Vietnam has several potentials for developing ecotourism, of which Ba Be National Park with its rich biodiversity is the top priority for wanderlusts who have a special passion for green travel. For more about Ba Be travel tips, keep on reading our article!
I - Bus from Hanoi to Ba Be National Park
The national park is located in Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province, about 250km to the North of the Hanoi center and 65km from Bac Kan City. You can refer to the following buses to get to the national park from Hanoi city:
An Bang bus
- Route: My Dinh bus station in Hanoi - the wharf of Be Be lake
- Ticket: 260,000 VND/person (11.1$)
- Frequency: 3 trips/day at 00:15 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:15 pm
- Contact: 0948956999
How to get to Ba Be National Park - Source: Vietnamtourism
Thuong Nga bus
- Route: My Dinh bus station in Hanoi - the wharf of Be Be lake
- Ticket: 120,000 VND/person (5.17$)
- Frequency: 1 trip/day at 2:15 pm
- Contact: 0977417999
Mr Linh shuttle bus
- Route: 204 Tran Quang Khai street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi - the wharf of Be Be lake
- Ticket: 350,000 VND/person (15$)
- Frequency: 2 trips/day at 00:30am and 4pm
- Contact: 0986016068 | http://www.mrlinhadventure.com/en
Note: From the wharf of Be Be lake, you call your hotel or homestay host to pick you up by boat or motorbike to get to your accommodation first.
II - What is Ba Be National Park weather like?
This Vietnamese national park is usually cool because it is surrounded by a lot of primeval forests and mountains. Therefore, you can come here at any time of the year. Nevertheless, the most ideal time to come to the national park of Ba Be is in spring and summer (from February to July). In the spring, there are lots of local festivals on the ninth and tenth days of the first Lunar month. While in the summer, the atmosphere here is extremely cool.
III - A guide to exploring Ba Be National Park
Note: Ba Be national park entrance fee is 45,000 VND/person (2$)
1 - Which are the best places to visit?
Some famous destinations to visit in the national park include:
Ba Be lake
Ba Be lake, located in the center of the national park, is the only natural lake in Vietnam placed on a mountain. The most ideal way to explore the lake is taking a kayaking tour or a motorboat tour with a guide. From the wharf of Ba Be lake, you can follow the routes to other attractions in Ba Be National Park such as Puong cave, An Ma temple,... The price depends on your route:
- Wharf of Ba Ba lake - An Ma temple route: 145,000 VND/person in 1 hour (6.25$)
- Wharf of Ba Be lake - An Ma temple - Tien pond - Puong cave route: 700,000 VND/person in 4 hour (30$)
Nang river
Nang River is in the north of Ba Be lake. The part flowing via the Ba Be lake has many beautiful places such as Dau Dang waterfall, Puong cave, Hua Ma cave,...The Nang river is very gentle, and peaceful.
Puong cave
Puong cave in Ba Be National Park Vietnam - Source: Internet
The flow of the Nang river has destroyed the limestone cliffs to form a magnificent cave named Puong. People usually refer to Puong cave as a giant shark's mouth which opens and swallows every boat passing by. It is a two-headed cave with a length of about 300m, and a height of 30m with vertical cliffs. Inside the cave are diverse and colorful stalactites making shadows on the water surface. Pieces of marble that are covered by moss have appeared due to the sunlight. Please note that there are many bats living within the cave.
Tay ethnic village (Pac Ngoi village)
The village is located on the bank of the Leng river, next to Ba Be lake in Ba Be National Park. There are approximately 80 households with nearly 400 friendly and hospitable people living in the village. They live in unique stilt houses tiled with yin and yang tiles.
Nowadays, most of them participate in tourism service activities. You have the chance to enjoy many specialties such as five-colored sticky rice, sour meat, and Lam rice, and join various activities such as fishing, and watching traditional singing performances when coming here.
Hua Ma cave - Source: Metrip
Hua Ma cave
Hua Ma, an impressive cave in the Ba Be National Park Vietnam, located in the Con Do mountain, with an altitude of 35m. It stands in an area with many large bushes. To reach the cave, you have to climb up following the steps along the mountainside. In this cave, there are lots of unique stalactite colors making the scenery inside very wonderful. The deeper you go inside, the more beautiful the cave is. The ticket price is 25,000 VND/person ($1.1)
2 - Ba Be National Park accommodation
The most popular forms of accommodation here are homestays, bungalows, ecolodge, and resorts. You can refer to the following accommodation.
