Tram Tau Hot Spring
Overview
Trạm Tấu Hot Spring is a set of natural outdoor mineral pools in a valley of terraced fields and small Thai and H'mong villages, about 30 km from Nghĩa Lộ. The water comes straight from underground sources at 38–43°C. Facilities are basic and visitor numbers are low, so it is a quieter alternative to the resorts at Tú Lệ.
Get There
Trạm Tấu is about 30 km southwest of Nghĩa Lộ on a winding mountain road. Buses from My Dinh bus station in Hanoi to Nghĩa Lộ and Mu Cang Chai run along National Road 32 through Nghĩa Lộ; from there, take a taxi or xe ôm (motorbike taxi) to Trạm Tấu. With your own transport, it is an easy detour on the way to or from Tú Lệ and Mu Cang Chai.
Hotels
Trạm Tấu has a few simple guesthouses and homestays. Nghĩa Lộ, about 30 km away, has more hotels, and Tú Lệ has Thai stilt-house homestays and hot-spring resorts if you are heading on to Mu Cang Chai.
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Best time: The pools are best on cool days and evenings from October to April, when mountain nights are cold. In summer (May to August) the water is still pleasant after a day of trekking.
Tips: Bring a swimsuit, towel and sandals; changing facilities are basic. Carry cash. Ask locally about opening times and the entry fee, as these are not posted online.
Nearby: Trạm Tấu is the starting point for treks up Tà Chì Nhù (2,979 m), which begin in Xà Hồ commune and are known for purple flowers along the ridge in autumn. Khau Phạ Pass and the Mu Cang Chai terraces are further west along National Road 32.
Administrative note: since the July 2025 province mergers, Trạm Tấu is part of Lào Cai province. Older maps list it under Yên Bái.
