Ba Be Lake is in Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan Province, almost 250 km northwest of Hanoi. Ba Be Lake is a freshwater lake with a depth of 35m. It has a range of primary forests with rich flora and fauna. In 2011, Ba Be Lake was honoured as one of the 20 biggest freshwater lakes in the world. The unique geological and geomorphological features have created interesting tourism resources alongside ethnic culture and biodiversity in the area. Ba Be Lake is a great tourist destination for Vietnamese and international visitors interested in discovering the scenic beauty, ethnic culture, and biodiversity in the area.
Serenity And Beauty Of Ba Be Lake
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Ba Be Lake belongs to Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan province, Vietnam. It is 180 km away from Hanoi to the north. If departing from Hanoi, tourists can go directly to Ba Be Lake because the road leading to the place is quite short and favourable. As one of the natural freshwater lakes located at the lowest elevation in Vietnam, it is also the largest freshwater lake in Northern Vietnam. The average depth from 23 to 29 meters here can be up to 35 meters. The biggest depth is around 35-40 metres. Ba Be Lake Basin is 8 metres higher than the surrounding countryside. The country’s lowest point is only at about 165-170 meters.
Ba Be Lake is a typical U-shaped, concave valley embossed by a huge landslide in an ancient geological era. The base of the triangle is open to form a lake, the lake bottom is divided into 2 smaller streams. The narrow Ba Go mountain pass was slightly cut by water to form a river. The rock is eroded by the river in a pile about 700m long and deep from the bottom to the surface of the water at both ends. In the middle of the lake, the river eroded but the rock retained the old shore. The cross-section of the embankment loosens and the rock is squarely pushed by the bay into the valley.
Must Read: Water Sports In Hanoi
Step-by-Step Travel Guide
Ba Be Lake maintains its ecosystem, with abundant forests, limestone rocks, and picturesque caves. As mentioned below, follow the step-by-step travel guide to visit Bac Kan city.
1. From Hanoi to Bac Kan City
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Start Point: Hanoi
Destination: Bac Kan City
Distance: Approximately 160 km
Travel Time: 4-5 hours
Mode of Transport: Bus or car
By Bus
Picking up Bus stations; either My Dinh or Gia Lam Bus stations in Hanoi. Travel to Bac Kan City with a ticket for the bus going to the said place. While on the bus, I appreciated the beautiful scenery of the countryside.
By Car
Hire a car and head northwest from Hanoi. The scenic route is QL3, which passes towards Bac Kan City.
2. From Bac Kan City to Cho Ra Town
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Start Point: Bac Kan City consists of 13 wards and communes: Nhan Dao, Son Duong, Son Lo, and Commune 8 belong to Bac Kan City while Nam Son, Hoa Nguyen, Ngoc Chien, Bang Giang, Dong Son, Chuc Thanh, and Bac Binh are the wards in the city.
Destination: Cho Ra Town
Distance: Approximately 50 km
Travel Time: 1. 5 hours
Mode of Transport: Two common means of transport available locally are the local bus and the local car.
By Local Bus
To reach Cho Ra Town, take the local bus provided in Bac Kan City going to Cho Ra Town.
By Car
Go on from Bac Kan City, DT258 to reach Cho Ra Town.
Suggested Read: Lakes In Vietnam
Activities And Attractions
Being famous for the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, interesting and friendly residents, and home to many precious historical relics, this is the favoured choice for the Ba Be Lake tour. Coming to Ba Be, tourists can participate in many fun activities such as swimming, going sightseeing, and visiting the caves.
1. Explore The Scenic Dau Dang Fall
The first recommended destination is Dau Dang Fall, located 15 kilometres upstream of the Nang River. This 300-meter-high fall is divided into three floors of different shapes and sizes. Due to the powerful impact, the water falling on the ground creates a big stream forming a water wall that flows into the cave.
Tip: Bring good boots for hiking on the ground around the fall and expect some slippery paths close to the water.
2. Discover The Marvellous Puong Cave
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The next place is Puong Cave, located on the way to Cho Ra. All the boat tours across the area stop at this cave, which tourists can freely visit and take photos of. Visiting this cave adds an interesting aspect to the tour of Ba Be Lake.
Tip: Every boat takes time to stop at Puong Cave allowing the tourists to explore the cave and take photos.
Suggested Read: Water Sports In Hanoi
3. Unwind At Tranquil Tien Pond
Image Credit: Manikanta1973 for Wikimedia Commons
The last attraction is Tien Pond. Situated 3 kilometres downstream of Ba Be Lake, Tien Pond has a vast water surface. You should spend an overnight at Ba Be Lake to behold the magical colours of this area. The fog in the air blends and stirs in the dim twilight. The surface seems to become a giant mirror reflecting the sunshine’s shimmering colours.
Tip: Carry a camera with you to capture the beautiful reflections on the water surface at sunrise and sunset.
3. Cultural Experiences
Growing rice at the beginning of the year, lying inside rather than down, and growing climbing rice at the end of the year. Butterflies and birds are also present in flowery rice fields. The fruit of the rice ripens to give a fragrant smell to visitors. Ba Be can say that she receives her favour, eyes, and silk scales worthy of the “Precious Pearl on the Green Carpet” in Northeast Uttar Pradesh of Vietnam.
Tip: Ba Be National Park is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It is worth visiting the stilt houses of ethnic Tay, Nung, and Dao inhabitants whose way of life has changed little in hundreds of years.
Further Read: Hiking In Hanoi
Ba Be is Vietnam’s largest natural lake and is now the centrepiece of the Ba Be Park for the preservation of the ecosystem. The park and the surrounding areas are extremely scenic with steep mountains, dense tropical forest, and the Ba Be lake itself. Plan your trip to Vietnam and visit the Ba Be National Park to explore the beauty of this area together with its cultural and ethnic background.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ba Be Lake
Where is Ba Be Lake located?
This site is a part of the Ba Be National Park which is situated in Bac Kan province of Vietnam, 240km north-west of Hanoi.
What other things can be done at Ba Be Lake?
It also offers a wide range of opportunities for activities such as boating, swimming, trekking, discovering caves, and visiting Ba Be Lake waterfalls.
What are the several significant places of interest around Ba Be Lake?
A list of things to do is; Dau Dang Waterfall, Puong Cave, and Tien Pond. Tourist can enjoy their travel to the fullest by indulging into these activities and going to the significant places.
What are the rules and regulations for visiting the ba be national park?
Visitors are also prohibited from polluting the park and vicinity, hunting wild animals, and any other unlawful activity prohibited by the park. Before entering certain points in the park, permission and fees should also be requested for tourists.
What facilities and services are available at Ba Be Lake?
Homestay and guest house accommodation is also available here where people from different families provide shelter that gives a glimpse of countryside living.
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