Ba Be Travel Guide - All need to know about Ba Be trip

Ba Be Lake - a green gem located in the middle of the mountains and forests of the Northeast is one of the ideal ecotourism destinations for many domestic and foreign tourists.

Located in the top 20 largest freshwater lakes in the world, Ba Be Lake has a wild and romantic beauty with a cool and pleasant atmosphere. Nothing is more wonderful than taking a quiet moment to admire a vast body of water, and relax in the refreshing water after the days of conquering the mountains.

1. General information

Ba Be Lake, also known as Sam Pé Lake, means 3 lakes, formed by the confluence of three tributary river Pé Lam, Pé Lu, and Pé Leng in Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province.
It has a diverse ecosystem, including mountains, forests, rivers and lakes, and especially the fresh, cool climate all year round.

Ba Be Lake has an altitude of about 145m above sea level, with a surface area of more than 650hectares and 8km in length.
The lake is surrounded by limestone mountains with many caves and underground streams with an average depth of 20-25m.

In the middle of the lake, there are two small islands which are famous photographing spots when visiting Ba Be Lake: An Ma and Ba Goa Islands.
There are 5 ethnic groups living in this area. There are 5 ethnic groups living in this area. The Tay, living nearby the lake, is the majority. They are the first group residing here since over 2,000 years ago. The Nung, Dzao, and Hmong people live in the high mountains, while the Kinh people had just come to reside right along the lake.

2. When to travel to Ba Be Lake?

Ba Be Lake area has a cool and pleasant climate all year round. So you can come here to visit at any time.
In summer, this is the ideal place to avoid the heat of the city.

Beginning of autumn and spring are the seasons for nature-enthusiasts. The high clear sky along with the surrounding mountains reflecting on the crystal clear surface of the lake, creating a majestic and poetic scene.
Spring is the festive season. The Long Tong festival - Going down the rice field ceremony - of Tay ethnic group in Ba Be is held on the 9th - 10th of the first lunar month every year, praying for good weather, good crops, prosperous life, and peace. The festival offer many interesting activities such as rowing, throwing, wrestling, archery, traditional singing. The festival has many attractive activities such as rowing, throwing, wrestling, archery, traditional singing ...

3. How to get to Ba Be Lake?

Ba Be is about 220km from Hanoi, travel time is about 5 hours by car. You can take a public bus or rent a private car for your journey.
Public local bus.

Currently, An Binh bus goes straight from Hanoi to Ba Be boat station.
Pick up locations in Hanoi: The bus departs from the gate of My Dinh bus station and stops to pick up passengers at locations on Dai Co Viet Street, LOTTE Center Hanoi and 50 Vo Chi Cong str.

Drop-off point in Ba Be: Ba Be Lake Boat wharf.
From Hanoi to Ba Be: Depart from My Dinh at 12.00 and arrive in Ba Be at 17.30
From Ba Be to Hanoi: Depart at 7.40
Price: 260.000 VND/pax

Note that the bus is not very comfortable, so you will have to accept some inconveniences along the way: small bus, cramped seats, often be full with passengers and goods, stopping along the road at any time along the way to pick more passengers, quite noisy.
Rent a private car

From Hanoi, follow the highway Hanoi - Thai Nguyen to Thai Nguyen, then turn to National Road 3, to the intersection with TL 268 (km 31), turn left to Dinh Hoa (Cho Chu), keep going to Road 254 to Bang Lung (Cho Don) about 40km more to Ba Be. This route will take you to the homestay on the lake side, from these homestays people also have boats to take you around the lake.

If you want to explore the whole Northeast trip, you should rent a private car. Bus system connecting Ba Be with Northeast tourist destinations such as Cao Bang, Bao Lac, Ha Giang or Thac Ba lake is still very poor. You will have to change cars many times and it takes a long time to get to where you need to go.

>>> See more how to get from Hanoi to Ba Be Lake?

4. What to see in Ba Be Lake?

4.1 Dau Dang waterfall

Dau Dang Waterfall is one of the symbols of Ba Be tourism. The gentle stream of Nang River flowing to Hua Tang village in Nam Mau commune is blocked by hundreds of large and small rocks stacked with a slope of about 500m, forming a majestic three-step waterfall, each step about 3-4m in distance.
As one of the famous landmarks here, Dau Dang waterfall always gives a different impression to visitors when visiting Ba Be Lake.

