Discover Ba Be Lake tourism - a destination not to be missed when traveling to the Northwest , where the quintessential beauty of nature and indigenous culture converge. With a diverse ecosystem of more than 1,000 species of plants, 470 species of animals and 106 species of fish, Ba Be Lake is like a living natural museum in the middle of the jungle. Let's explore more about this "green gem" for a complete and memorable trip.
1. General introduction to Ba Be Lake - "pearl island" in the middle of the mountains and forests
Coming to Bac Kan , you cannot miss Ba Be Lake (Photo source: Collected)
Ba Be Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam, located in Ba Be National Park, Ba Be District, Bac Kan Province. With a surface area of about 500 hectares, an average depth of 20-25m and the deepest point up to 35m, the lake is surrounded by towering limestone mountains and lush green primeval forests. The lake is about 200 million years old, formed by geological tectonic activities and limestone weathering. Ba Be means "Three lakes", including Pe Lam Lake, Pe Lu Lake and Pe Leng Lake connected by the Nang River. In particular, Ba Be Lake is one of the 20 most valuable natural freshwater lakes in the world recognized by UNESCO.
2. Ideal time to travel to Ba Be Lake
Ba Be Lake tourist destination is beautiful all year round, but each season has its own beauty:
- Spring (February-April): The time when red cotton flowers, plum flowers, and peach flowers bloom. The air is cool and fresh, suitable for outdoor activities.
- Summer (May-August): Hot and humid weather with occasional showers. Suitable for swimming in lakes and exploring caves to escape the heat. This is also the season of many traditional festivals.
- Autumn (September-November): The best time of year with pleasant temperatures (20-25°C), clear skies, little rain. The natural scenery is stunning with falling yellow leaves and early morning mist on the lake surface.
- Winter (December-January): The weather is chilly (12-15°C), sometimes foggy, creating a magical scene on the lake surface.
Note: Avoid going during the heavy rainy season (July-August) as it may be difficult to travel and sightsee.
3. How to get to Ba Be Lake
From Hanoi:
- Bus: There are many bus companies running the Hanoi - Bac Kan route from My Dinh or Giap Bat station, time: about 5-6 hours
- Motorbike/private car: Route: Hanoi → National Highway 3 → Thai Nguyen → Bac Kan → Ba Be, time: 6-7 hours by car, 8-9 hours by motorbike
- Limousine/taxi: time: 4-5 hours
Getting around Ba Be Lake
Boat:
- Main means of transport to visit the lake
- Rental price: 400,000-800,000 VND/boat (4-15 people)
- Time: 2-4 hours depending on route
- Main routes:
- Short route: Boat station - Widow Island - Fairy Pond
- Long route: Boat dock - Widow Island - Puong Cave - Dau Dang Waterfall
Motorbike:
- Rent at homestays or hotels
- Price: 150,000-200,000 VND/day
- Suitable for exploring places around the lake
Walk:
- Suitable for exploring villages and caves
- There are many forest trekking routes
- Should hire a local guide
4. Famous tourist destinations in Ba Be Lake that attract tourists
Ba Be Lake has been recognized as one of the world's 20 special freshwater lakes that need to be protected (Photo source: Collected)
4.1. Ba Be Lake
When arriving at Ba Be Lake, visitors will be immersed in the majestic natural scenery with emerald green water stretching between towering limestone mountains. With an area of 500 hectares and an average depth of 20-25m, Ba Be Lake is one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in Vietnam. What is special is that even in the rainy season, the lake water remains clear, creating a unique and rare beauty.
Visitors can experience boating on the lake, listening to the sound of oars stirring the calm water and stories about the legends of the lake from the boatman. In the early morning or late afternoon, the thin mist covers the lake, creating a magical scene, an ideal time to take beautiful photos. Those who love adventure activities can rent a kayak to explore every corner of the lake by themselves, or relax with fishing activities with local fishermen.
4.2. Widow Island
Located in the middle of Ba Be Lake, Widow Island is not just a simple island but also carries within it a beautiful and tragic love story of a woman waiting for her husband. On the island there is a small temple worshiping the lake god, where locals often come to burn incense and pray for favorable weather. When setting foot on the island, visitors will hear thrilling stories about this island from the locals.
From the height of the island, visitors can look far away to see the whole view of Ba Be Lake with majestic limestone mountains surrounding and the endless green of the primeval forest. This is also an ideal stop on the journey to explore the lake, where visitors can rest and enjoy a picnic lunch in the middle of nature.
4.3. Hua Ma Cave
Hua Ma Cave is one of the most beautiful caves in Ba Be Lake area, with a length of 700m and a system of stalactites formed over millions of years. When entering the cave, visitors will admire the magical space with stalagmites and stalactites of unique shapes, creating beautiful natural paintings. Along the cave is a clear underground stream, the sound of flowing water blends with the quiet space to create a mysterious atmosphere.
To explore Hua Ma Cave, visitors will be guided by a local guide who will share interesting stories about the formation of the cave as well as the legends associated with this place. In the cave, there are many small niches leading to large spaces with beautiful stalactites, creating unique photo angles.
4.4. Puong Cave
Puong Cave is a unique mountain cave with a length of 300m, where the Nang River flows through the limestone mountains. The experience of going on a boat trip through the cave is one of the activities not to be missed when traveling to Ba Be Lake. As the boat glides gently through the cave, visitors will admire the stalactites with many interesting shapes and especially the flock of thousands of bats hanging on the ceiling of the cave.
Natural light passes through the crevices of the rocks, creating shimmering rays of light that reflect on the water surface, creating a magical scene. During the rainy season, when the river water rises, the sound of water flowing strongly through the cave creates a distinctive sound, further enhancing the majesty of the nature here.
4.5. Pac Ngoi Village
Pac Ngoi Village is one of the must-see destinations when traveling to Ba Be Lake, where visitors can learn about the culture and life of the Tay ethnic group. The village is located by the lake with about 50 traditional stilt houses, with typical yin-yang tiled roofs, located under the cool shade of ancient trees.
Coming here, visitors can choose to stay in homestays in traditional stilt houses, experiencing the simple life of local people. In the evening, visitors will enjoy traditional Then and Tinh melodies and participate in folk dances with the villagers. In particular, meals rich in the flavor of the mountains and forests prepared from fresh local ingredients will leave an unforgettable impression on visitors.
5. Ba Be Lake Cuisine
The cuisine of Ba Be Lake is a unique combination of mountain specialties and traditional dishes of ethnic minorities. Fresh fish from Ba Be Lake is processed into many delicious dishes such as grilled fish with mac mat leaves, sour fish soup, or crispy fried fish. In particular, catfish and fried fish are two specialties of the lake, with delicious meat, processed into many attractive dishes.
Smoked buffalo meat is a specialty not to be missed when visiting Ba Be. The buffalo meat is marinated with typical spices of the mountainous region such as mac khen, then smoked on the kitchen loft for a long time, creating a rich, delicious flavor. This dish is often enjoyed with traditional corn wine of ethnic minorities.
Visitors should not miss the opportunity to enjoy fresh wild vegetables such as fern, bo khai, and wild bamboo shoots. These vegetables are picked by locals from the forest and processed into simple dishes that are rich in the flavor of the mountains and forests. Five-color sticky rice - a traditional dish during festivals of the Tay people, with five natural colors symbolizing the five elements, is not only beautiful but also has deep cultural meaning.
With the wild beauty of the mountains and forests, the clear blue of the lake and unique cultural experiences, Ba Be Lake deserves to be a destination not to be missed in your journey to explore Vietnam.
Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/kinh-nghiem-du-lich-ho-ba-be-v15928.aspx
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