Tranquil Ba Be National Park is absolutely stunning with the three interlinked Ba Be Lakes at its heart, rimmed by jagged karst peaks and thickly forested slopes. Most visitors come here to take peaceful boat trips or kayak on the lake and explore the caves full of stalactites and stalagmites in the vicinity, but for the more active, there's also excellent hiking and trekking in the hills here between ethnic minority villages. This is one of the most peaceful spots in Vietnam, and travelers who spend the night here sleep in traditional stilt-house homestay accommodation along the lakeshore, allowing an experience of simple rural life.
BY FLIGHT: The Noi Bai International Airport (code: HAN) in Hanoi is the closest. From the airport you would have to get to the main city centre of Hanoi at the Hoan Kiem Lake, from here, a number of shuttle services are available to drop you to Ba Be National Park. It should take you about 5 hours from there to reach the national park.
BY ROAD: You can also take a private car transport from one of the tour operators in Hanoi. However, please remember to check the authenticity of the operators.
BY TRAIN: Overnight trains are available from Hanoi to Lao Cai. From the Lao Cai station, you can avail the services of local taxi operators to reach the tourism centre in Bo Lu Village.
BY BUS: Buses leave from Hanoi, Sapa, Cao Bang and Ha Giang at regular intervals. The bus will drop you off at the Ba Be Tourism Centre in Bo Lu Village.
The Ba Be National Park weather is most suitable during the months of November to January as the cold isn't too biting and the wildlife and vegetation are at their best. If the cold is not your thing, you can visit this national park during springtime that lasts from February to April. The spring ensures crisp sunlight and just the right amount of chill to make your travels peaceful. The dry season is also the best time to visit this national park as in the wet seasons, the Nang River can flood the Ba Be Lake, making travel all the more difficult.
Located at a distance of 240 Kms. from the city of Hanoi, Ba Be National Park is a stunning national reserve blessed with rolling hills, tall limestone karsts and over 550 plant varieties. It is also populated by 353 types of butterflies, 65 types of mammals and the rare Vietnamese Salamander.
A part of the Bac Kan Province, Ba Be National Park is named after the Ba Be Lake. The best way to get around the park is through the relaxed river cruises that take you around the Puong Caves and the Ba Be Lake. However, trekking and hiking through the paths is also a great way to see its verdant beauty.
The limestone cliffs here stand in stark contrast to the emerald greenery that creeps all the way up to the peaks. Chinese pangolin, slow loris, rhesus macaque, and European otter are some animals that can be found here.