This area is also home to Chien fish, one of the rare fish species; some weigh up to 10 kilograms.
To visit Dau Dang waterfall, you need an hour boat ride plus another 20-minute walk to reach the foot of the waterfall. The majestic scenery of the waterfall will leave a deep impression on you.

4.2 Puong cave

Puong cave in Cao Thuong commune, Ba Be, is a 300m long, 30m high cave with vertical cliffs and many stalactites of different shapes and colors. The cave was formed when the Nang River passed through the Lung Nham limestone mountain creating a spectacular landscape.
Inside the cave,there are strange-shaped stalactites hanging down along with the shimmering light on the crystal clear water. Visitors can take a boat ride through Puong cave like in HaLong bay or Tam Coc. The cave’s ceiling is home to tens of thousands of bats, making it an unique experience for tourists.

4.3 Hua Ma cave

Hua Ma cave (or Leo Pen cave) is located by the Leng river, 4 km from Pac Ngoi village. The cave is in the middle of Co Don mountain with an altitude of 350 m above sea level, covered by dense green trees. Pac Ngoi village to Hua Ma cave is a favorite cycling route for tourists.
Although the road from the foot of the mountain to the entrance of the cave has stairs, visitors still have to climb 300 meters to reach Hua Ma Cave. Outside of the cave is a very beautiful and peaceful ethnic village with rustic stilt houses nestled in the immense green color of mountains and forests.

4.4 Fairy Pond

Ao Tien is a lovely small lake located in the middle of a limestone basin, isolated from the Ba Be Lake. From the bank of Ba Be Lake, you can reach the pond after a brief walk. The pond is formed by groundwater that seeps through the surrounding rock.
With a crystal clear and calm body of water surrounded by majestic mountains and green trees, Ao Tien will give you a peaceful sense as if you were in the middle of a fairyland. According to local legends, fairies used to descend here to bathe and play.

4.5 Pac Ngoi Village

Located in the core area of Ba Be National Park, Pac Ngoi village attracts tourists by its peaceful scenery, unique and beautiful Tay culture. The village is located on quite flat land. In front of the village, the fields are fertile all year round along with a giant limestone mountain range behind. Pac Ngoi village still has a number of old stilt houses with unique architectural designs.

Everyone in the village is from the Tay ethnic group. For generations, they have been growing rice and maize in alluvial areas along the river as well as fishing on Ba Be Lake for living. Currently, the majority of households in the village engage business in tourist service activities.
Coming to Pac Ngoi village, you will experience and enjoy delicious specialties of the lake area (Com lam (sticky rice in bamboo pipe), grilled fresh water fishes, local vegetables, five colors sticky rice….); sleeping on stilts house; taking motorboat rides on the lake; fishing; enjoying Tày girls dancing and singing performance and visiting the ethnic villages around Ba Be Lake.

The Pac Ngoi night market takes place every Friday and Saturday evenings. This is an opportunity for you to meet different ethnic groups, discover their unique typical local life, cultures and products.

5. What to do in Ba Be Lake?

5.1 Boat trip

While visiting the lake, boating is a must. Sitting on a boat wandering on a vast lake surrounded by forests and rocky mountains, feeling the breath of nature with all of your senses, let yourself go and relax, isn't it great?
In Ba Be, you can choose between dugout canoe, a traditional boat of local people, or motorboat. Motorboat is usually preferred because it can travel longer distances.

Motorboat:

You can start from the side of Ba Be National Park (Ba Be boat wharf) or from Pac Ngoi village. Each boat trip will last about 3-4 hours depending on the schedule of the visit.
Boat schedule and price for visiting Ba Be Lake

Depart from Ba Be boat wharf

• Ba Be Lake – Fairy Pond – Puong cave – Dau Dang waterfall: 800.000 VND
• Ba Be Lake – An Ma temple – Fairy Pond – Puong Cave: 750.000 VND
• Ba Be Lake – An Ma temple – Fairy Pond – Dau Dang waterfall: 600.000 VND
• Ba Be Lake – An Ma temple – Fairy Pond: 400.000 VND
• Ba Be lake – An Ma temple: 200.000 VND

Depart from Buoc Lom wharf for the route Nang river to Ba Be Lake

• Buoc Lom – Puong Cave – Dau Dang waterfall – Fairy Pond – An Ma temple – Pac Ngoi: 800.000 VND
• Buoc Lom – Puong Cave – Fairy Pond – An Ma temple – Pac Ngoi: 750.000 VND
• Buoc Lom – Pac ngoi: 700.000 VND
• Buoc Lom – Puong Cave – Fairy Pond – An Ma temple – The North wharf – The South wharf: 700.000 VND

