before and you’ll have some control over the menu, which includes instant noodles, bánh cuốn (steamed, wet rice flour rolls), seasonal fruit and whatever else they have available. There is also free (and good) tea and coffee available in the morning and throughout the day and a limited menu of fruit juice. Lunch or dinner needs to be booked at least a few hours in advance and reflects a classic family-style meal: meat, fish, vegetables, tofu, soup and a bottomless bowl of white rice. As is usual with these meals, you don’t have too much control over what they serve, though you can let the staff know if there’s anything you don’t eat. There’s also the option of a do-it-yourself barbeque, with chicken, sausages, veggies, potatoes and sticky rice.
Summary: Đom Đóm Farm is one of the few accommodation options less than two hours from Hanoi that feel like genuine countryside, far from the bright lights and noise of Hanoi and its satellite cities and towns. The property is geared towards adventure travellers, but even those that don’t do any hiking will enjoy the quiet property and picturesque pool. Though relatively new on the scene, it’s only a matter of time before this becomes a weekend favourite for adventurous Hanoians.
*Disclosure: Vietnam Coracle content is always free and independent. Joshua has written this review because he wants to: he likes this farmstay and he wants readers to know about it. For more details, see the Disclosure & Disclaimer statements and my About Page
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Great article Josh. Cool to see some new spots highlighted, there is not alot of tourists making there way through Thai Nguyen. This is an interesting stop over point on the way to Tuyen Quang or Ba Be areas.
Hi James,
Thanks. Yes, it’s a great spot – as a stopover or as a destination in itself.
Best,
Tom