Guide to the route to Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan Province

Dubbed as one of the 20 most beautiful natural freshwater lakes on the planet, Ba Be Lake is situated in Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province, 230 km from Hanoi. Despite being popular among international tourists, it is often overlooked by us, the Vietnamese.

Guide to the route to Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan Province

The local people refer to Ba Be as Slam Pé, meaning three lakes. This name originates from the fact that the lake is the confluence of 3 branches: Pé Lầm, Pé Lù, and Pé Lèng rivers.

There are multiple routes to Ba Be Lake, but the two most common ones are highlighted. The journey to Ba Be Lake is incredibly scenic with distinctive Northern mountain and forest landscapes. The road is relatively easy and spacious. If you choose to explore by motorbike, it will be a fascinating and memorable adventure.

– Traveling from Hanoi through Thai Nguyen city, Bac Kan: Ba Be Lake is 230km from Hanoi and about 70km from Bac Kan city. You can take a bus to Bac Kan and then rent a motorbike to head to Ba Be Lake via QL3, turning left at the Nà Phặc intersection onto QL279, and continuing straight through QL254.

– Traveling from Cao Bang city on the adventurous route through Northeast provinces: It takes about 3 hours to travel from Cao Bang to Ba Be Lake on QL3. At the Na Phac intersection, turn right onto QL279 and continue straight. This route passes through the famous Windy Pass in Bac Kan.

Ba Be Lake is where mountains, rivers, and cool mountainous climate harmonize, making it an ideal destination year-round. Especially during this time, the Ba Be mountains change their foliage, creating a scene no different from a fairyland.

Passenger transport on the lake includes motorized boats modeled after the traditional wooden boats of the Tay ethnic people. You can rent a boat to explore the scenic beauty of Ba Be Lake all day long. Boating around the lake, you'll witness the towering mountain ranges on both sides and the riverbanks adorned with ancient towering trees reflecting their beauty on the water's surface.

When visiting Ba Be Lake, besides enjoying a boat tour, you can also explore places like:

– Pac Ngòi Village: Pac Ngòi Cultural Tourism Village in Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, is a stilt house village of the Tay ethnic people along the banks of the Leng River, adjacent to Ba Be Lake. The village has more than 80 households with nearly 400 residents, all belonging to the Tay ethnic group.

– Puong Cave: Puong Cave is approximately 300 meters long and over 30 meters high. The magnificence of the cave lies not only in its various and beautiful stalactites but also in the underground river flowing inside. A branch of the Nang River flows through erosion, penetrating through the mountain walls along with geological formations, forming the cave.

– Cascade of Đầu Đẳng Waterfall: A waterfall stretching over 1,000 meters with three stone steps, each step differing by about 3-4 meters in length, adding a wild and romantic touch to Ba Be. In the early autumn, when the rains are not abundant, the waterfall becomes less majestic than in the rainy season.

– Hua Ma Cave: Located about 6 km from Ba Be Lake. To reach the cave, visitors have to climb about 300 meters along the gently sloping mountain with stair steps. Inside, there are numerous stalactites in various shapes, mysterious and enchanting.

– Fairy Pond: The calm and flat surface of the pond, reflecting the lush mountains, is truly beautiful. Legend has it that fairies descended to the mortal world to bathe in this azure pond, hence the name Fairy Pond.

If you wish to temporarily leave behind the hustle and bustle of urban life and immerse yourself in nature, Ba Be Lake is the perfect choice for your journey.

(Photos: aquaincvietnam, astraldeer, patriickng, hieusol, seudaudo, katja.pham, nguyen_phuong_ha113, koojo)

By Như Ý

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour