Located in the northeast and 250 km from the capital Hanoi, Ba Be is famous for its national park. The beauty of nature, the biodiversity and the cultural diversity of ethnic minorities make this place a small haven for those who like to explore Vietnam off the beaten track.
Here are the best activities to do to make the most of its pure beauty in a natural setting.
1. Motorboat ride on the lake
Ba Be Lake, the green pearl in the northeast of Vietnam, is located in the heart of Ba Be National Park. Formed about 200 million years ago, it is the largest natural lake in the country with an area of more than 500 hectares, 8 km long and 2 km wide at most. The lake is surrounded by limestone cliffs, which in turn are covered with primary forests. It is a reservoir of biodiversity and is an integral part of the national park of the same name. You can make an excursion by motorboat to enjoy its beautiful landscapes.
2. Visit the Dau Dang waterfall
Nestled in the middle of mountains, Dau Dang waterfall is a refreshing stop during a boat ride on Ba Be Lake. It falls down the mountain over the big rocks for 2 km, in the middle of the forest landscape. During the rainy season, the waterfalls offer an impressive and unforgettable but nevertheless rather dangerous spectacle. This place is also home to a species of fish called “cá chieu”, a catfish or barbel that can weigh more than 10 kg.
3. Visiter la grotte Hua Ma
The extraordinary Hua Ma cave is located about 8 km from Pac Ngoi village. This cave is hidden on the side of a beautiful cliff, covered with lush vegetation. When you reach the entrance of the cave, you will be surprised. Stalactites and stalagmites of different sizes and shapes adorn the cave. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight to light up the dark corners.
4. Cycling
The area around Ba Be Lake is perfect for cycling, with a pleasant climate and authentic villages, far from mass tourism. You can cycle on small local paths through beautiful valleys surrounded by green karst mountains and dotted with rice fields, rivers and stilt houses of the Tay minority. It is the ideal opportunity to breathe the pure mountain air in all tranquillity and to meet the inhabitants of the Tay and Dao villages.
5. Take a hike
Ba Be National Park is a real paradise for hikers of all levels and physical conditions. What could be better than to contemplate the rice terraces and the lush mountains. Hiking gives you the opportunity to meet and talk with the local people living in the villages far from mass tourism.
6. Explore the Puong cave
Puong Cave, located in the north of Ba Be National Park, is an interesting destination during a boat trip along the Nang River. With a height of 30m and a length of 300m, it is a large tunnel dug under the mountains. Puong Cave is impressive not only for its multitude of stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes, but also because it is home to thousands of bats.
7. Discover the villages of the ethnic groups
The shores of Ba Be Lake and its surroundings are home to several ethnic groups such as the Hmong, the White Dao and especially the Tay. By visiting the ethnic villages, you have a chance to deepen your knowledge of the customs of these minorities. The inhabitants of the villages have at heart to preserve their old houses on stilts with simple structures, out of wooden, resting on the banks of the river, back to the mountain, a harmonious spectacle!
8. Lodging and eating with locals
What could be better than to immerse yourself in the local life of the ethnic groups by staying in a beautiful house on stilts on the edge of the lake, in the village of Pac Ngoi, in the heart of the natural reserve. Several families in this village welcome tourists and offer them meals as well as boat trips on Ba Be Lake.
Ba Be is really a great place to relax, away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. Come to Ba Be where you can immerse yourself in this hidden paradise of the world, in the heart of the mountains and nature.
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