Ba Be National Park is the premier tourist site in north-east Vietnam. A six hour drive from Hanoi it offers a unique natural environment in Vietnam. Ba Be Lake is the centre piece of a landscape dominated by limestone mountains covered in thick mountainous forest.
The national park offers an inviting environment to relax and enjoy nature. It’s special limestone landscape, centred on the lake and dotted with small villages of different ethnic groups, creates a charming vista of both human and natural beauty. To enjoy these sites, there are a range of activities on offer including:
Boat tours around Ba Be Lake and Nang River stopping off at various beauty spots;
Trekking through the valleys, forests and visits to caves;
Cultural experiences, including visits to local villages, markets and musical performances.
Puong Cave
Puong Cave forms a stunning 50m high gateway to the north west of Ba Be Lake in the heart of Lung Nham mountain. The Nang River lazily flows 300m through the cave underlining one of the most spectacular limestone features of Ba Be National Park.
The cave is home to 5-10,000 bats belonging to 18 species; the majority of the bat species found in Ba Be National Park. They are usually most active between dusk and dawn.
Three species of bat are important for plant pollination and scattering seeds. Insect eating bats also help protect local crops from some harmful pests. Unfortunately, disturbances by tourists and people collecting bat dung as fertiliser are reducing the bat population.
Nang River
The Nang river is part of a large drainage system that brings water from China to Cao Bang via Ba Be, eventually flowing to the Lo river (Tuyen Quang province).
The section of the Nang river between Puong cave and Dau Dang village offers a wonderful opportunity to view tropical limestone forest and numerous limestone formations. Keep your eyes open for birds, especially kingfishers and small forest species.
Here is also a good place to meet some of the local residents going about their daily lives; planting maize on the narrow river banks, fishing, or travelling to or from one of the numerous local markets.
Not far from Ban Cam, the Nang River meets the waters flowing slowly north out of Ba Be Lake. At this point the lake has narrowed such that the meeting point of these two water courses can be difficult to see from the Nang river approach.
However, for several months of the year there is a clear distinction in colour between the clear lake waters and the soil-laden and reddened waters of the Nang. At these times a line forms at the confluence where the waters blend together, indicating that Ba Be lake is yet to suffer from soil erosion on the scale of the Nang River. This point is also marked by a white brick national park ranger post, which can be seen clearly from the river.
At the northern end of the lake, there are numerous orchids and interesting plants to be seen overhanging the water. This is also the best point at which to start looking for larger water birds like egrets and herons.
Dau Dang Waterfall
Dau Dang (sometimes Ta Ken) falls is a natural rapid formed as the waters of the Nang River drop on their way west in to neighbouring Tuyen Quang Province. The falls are nearly 1 Km long, and littered with enormous boulders - some as large as the local houses. The falls also contain many dead trees that have been washed through during the high waters of the rainy season.
Hard to believe in the dry season (October to March), but at the height of the rains the falls can rise to just below the viewing platform in the centre of the falls. At this time Dau Dang is at its most powerful and formidable.
Dau Dang village is a picturesque point mid-way along the classic one-day boat trip, which takes in all the sights mentioned here. It is also a convenient place to visit for an afternoon from the main park landing, offering a small restaurant and several small shops.
Due to its location, Dau Dang is an important trading post. It is therefore a good place to see local commerce, as residents of several ethnic groups come and go between the lake and villages further west.
Fairy Pond
Situated on “lake three” of Ba Be lake, Fairy Pond is a small water body in a rock basin isolated from the main lake. A short walk from the lake shore brings you to the pond. The pond is fed from waters seeping underground through the surrounding rock, making Fairy Pond the same level as Ba Be.
Fairy Pond is home to a number of local fish and other aquatic animals. Local fishermen sometimes come here to try their luck, though this is surely as much for the quiet and seclusion as it is the hope of a large catch.
Like the other special features of Ba Be, Fairy Pond is evoked in local legend; the name is in reference to the story of a local hunter who visited the island and became bewitched by fairies whom he found bathing at the pond.
Widow Island
Widow Island is the small island in the middle of the southern part of the lake. Legend speaks of a kind old widow living here, who was spared from the flood that formed Ba Be Lake. The smaller island closer to the shore is where she is believed to have kept her chickens.
In the centre of “lake one”, about 300 metres from main boat landing, is a small islet. Tradition says that a long time ago an old widow lived here, delivered by a god who thus saved her from the flood that formed Ba Be lake.
After a long day on the Nang river and Ba Be lake, Widow Island is a good place to conclude your trip and admire the stunning lake scenery.
You can take pleasure not only from the natural sights, but also from the historical interest of this site; a stone tablet carved with old Chinese, dating back to the Khai Dinh Dynasty, remains on the island.
And don’t hesitate to take a swim in this clean and cool natural swimming pool, shaded from the sun by the old trees growing on the island
Bo Lu village
Bo Lu and neighbouring Coc Toc, directly opposite the main landing, are a great place to take a short walk through history. There is now road access between all of these villages and the park reception, although boats still offer the most relaxing and enjoyable way to make a visit.
Refreshments are available in all of these villages, and there is the option of arranging home-stays in a number of traditional Tay stilt houses. This is a great way to get a feel for local life, as well as see some traditional dance and song or enjoy local foods.
Pac Ngoi mountain and village
Pac Ngoi Mountain rises up to 787 metres and forms an impressive guardian where the Leng River enters Ba Be Lake. In fact Pac Ngoi literally means "mouth of the lake" in the Tay language.
A small picturesque Tay village by the same name lies at the bottom of the mountain and is a popular spot for visitors to the national park to enjoy the local Tay culture and hospitality.
Day market at Ban Cam
Ban Cam is a small Tay village spread along one kilometre of the northern bank just before the Nang river meets Ba Be lake.
The ‘centre’ of the village occupies a small valley, which is perpendicular to the Nang River and contains a small freshwater stream.
The people of Ban Cam are traditionally users of the local dugout canoes — doc moc — for which Ba Be is famous. These are carved from single trees, and although precarious-looking are capable of carrying several people in safety.
Short nature trail
Starting from the national park headquarters alongside the VIP bungalows, the short 45 minuute nature trail takes you along throught the heart of mature limestone forest for which Ba Be National Park is so notable. The path weaves its way along the opposite side of the valley from the road which leads to the lake and eventually meets the road where the valley closes at its top end. The gentle climb up the side of the hillside elevates you through the various layers of the forest and gives you a first hand experience in seeing how the forest is structured. At the height of the trail the view towards the valley reveals the upper canopy of the forest, and looking up the valley you see the thick trunks and sparse ground vegetation of a mature limestone forest. Here the soil is thin and the trunks and roots of the trees twist and turn to secure a firm grip on the rocky hillside.
As the trail ends the trail lightens as it enters into recovering secondary forest before meet the road and a short walk back to the national park headquarters.
This short nature trail is an ideal way of getting to know the forests of Ba Be and using the time available upon arrival at the national park or just before leaving.
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