Ba Be Ecolodge - Source: Fb Babeecolodge
Ba Be Ecolodge
The cafeteria area and the outdoor stage are the two areas that can hold conferences and events. There are also other services such as canoeing on Ba Be Lake, music shows, and Hanoi - Ba Be lake tour service.
- Contact: 0971111318
- Address: Thuong Giao commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province
- Website: http://www.babeecolodge.com
- Price: from 50,000 - 600,000 VND/person/night (2.3 - 26$)
Ba Be Lakeside Bungalow
This Ba Be National Park accommodation, built in the style of the Tay enthnic people, is the combination of luxury, comfort, and cultural features of the Tay ethnic group. The 12 rooms here have immense views of the mountains and Ba Be lake. It offers local dishes with raw materials supplied from local people and many other tours such as Pac Ngoi village tour, mountain climbing tour, fair market tour,...
- Contact: 02093984666
- Address: Coc Toc village, Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province
- Website: https://babelakeside.com
- Price: about 700,000 VND/person/night (30.17$)
Mr.Linh homestay
This Ba Be National Park homestay provides a full range of services: restaurants, and tours,...
- Contact: 0986016068
- Address: Coc Toc village, Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province
- Website: http://www.mrlinhhomestay.com/en
- Price: 810,000 - 1,120,000 VND/person/night (35-50$)
Ba Be Lake view - homestay
There are 3 homestay areas: Minh Tan Guest House: a modern accommodation located next to Ba Be Lake; Hai Dang Lodge: can accommodate many people, in Bo Lu village; and Hoang Nguyen homestay: The Tay ethnic traditional house, in Pac Ngoi village
- Contact: 0986016068
- Website: http://babelakeview.com/en
- Price: 160,000 - 400,000 VND/person/night (7 - 17$)
Ba Be Lake view - homestay is an ideal Ba Be National Park accommodation - Source: Internet
Huyen Hao Homestay
The local people at the homestay are very friendly. Moreover, the scenery is so amazing.
- Contact: 0355913600
- Address: Pac Ngoi village, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province
- Website: https://huyenhaohomestay.business.site
- Price: The room rates are quite affordable compared to other homestays: about 60,000-240,000 VND ($2.59-10.34)/ night, depending on the number of people.
3 - What to eat in Ba Be National Park?
Roasted suckling pig - Source: Internet
Coming here, don’t forget to enjoy such specialties as Ba Be grilled fish, roasted suckling pig, chicken, five-color sticky rice, steamed bamboo shoots with meat, and sour shrimp sauce. It is a big pity not to mention corn wine, a typical drink of Bac Kan province. It is fragrant, gentle, and sweet at the tip of the tongue, which makes it easier to drink corn wine than other common Western wines. Even if you are drunk on corn alcohol, it does not bring fatigue and headache like other alcoholic drinks.
4 - Suggested Ba Be National Park tours
Regarding foreign tourists, in order to optimize costs, ensure convenient, safe conditions, and have interesting experiences, the most reasonable option is to choose a package tour.The most suitable itinerary should be a 3-day & 2-night tour and you can visit all destinations in the national park. If you cannot arrange your time, you can take a 2-day-1-night tour.
Currently, there are many travel companies that organize weekly tours from Hanoi to Ba Be National Park. The price of tours 2 days 1 night is about 1,250,000 - 1,550,000VND (53.88 - 66.81$); while the 3 day 2 night tour is about 2,300,000 - 2,600,000VND (99,14 - 112.07$). You can take a look at the following recommendations:
Mr Linh adventures
- Address: 83 Ma May street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
- Tel: 02436425420
- Email: info@mrlinhadventure.com
- Website: www.mrlinhadventure.com
Go Asia Travel
- Head office: 20 Hang Muoi, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
- Tel: 039234105 or 0989888585
- Email: info@goasiatravel.com
Ba Be National Park is definitely one of top most ideal destinations in Vietnam to visit for nature-holics. Taking some tours to Ba Be lake and national park, you will be definitely satisfied with the amazing beauty of nature, people, and food as well.
— Duy Linh
