Ba Be LAKE
Bac Kan Province
Located 250 km northeast of Hanoi, in the National Park of the same name. Ba Be Lake is Vietnam’s largest natural lake, a freshwater expanse of more than 500 hectares, nestled at an altitude of about 150 m. It is located in Nam Mau commune, Bac Kan province.
Having been formed around 200 million years ago, the lake is surrounded by limestone cliffs, which in turn are covered in primary forests. Ba Be Lake brings together three lakes (Pe Lam, Pe Lu and Pe Leng) in a unique geological setting.
It is part of the Ba Be National Park, classified in late 2004 as an Asean Heritage Park, which makes it a popular destination for researchers and visitors because of its fabulous ecosystem.
The best time to visit Ba Be Lake
Thanks to its great biodiversity and thick layers of tropical forests with karst rocks that surround it, Ba Be Lake enjoys a very pleasant climate all year round, but it is best to go there from April to November to benefit from comfortable weather.
The temperature fluctuates between 10°C and 25°C, it is very suitable for trekking. The lowest temperature in Ba Be is 7°C. In summer from August to October, the temperature ranges from 18°C to 32°C.
What to see, what to do…?
A leading ecotourism destination in Vietnam, Ba Be Lake and the park that shelters it harbors a wealth of flora and fauna. Ba Be National Park is also a paradise for hikers, in Tonkin which already has many walking and trekking trails.
Mountains, rice fields, rivers, forests draw a charming landscape. It is also an opportunity to meet the ethnic minorities who live in harmony in this magnificent natural setting.
This destination has many activities such as a wide choice of hiking and cycling excursions, where you will have the opportunity to stroll among the fifteen ethnic villages inhabiting the park. But Ba Be can be visited mainly in traditional boats. There is therefore a lot to explore here with interesting landscapes to discover.
Top 10 activities to do at Ba Be Lake:
- Take a guided boat trip on the lake.
- Explore the lake by kayak.
- Meet the ethnic groups during a bike ride around the lake.
- Tasting Tay hospitality (the most important ethnic group in the region).
- Hike and/or trek in Ba Be National Park.
- Visit caves (Puong cave, Hua Ma cave…).
- Sleep with locals in the village of Pac Ngoi.
- Hike to Dau Dang waterfall.
- Gather at An Ma Temple.
- Visit Ao Tien Pond (fairy pond).
