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Ba Be Lake is like the hidden gem emerald of the mountains and forests of northeastern Vietnam. The surface of the lake is like a giant mirror on which the silhouettes of mountains and clouds are imprinted. Besides the beautiful scenery, Ba Be Lake is also famous for a legend passed down by generations of the Tay people living here.
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Introduction Of Ba Be Lake
About 240 km northeast of Hanoi, Ba Be Lake belongs to Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province, in the Ba Be National Park complex surrounded by two arches of Ngan Son and Bac Son. Ba Be Lake is one of the 20 largest freshwater lakes in the world and the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam.
The lake has an area of 650 hectares stretching over 8km, with an average depth of about 20-25m. Ba Be means three lakes; It is because this lake is the convergence of three tributaries of Pe Lam, Pe Lu, and Pe Leng rivers.
Upon visiting this place, you must watch the interesting transformation of Ba Be Lake in a single day. In the early morning, when the fog is still spreading over the mountains and forests, Ba Be Lake looms like a flying fairy with a giant white skirt. At sunset, the lake magically glows in countless brilliant rays of sunlight. Visitors also have a chance to listen to the legend of the creation of this wonderful lake.
The Legend Of Ba Be Lake
Once upon a time, in Nam Mau commune, Bac Kan province, there was a worshiping festival for Buddha held at the beginning of the year. The villagers dressed well and enthusiastically went to the temple to pray for luck and prosperity.
One day, suddenly, an old beggar woman appeared from nowhere. She was frightened, thin, and covered with dirty and smelly clothes. The crowd approached, "I am so hungry! Give me something to eat, ladies, gentlemen please!" she begged. The people banished her away. The old woman trudged to the crossroads and met a mother with her son returning from the market. Seeing the poor beggar, the mother took her home, gave her some food, and invited her to stay overnight with them.
At midnight, they looked at where the old woman was sleeping and saw a bright light. From there appeared a giant dragon whose head is on the rafters and tail is on the floor, curling up in a corner of the house. The mother and son were terrified, they had to close their eyes, hold their breath, and prepare for their final moment on earth.
In the morning, they did not see any dragons but instead, still the old beggar woman, sick and aching. Right before she left, the old woman approached and told the mother that there would be a great flood in this area and gave her a packet of kitchen ashes to scatter around the house. After hearing that, the mother was worried and asked how to save the villagers. The beggar picked up a grain of rice, opened it, then gave two pieces of the husk to the mother and said to use it for good deeds and quickly disappeared. The mother quickly warned the villagers, but no one believed her.
That night, while everyone was praying in the temple, a column of water on the ground exploded, and a landslide came right after. The situation got out of control in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, everything sank into the water.
Fortunately, the small house of the good mother and her son was untouched. Then she remembered the old beggar's words and immediately threw two pieces of rice husks into the water, which, strangely enough, turned into two large dugouts. Since, despite the strong wind and heavy rain, the mother and her son did their best to save the suffering villagers. When the water receded, the land turned into Ba Be Lake, and the home of that mother and her son became a hillock floating in the lake, now known as Ba Goa Hill.
The touching fairy tale is transmitted orally from generation to generation by locals to educate future generations about love, compassion, and kindness.
See more about the Vietnam tours that bring you to Ba Be:
>> A Comprehensive 14-day Vietnam Itinerary from South to North
>> 1 Week in Vietnam: Your Perfect Travel Plan
