Buzz
Located not far from the center of Hue, just over 30km and an hour's motorcycle ride southwest leads you to Khe Lanh. Khe Lanh is a small waterfall with year-round flowing water, situated within the reservoir area of the Binh Dien Hydroelectric Plant – Huong Tra town – Thua Thien Hue province.
Khe Lanh: Unmissable Destination in Hue
The journey to Khe Lanh is quite straightforward by motorcycle or car. You can choose to travel via the route visiting Thien Mu Pagoda, Van Thanh, then turn towards the Hue bypass road, and continue along the road to Binh Dien commune. Or take the Minh Mang route, passing through Thien An Hill, Khai Dinh Tomb, the statue of Bodhisattva Quan Am, and then turn onto Tuann Bridge. To avoid getting lost, pay attention to Binh Dien market, turn left immediately, and ask for directions to the Binh Dien hydroelectric dam.
Prepare essential items for the trip:
– Lifebuoy or life jacket (as there are no tourism services here, residents do not equip them when traveling on the reservoir).
– Beverages and quick snacks such as sandwiches, smoked meats, assorted fruits and vegetables (as swimming or bathing will likely work up an appetite, as there are no food services available here).
– Vitamin C to prevent dehydration during the walking process.
– Walkie-talkies if available (because there is currently no phone signal in this area).
– Various swimwear/bathing suits.
– Wide-brimmed hats, various sunscreen lotions, insect repellents, especially insect repellents, as there are quite a few bees and flies here.
As the reservoir area is under the management of the Binh Dien Hydroelectric Plant, you need to contact the local police and the security guards of the Binh Dien Hydroelectric Plant to be allowed to enter the reservoir area.
Passing through the factory gate, you can either ride a motorcycle or drive a car right up to the foot of the hydroelectric dam. For convenience, you'll park at the Source Forest Management Station. From there, contact local boatsmen to arrange transportation to the Khe Lanh area, nestled within the reservoir of the hydroelectric plant. On lucky days, you might even get to ride the boat with the cheerful forest rangers from the Mission Duty Station for exploration.
After a 45-minute boat ride through the winding mountain ranges and crystal-clear waters, Khe Lanh emerges from a distance like a soft, enticing silk strip. Upon docking, you'll hike along the rocky stream banks for about 15 minutes to reach the base of the waterfall. At the foot of the waterfall, there's a massive rock slab, resembling a giant table, providing enough space for a group of 10-12 people to sit and rest.
The water here flows gently but refreshingly cool, perhaps from which the name Khe Lanh originates from the locals' description. The beauty of the waterfall here captivates tourists due to the fascinating flow and terrain. During high water levels, the main cascade flows vigorously and majestically. During low water levels, it splits into two slender streams or reunites like sharp swords piercing straight into the sky. With water flowing as if descending from the blue heavens, locals also refer to it by another name, the Sky Well.
To capture beautiful photos at this waterfall, it's best to arrive early, around 6 a.m. After reaching the waterfall, the angled sunlight creates picturesque moments. Additionally, you can prepare some outfits for waterfall photo shoots to capture the beautiful and unique moments here. After 1 p.m., as the sun hides behind the waterfall's peak, the area darkens quickly, presenting an opportunity for us to continue exploring the second waterfall in the reservoir, Khe Hung.
“Hung” in the local dialect here means “Plentiful,” as there are more water bodies here compared to Khe Lanh. The journey between the two water bodies takes about 25 minutes, plus an additional 20-minute trek through the forest. With plenty of pristine blue water bodies, you can freely splash around after a day of trekking and stream wading. However, remember to wear a life jacket.
Below are some images of Khe Lanh for you to admire:
From Heritage Exploration
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Reference: Travel Handbook by Mytour
MytourNovember 4th, 2016
