Hi there, I’m Alice – a blogger who loves exploring peaceful, green, and chill spaces just outside Hanoi. Recently, I spent a day at Ngoc Linh Restaurant & Ecological Area in Soc Son. Let me share my honest experience with you.
Just about 35–40 km from downtown Hanoi, Ngoc Linh is the perfect weekend getaway: fresh, cool air, no city dust, only the pure and quiet atmosphere of Soc Son’s mountains and forests.
The place instantly gave me a sense of peace: in front is the huge Dong Quan Lake, behind are tall mountains standing like a natural wall – the perfect feng shui of “mountain at the back, water in front.”
The scenery blends green trees, water, leaf-roof huts, stilt houses, lotus ponds, water lilies… all creating a fairy-tale calmness I’ve always dreamed of.
I came here on a light rainy day, so I didn’t get to explore much of the whole resort. But at least I got to eat and enjoy the swimming pool. The pool area is quite large, with three depths: 70 cm, 100 cm, and 1.7 m – great for both kids and adults. Jumping into the water, I felt instantly refreshed. The pool also rents cute floats (only 20 k VND each) like flamingos, whales, and giraffes.
Around the pool, there are 7 storage areas designed like giant wooden barrels with wooden tables and chairs inside. I love these details – they make guests feel comfortable and secure. Unlike other pools where storage is tiny, here it’s spacious and you can even enjoy the view from inside.
After swimming, I glanced at the snack menu and… ouch, the prices were a bit high: fries, sausages, fried fermented pork rolls ranging from 10 to 30 USD (about 260k–780k VND).
For lunch, I went with 4 friends. We ordered:
- Grilled chicken (~1.2 kg): tasty, crispy skin, well-marinated meat – 16 USD
Boiled vegetables: zucchini, Japanese gourd, radish, carrot – fresh and light – 3 USD
Crab soup & beef-onion salad: soup made from ground crab and Malabar spinach, sweet and comforting; the salad had very little beef, mostly onion, herbs, and peanuts – a bit too much greens for me, haha.
Grilled goat meat: had a strong “mountain” smell, not as good as in other places – skip if you’re sensitive to that.
The total bill was about 1.3 million VND (~60 USD) – pricey compared to street food, but fair enough for the clean, cool atmosphere and decent service.
I truly love the green, quiet, yet not lonely vibe of Ngoc Linh. It felt like recharging my soul in the fresh rain, hearing water flow and leaves rustle. The wooden storage huts, cute float rentals, and rustic architecture all made the experience feel authentic – exactly the kind of travel story I enjoy writing.
If you want a weekend escape without traveling too far, with spots for relaxing, taking photos, swimming, and enjoying a warm, simple meal – Ngoc Linh is a great choice.
Just a tip: go with a group to share the cost if renting a villa (~80USD/night for 10 people), or bring your own snacks if you want to save money and have more options.🥴
