Ba Be Lake or Ba Be National Park located in Bac Can Province, 240km from Hanoi and covers more than 23,000 hectares boasting waterfalls, rivers, deep valleys, lakes and caves set amid towering peaks. The whole area is home to many ethnic minority communities. Ba Be Lake is in fact three lakes linked by wide channels, about 8km long and 400m wide. The surface is always calm, making a boat trip a peaceful experience.
To reach Ba Be, it is an approximately it is an approximately six to eight -hour drive on rough road but excellent scenery compensated.
What to do?
Highlights of Ba Be National Park are peaceful boat trips on the lake, visits at nearby tourist spots such as Puong Cave and Dau Dang Waterfall and trekking to minority villages. Basic homestay at villages in the park is also a great experience. Further north of Ba Be is Cao Bang Province , a remote area where you can see authentic ethnic minority lifestyle as well as the famous Ban Gioc Waterfall .
When to go?
The best time to visit Ba Be Lake is during the dry season (winter and spring). In the wet season, the lake takes up water from the Nang River and regularly flooded. If travel at the time of Long Tong Festival on the 10th and 11th days of the first lunar month, there are traditional games and performance of surrounding ethnic tribal groups.
Travel Tips
Homestay condition is basic. Mattresses and mosquito nets are provided. Your checklists should be good walking shoes, raincoats, insect repellent and sunscream.