Regulation for the number of people on the boat trip:
12 people/1 boat for domestic tourists
10 people/1 boat for foreign tourists

Dugout canoe

The dugout canoe (thuyen doc moc) is a unique cultural feature in Ba Be Lake. Originally, the name meant: ”single tree”, the boat was made from only one tree. However, nowadays, people have built boats with the design of a single wood but made of metal to protect forests and limit deforestation.
From a means of transport and fishing of the local people, now dugout canoeing has become a favorite tourist’s way of transportation. Sitting on a small boat rowing by a Tay girl in traditional costumes amidst the natural beauty, you will have different feelings mixed with a little thrill and excitement.
Price: 300.000 VND/2hours/2pax

5.2 Kayaking

Kayaking is the best activity to enjoy the beauty of Ba Be Lake. You can reach hard-to-reach places, visit small islands, rocky outcrops and caves.
Wearing a life jacket is mandatory when kayaking. You can also bring a swimsuit, swimming equipment, sunglasses, and sunscreen to enjoy the cool and refreshing water.
Price: 8 USD/hour/2 pax

5.3 Walking - Trekking

Ba Be is also an ideal destination for those who love walking. Around the lake are the villages of Tay, Nung, Dao, and Hmong ethnic groups. You have many options: trek 1 day, 2 days, 3 days ... Usually you will have a full day in Ba Be for boat trips combined with walking in the lakeside villages.

5.4 Biking

Cycling in Ba Be is an activity that many people are interested in. The most popular cycling route is from Pac Ngoi to Hua Ma Cave. This 4km journey takes you through beautiful and peaceful villages, green forests and gentle streams.
Most homestays offer bicycles for rent. The bike quality in Ba Be is not as good as in other tourist destinations but there are not many options in this remote area.
Price: 50.000 VND / person

6. Where to stay in Ba Be Lake?

The main accommodation service in Ba Be is staying in the local stilts houses. In Pac Ngoi and Bo Lu villages, the stilts houses have been renovated to a new appearance with full equipment to serve tourists from all over the world. In other places, homestay in Ba Be has been rated excellently. There are large houses that are divided into separate bedrooms. 

Booking a homestay is always a recommended experience for tourists because you will have unforgettable moments with indigenous people to better understand their daily life: cooking with the host, having dinner and chatting with them with the help from your tour guide, have fun and participate in a traditional music show with the villagers…

Price for overnight with dinner and breakfast in stilts house is only 15 USD/pax

Hotel: Besides the homestay, you can stay in hotel in Ba Be for better accommodations:

Saigon Ba Be resort 4 star
Add: Na Khieng village, Ba Be district, Bac Kan Province
Price: from 60 USD/room/night ( 2 persons in room included breakfast)

Ba Be Resort
Add: Buoc Luom, Khang Ninh Commune, Ba Be
Price: from 30 USD/room/night ( 2 persons in room included breakfast)

Ba Be Lakeside Bungalow
Add: Toc Coc village, Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan Province
Price: 30 USD/room/night ( 2 persons in room included breakfast)

Ba Be Ecolodge
Add: Na Khieng village, Khanh Ninh, Ba Be, Na Khieng, Bac Kan
Price: 25 USD/room/night ( 2 persons in room included breakfast)

7. What to eat in Ba Be Lake?

Ba Be has rustic local dishes but has a special appeal to visitors.
If you don't mind, you can try a little grilled fish, grilled shrimp, grilled crab ... all caught in Ba Be Lake. This is favorite dishes of Vietnamese tourists.
Besides, roasted suckling pig, chicken in the garden, sticky rice, fresh bamboo shoots ... will also bring you special flavors in your meal.

8. How to organize a trip to Ba Be?

Usually, tours in Ba Be will be combined with the Northeast trip or Northeast trip. Depending on your time schedule, you can choose from the following schedules:

• Hanoi – Ba Be Lake – Bao Lac – Dong Van – Ha Giang – Hanoi: 7 days
• Hanoi – Ha Giang – Dong Van – Bao Lac – Cao  Bang – Ban Gioc waterfall – Cao Bang – Ba Be -  Hanoi: 9 days
• Hanoi – Ba Be – Thac Ba – Bac Ha – Sapa – Hanoi: 6 days

>>> Reference tours in Ba Be Lake, please  click here for detail and price