Ba Be National Park, Be Be Lake, Bac Kan Travel Guide

Country: Vietnam

Province: Bac Kan

Bac Kan Holiday Weather today

Date/time of update: April 19, 2024, 1:44 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Overcast Clouds

Temperature: 25.21°C
Temperature feels like: 26.27°C
Minimum Temperature: 25.21°C
Maximum Temperature: 25.21°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1005hPa
Humidity:95%
Visibility: 10000m
Wind speed: 0.7m/sec
Wind Direction: 182 degrees
Cloudiness: 99%
Sunrise: 2024-04-18 10:33:23
Sunset: 2024-04-19 11:17:45

Ba Be National Park is 230km north east of Hanoi. The whole area is of towering limestone mountains with evergreen forests alternated by flat low land. The elevation is from 150m to 1098m above sea level.

Ba Be National Park Travel Guide Overview

The center of the national park is Ba Be Lake, meaning the big lake of Pe Leng, Pe lu and Pe Lam lakes. The lake has numerous small inlets and islets, stretching for nearly 8 kilometers from north to south.

The averaged elevations of the Ba Be Lake is 150m above sea level. And the lake has the average depth ranging between 17m to 23m and some places up to 35m.

Ba Be is fed by Ta Han, Bo Lu and Leng Rivers. The water of Ba Be Lake drains into the Nang River. In the rainy season, water may flow from the Nang River back into the lake. The water is hence in constant motion state which makes it fresh and clean all year round.

Ba Be Lake Vietnam
The channel where water flows in and out of Ba Be Lake from the Nang River

Flora and Fauna

Ba Be National Park is home to rich flora and fauna systems. The flora includes the threatened Burretiodendron hsienmu, Streblus tonkinensis among which the climbing bamboo (Ampelocalamus sp) is endemic to the region and often found on hill slopes that lie adjacent to the lakeside.

Ba Be National Park Vietnam
The Widow Island, Ba Be Lake, Vietnam

The fauna system is rich and includes many endangered species. The most important mammal species for conservation are the Francois’ Langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) and Owston’s Banded Civet (Hemigulus ownstoni).

The Vietnamese Salamander (Paramesotriton deloustali) was recently discovered in streams in the buffer zone of the national park. These were first recorded as endemic species to the Tam Dao National Park.

The national park is also notable for its considerable butterfly diversity, for which, over 300 species have been recorded to date.

Puong Cave, Ba Be Lake, Vietnam

People and Population

The area around Ba Be National Park is also inhabited by some colorful ethnic groups with very traditional lifestyle.
Tay 58%
Dzao 21%
Mong 13%
Nung 7%
Kinh 1%

The local ethnic diversity combined with the perfectly fresh eco-system makes Ba Be National Park an ideal destination for nature and culture travelers. Paradissa offers a number of eco-tours and adventure tours such as trekking with homestay, boat cruising around Ba Be National Park and in Bac Kan Province.

The Quang Khe Market at the Ba Be National Park

Tourist Attractions, Things to do at Ba Be National Park

1/ Nang River Cruise

The Nang River Cruise often starts from Cho Ra Township and travels further into the core zone of the Ba Be National Park. You can visit the Puong Cave, Dau Dang Waterfall and ethnic communities by the riverside and in the core zone of Ba Be National Park.

The Nang River near the Puong Cave at Ba Be National Park

2/ Ba Be Lake Boat Trip

The boat trip on the Ba Be Lake may range from half a day to full day (8 hours). The boat trip brings you to the Dau Dang Waterfall, Dau Dang Tay Village, forests of the Ba Be National Park.

Ba Be Lake offers lovely boat trips on the serene water, amid forested mountains

3/ Puong Cave

The amazing cave is 40 minutes' boat trip from Cho Ra Township. There is the dry area and water area inside the cave.

The Puong Cave at Ba Be National Park has both dry area and under water area

4/ Dau Dang Waterfall

The Dau Dang Waterfall often running water with relaxing atmosphere amid lush forest of the Ba Be National Park.

5/ Hua Ma Cave

The huge caven is 15 minutes' cycling from the headquarters of the Ba Be National Park. There are quite some bats inside the cave.

The Hua Ma Cave at the Ba Be National Park

6/Trekking trails

Trekking trails in the Ba Be National Park travel through ethnic villages, corn fields on mountain slopes, valleys, dense forests. The trekking tours range from half a day to two days.

A lovely trekking trail at the Ba Be National Park

7/ Bike routes, motorcycle routes

Inside the Ba Be National Park there are several forest trails which are great for bicycle tours or motorbike tours. There are ethnic villages to visit on these routes. The mountains and landscapes are spectacular on these routes.

A lovely lakeside forest trail at the Ba Be National Park for bicycles or motorbikes

8/ Ethnic villages

There are several ethnic communities inhabiting in the core zone and buffer zone of the Ba Be National Park. We can visit these villages on trekking tours, bike tours or motorbike tours. There are roads big enough that we can get to some by car. Homestay service is available at some communities. It is a wonderful experience to spend a couple of days at one of the villages by the lakeside of the Ba Be Lake.