Buzz
The picturesque scenery of Bạch Mã
Mount Bạch Mã, situated in Phú Lộc District - Thừa Thiên Huế, nestled within the Trường Sơn mountain range, resembles a white horse stretching its legs towards the vast sea. We started from Huế to the Bạch Mã National Park. Here's a suggested route for you: From Huế, take the direction towards Đà Nẵng, then drive onto National Highway 1A. Keep going straight and ask the local residents there for directions to Phú Lộc commune. Continue driving until you see a green sign (on the right side of the road) indicating the way to Bạch Mã, then follow the sign and drive straight to reach your destination.
We had a 'local guide' in Huế accompanying us, so the 40km drive to Bạch Mã became much simpler! After parking at the management center, we bought tickets at the counter for 40,000 VND per person. With only one day to explore Bạch Mã National Park, we opted to travel by car straight to the summit of Mount Bạch Mã, which is 1,444m high. The rental price for our car was 700,000 VND for the round trip. For our group of 6 people, this price was reasonable.
The welcoming gate of Bạch Mã National Park
Listening to the local residents living at the foot of the mountain recount the legend of Bạch Mã National Park, they say that in ancient times, the fairies often rode white horses down to Bạch Mã Mountain to play chess. When the fairies were engrossed in the game, the horses wandered off to find tender grass. Unable to wait for the horses, the fairies had to fly back to the sky. The bewildered herd of horses roamed the mountains and turned into clouds resembling white horses, waiting for their owners at Bạch Mã all year round.
Exhibition room
Ancient French Villa
The car stopped at an open space near the ancient French villa. We walked along a forest trail, surrounded by dense vegetation, enjoying the cool climate. I spotted large ferns, giving me a Jurassic-era vibe. Bạch Mã is home to many rare tropical animals and plants in its vast primary forest, with numerous streams and magnificent waterfalls.
Embarking on the Journey
The Path to the Hai Vong Tower
Hai Vong Tower - Embracing all of Bach Ma
Our first stop in exploring Bach Ma National Park was the Hai Vong Tower - a place where you can admire the entire beautiful natural landscape of the forest and even catch a glimpse of Lang Co Bay and the East Sea! It took us about 20 minutes to walk to the Hai Vong Tower, with a serene bell outside. Stepping through the stone steps are two Bach Ma statues standing outside the Tower.
The Melodious Bell
Bach Ma exudes the tranquility of the melodious bell next to Hai Vong Tower, of ancient villas hidden behind lush greenery, or layers of mist covering the paths, seemingly fading into the ancient fairy tale realm... Below the tower is a resting place for travelers, underneath is the panoramic view of Bach Ma forest.
Exciting Attractions in Bach Ma
The Path to Hai Vong Tower
Our Group
Majestic Nature
Legend has it that Bach Ma has a pure affinity with clouds, even its name originates from the swirling clouds around the mountain peaks. Ancient tales tell of the pristine beauty atop those lofty mountains, resembling a celestial paradise that enchanted the heavenly beings. They often rode white horses down the mountain to play chess, reveling in the harmonious landscape.
As the celestial beings were engrossed in their games, their horses wandered off in search of tender grass, venturing far from the chessboard. When the game ended, the beings called for their horses but they were nowhere to be found. Waiting in vain, the celestial beings eventually had to fly back to the sky. The horses, ownerless, roamed the mountains, transforming into white clouds that lingered year-round, reminiscent of white horses awaiting their masters' return. This legend likely inspired the name 'Bach Ma' (white horse) for the region.
The scenery becomes even more ethereal
On Hai Vong Dai at noon, we were fortunate to witness the nature's transformations: under the sun, the landscape became even more vibrant, while white clouds drifted in, partially obscuring the sun, weaving through the mountains, and enveloping the Vong Dai in a 'smoke' of clouds.
Clouds descending for a mountain stroll
This is the highest point in the National Park
Admiring the forest canopy
Golden dandelion flowers
Inside the Tower Observatory
The glass window panels
We had our lunch break on the first floor of the Tower, where wooden benches were provided for resting. This area is said to be accommodation for trekkers who wish to stay overnight. Our lunch consisted of rice cakes, pastries, oranges, and so on, but we enjoyed it immensely! A Bluetooth speaker played the song: “As long as we're together, across vast mountains and deep seas, as long as we can live the way we want...”
