The run down city of Mong Cai is located 360kms from Hanoi, near the Chinese border. Although there are many more beautiful places to spend time in Vietnam, there are certainly also worse places to spend a few hours.
Mong Cai’s close proximity to the Chinese border means that it is infused with an interesting blend of Chinese and Vietnamese styles and cultural elements. There are a number of temples to explore such as theTra Co temple, Van Linh Khanh pagoda, and Xuan Lan pagoda, while tasty food can be found just about everywhere.
There are a number of large markets where just about anything and everything can be bought. The city boasts two five-star hotels and numerous guest houses and hostels to stay in, making this a good place to spend some time for those planning to explore the surrounding area.
Getting There & Away
Although there is no airport nearby and no rail service, there are regular buses from Hanoi to Mong Cai (9 hours). An interesting way to reach Mong Cai is by high-speed hydrofoil from Bai Chay (3 hours).
Things to Do
Mong Cai Attractions
- Tra Co Beach
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This 17km stretch of sand is bordered by blue sea and waving palm trees.