Located approximately 150km from Hanoi, Thanh Hoa is an attractive destination thanks to its rich and distinctive cuisine. For those who are far from home or tourists who enjoy exploring Thanh Hoa by car, the journey to Thanh Hoa is always associated with enjoying the simple yet flavorful traditional dishes.
To make the trip complete, besides making a list of delicious dishes, choosing the right mode of transportation is also very important. This article will introduce the most outstanding specialties and review two high-quality bus companies operating the Hanoi-Thanh Hoa route for your reference.
1. Thanh Hoa Cuisine: Must-Try Dishes
Thanh Hoa cuisine captivates diners with its unique flavors, meticulous preparation, and fresh ingredients.
Hanh Kinh fermented pork sausage
When mentioning Thanh Hoa, one immediately thinks of fermented pork sausage (nem chua). Among them, the Hanh Kinh brand of fermented pork sausage is trusted and chosen by many locals and tourists. The sausage here has a crispy texture from the pork skin, a light and refreshing sourness from the naturally fermented meat, harmoniously combined with garlic, chili, and betel leaves. It’s a popular gift and an indispensable appetizer during Tet (Lunar New Year) meals.
Grilled shrimp patties
Shrimp patties are a unique dish, rarely found anywhere else with the same flavor as in Thanh Hoa. Fresh shrimp are finely ground, stir-fried until cooked, then wrapped in a thick layer of rice noodle, clamped between bamboo skewers, and grilled over charcoal. When eaten, the outer layer is crispy, the shrimp filling inside is sweet and tender, and dipping it in sweet and sour fish sauce with fresh vegetables creates a very enjoyable taste experience, especially on chilly days.
Shrimp pancake cooked in a cast iron pot.
Unlike the Southern Vietnamese savory pancake (banh xeo), Thanh Hoa’s banh khoai is cooked on a small cast-iron pan. The main ingredients include rice flour, fresh river shrimp, celery, and cabbage. When cooked, the pancake is golden brown, crispy, and has a rich, savory shrimp flavor. This dish is usually dipped in a fish sauce mixture with lime and chili, making it a perfect afternoon snack.
Thanh Hoa steamed rice rolls
Thanh Hoa-style rice rolls have their own unique characteristics compared to other regions. The rolls are thinly steamed, soft and smooth, with a filling of finely minced shrimp and meat stir-fried until fragrant. The highlight of the dish is the mildly flavored dipping sauce, served with fragrant charcoal-grilled pork sausage instead of the usual cinnamon or pork sausage.
2. Review of buses to Thanh Hoa: Should you choose 36 Travel or Binh Hoai?
The bus journey to Thanh Hoa takes approximately 3 to 4 hours. To ensure your well-being during the trip, you should prioritize bus companies with good service quality and modern amenities. Below is information on two highly-rated bus companies on the redBus booking platform.
2.1. 36 Travel Bus Company: Comfort and Privacy
- Vehicle Type: Limousine
- Frequency: 14 trips/day
- Ticket Price Hanoi Thanh Hoa: 230,000 VND/trip
- Departure Time: 07:00 – 20:00
- Pick-up Location: Hanoi Office (N5 Apartment Building, Kiosk 10, Dong Tau Urban Area, Thinh Liet Ward, Hoang Mai District), transfer pick-up in central Hanoi.
- Drop-off Location: Thanh Hoa Office (No. 1, Duong Dinh Nghe Street, Thanh Hoa City), pick-up and drop-off in Thanh Hoa City (within a 5km radius) and Sam Son.
2.2. Binh Hoai Bus Company: Punctual and Safe
- Vehicle Type: Limousine
- Frequency: Approximately 16 trips/day
- Departure Time: 05:00 – 21:00
- Ticket Price: 230,000 VND/trip (Front and back seats) – 280,000 VND/trip (Middle seat)
- Pick-up Point: Hanoi Office (N5 Apartment Building, Kiosk 1, Dong Tau Urban Area, Thinh Liet, Hoang Mai, Hanoi), transfer and drop-off in central Hanoi.
- Drop-off Point: Trieu Son Office (Tan Thang 1 Village, Hop Thang Commune, Trieu Son District, Thanh Hoa), Dong Son Office (Village 1, Dong Minh Commune, Dong Son District) and pick-up within Thanh Hoa City.
3. Notes when booking bus tickets from Hanoi to Thanh Hoa
The Hanoi – Thanh Hoa route always has a large number of passengers, especially on weekends or holidays. To plan your trip accordingly, you should:
- Book early: It’s recommended to book 7 to 10 days in advance, especially during peak season, to secure your preferred seat.
- Use the redBus app: You can easily compare ticket prices, departure times, and see actual photos of 36 Travel and Binh Hoai buses. Booking online helps you avoid sold-out tickets or crowds at bus stations.
- Check pick-up and drop-off points: Clearly identify your pick-up point in Hanoi and your drop-off point in Thanh Hoa for convenient onward travel.
Conclusion
Thanh Hoa always welcomes visitors with its flavorful, distinctive cuisine and warm hospitality. A smooth trip begins with choosing the right mode of transportation.
Plan your culinary adventure in Thanh Hoa and book your 36 Travel or Binh Hoai bus tickets now on redBus for a safe and comfortable journey home.
👉 [View bus schedule and book tickets for Hanoi – Thanh Hoa here]