Our lunch spread
Simple yet full of joy
The Path to Ngũ Hồ: A Poetic Journey
After our lunch break, we quickly returned to the designated meeting point for the car (the old French villa) to continue our journey. The car drove back and stopped at Do Quyen Villa. The dirt road led us deeper, with lush green grass carpets guiding us into the wilderness, where an abandoned villa reminded us of Hollywood movies, amidst the beautiful and rugged scenery: proud trees reaching for the sky amidst the shrubbery.
Venturing further in, a sign pointed the way to Ngũ Hồ (Five Lakes): “The Ngũ Hồ trail is about 2km long, with approximately 30 minutes of walking through a forest with various plant species. You'll encounter a series of waterfalls and pristine lakes, tranquil and clear as a dream”.
Walking Amidst the Trail
Wilderness Scene
Sparse Ferns Along the Path
Ngũ Hồ, this unique name is inspired by five small lakes nestled closely together, forming a large stream. Due to their location deep within the forest and at a high altitude, the water in the lakes is crystal clear and refreshingly cool. To reach this poetic Ngũ Hồ, we had to trek through the primeval forest, traversing small trails, especially those sections where we had to cling to ropes to cross streams.
Treacherous Terrain
The terrain is quite treacherous, so the advice for you is to have 1 or 2 trekking experts in your group! Before entering the forest, we were warned that there are many leeches inside, so please be careful! Despite all the difficulties and challenges, we finally reached Ngũ Hồ, touched the 'breath' of Bach Ma forest, breathed in the incredibly fresh air of the mountain forest, and listened to the babbling sound of the stream.
When Having to Climb Ropes
Into the Jungle...
Crossing the Stream
The Gushing Waterfall
A Memorable Snapshot by the Stream
ASEAN's Tallest Waterfall - Đỗ Quyên Falls
Considered the pride of Bach Ma, Đỗ Quyên Falls - the tallest waterfall in ASEAN is our final conquest in the exploration journey of Bach Ma. Situated at a height of 300m, Đỗ Quyên Falls earns its name from the thousands of rhododendron flowers surrounding it, creating a picturesque scene akin to a fairyland. Rhododendron is the characteristic flower of Bach Ma, also the national flower of Nepal, the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha (Lord Buddha) in the Lumbini region. To behold Đỗ Quyên like a majestic white dragon soaring in the sky, we had to ascend 689 steps amidst the forest, seemingly much higher than regular steps, requiring considerable endurance, my friend!
At the Peak of Đỗ Quyên Falls
After Descending 689 Steps to the Falls
is the overwhelming sensation in the face of the natural grandeur
Đỗ Quyên Falls not only treats us to a visual feast: the majestic and poetic scenery amidst the rugged mountains but also allows us to experience a symphony of sounds: the rushing water echoing through the rocks of the Yen Stream, the thunderous roar of Đỗ Quyên Falls cascading from above, the tinkling sound of water droplets dancing on the rocks, the rustling of the forest in the evening breeze,... How marvelous it is!
This place is the pride of Bach Ma
Tiny humans
The sky casts its shadow in the evening
The statue of Buddha Avalokiteshvara amidst the forested mountains
Leaving Đỗ Quyên Waterfall, on the way back, we were able to admire the statue of Buddha Avalokiteshvara carved from white marble nestled amidst the majestic nature. By then, the sky had turned dark, and we had to return in time to catch the car down the mountain, so we only stopped briefly to pay our respects to Buddha. The staircase leading up to the statue of Buddha, with trees and grass on both sides, made the scenery even more mysterious and enchanting.
The stone statue of Buddha Avalokiteshvara
There's a saying, “Visit the trees in Cuc Phuong, admire the wildlife in Cat Tien, bathe under the waterfalls in Bach Ma”. Bach Ma is a rich and diverse natural heritage treasure, a fascinating destination not to be missed when visiting Hue. Concluding our exploration of Bach Ma National Park, we have brought back beautiful memories, interesting experiences about this Land of Spiritual Harmony, especially the 'pages of memory' about the majestic and gentle Bach Ma.
Tips for You
Author: Nguyen Thi Kim Chi
*This article is part of the Mytour Golocal program
Mytour Golocal is a blog program that introduces beautiful destinations across Vietnam, part of the Mytour Go & Share program. It's a fantastic opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualified article, you'll receive 800,000 VND and a chance to become a Mytour Contributor. For more details about the program, visit: https://trv.lk/golocal
