1. Introduction to Bach Ma National Park
Bach Ma National Park is located in the former Phu Loc district, Hue City. It is 40km from the center of Hue City and 65km from the center of Da Nang City. It is considered part of the Northern Truong Son mountain range, comprising many mountain ranges over 1000m high. With an area of โโnearly 375 km2, Bach Ma National Park is considered a vast primeval forest, home to 1715 animal species and 2373 plant species, many of which are rare and endangered species listed in Vietnam’s Red Book. According to local people, Bach Ma National Park was discovered and developed by a French engineer named
M.Girard in 1932 and has become a famous resort to this day.
2. When is the best time to visit Bach Ma National Park?
The weather in Bach Ma National Park is quite cool, with little rain, making it convenient for outdoor activities such as sightseeing, traveling, and swimming. Hue has two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. In my experience, the ideal time to visit is during the dry season, from December to April each year. This is the ideal time to travel to Bach Ma National Park because the climate is quite dry. However, depending on your preferences and schedule, you can choose to visit Bach Ma at any time.
3. Directions to Bach Ma National Park
3.1 From Hue City Center
From Hue city center, simply travel along National Highway 1A towards Da Nang. Then ask for directions to Phu Loc and continue straight until you see a sign directing you to Bach Ma. Follow the signs to reach your destination.
Note: On the way to Phuc Loc commune, you will see a sign directing you to Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery. If you want to visit the monastery, turn onto the sign; otherwise, do not turn and continue straight.
3.2 From Da Nang City Center
If you are in Da Nang city, simply follow the Hai Van Pass towards National Highway 1A, then follow the directions above.
3.3 Directions inside Bach Ma National Park
After arriving at Bach Ma National Park, you must stop to purchase an entrance ticket, which costs 40,000 VND/ticket/person. Since the distance from the entrance gate to the summit of Bach Ma Mountain is quite far, about 19km, if you cannot walk for a long time and your health condition does not allow it, you can rent a vehicle.
4. Attractions in Bach Ma National Park
4.1 Vong Hai Dai (Sea View Tower)
Located on the majestic summit of Bach Ma Mountain is Vong Hai Dai, at an altitude of approximately 1430m above sea level. This is the most interesting tourist attraction in Bach Ma National Park. From Vong Hai Dai, you can admire the panoramic view of the magnificent mountains and forests of Bach Ma National Park, gaze at Lang Co Bay or the azure Canh Duong Sea, which blends seamlessly with the sky.
4.2 Bach Ma Five Lakes
From Vong Hai Dai, after descending about 2km, you will find Do Quyen Villa. Here, simply follow the signs to reach Bach Ma Five Lakes to explore five enchanting lakes with their unique beauty. The crystal-clear water combined with the unique topography creates a scene as beautiful as a traditional ink painting.
4.3 Photo Stop at Do Quyen Waterfall & Waterfall Rappelling Adventure
Do Quyen Waterfall is an endless source of inspiration for every visitor to Bach Ma National Park. To reach this location, you need to descend 689 stone steps to admire the white, flowing ribbon of Do Quyen Waterfall in Bach Ma National Park. Since 2024, the Do Quyen Waterfall area has added a zipline service across the waterfall, offering a thrilling experience favored by many adventurous tourists.
4.4 Tri Sao Waterfall
Tri Sao Waterfall is also an attractive photo spot nearby. After climbing the mountain slopes and crossing the sparse forest, you can reach this place to feel the sound of water flowing over the rocks and admire the crystal-clear, beautiful lake.
4.5 Parashorea stellata forest
Bach Ma National Park has a diverse ecosystem, among which is the black chรฒ forest with many majestic ancient trees, straight trunks, and pyramidal canopies with diameters of up to 1 meter and heights of over 30 meters. A trip to explore the black chรฒ forest is only truly appealing to those who are very interested in the plant world with towering ancient forest trees, with trunks so large that it takes several arms to encircle them.
To explore the black pine forest, you’ll need to travel about 3km from the Bach Ma National Park station. Along the way, you’ll easily spot clusters of small, sparsely growing trees, as well as medium-sized trees nestled together in the rare patches of sunlight, each black pine trunk standing like a giant, sturdy, and towering pillar. If you enjoy thrill-seeking activities, you can participate in some challenging recreational activities such as zip-lining or walking precariously on floating nets high above the ground.
4.6 Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery, Hue
If you’ve set foot in Bach Ma National Park, you can’t miss Truc Lam Zen Monastery. Located right in the middle of Truoi Lake on Linh Son Mountain, the monastery offers breathtaking views of the natural scenery and allows you to explore unique architectural structures in this one-of-a-kind location.
4.7 Bach Ma Village
Situated at the foot of Bach Ma Mountain, Bach Ma Village is a very popular eco-tourism destination among young people. Inspired by the Hobbit village in the movie “Lord of the Rings,” it features round earthen houses nestled in a lush green valley, surrounded by streams and natural waterfalls.
Here you can bathe in cool streams, camp overnight, take photos in a fairytale-like setting, and enjoy Hue specialties at a restaurant that can accommodate over 500 guests, such as banh beo, banh xeo, banh loc, and bun bo. The outdoor BBQ area in the evening is also very popular.
5. Eating and Drinking Tips for Bach Ma National Park?
This is something many people don’t anticipate and are often surprised by when they go deep into the forest, as there are no restaurants or food stalls. Therefore, preparing food in advance is a crucial step for a fulfilling day of sightseeing.
5.1 Lunch in the Forest with Light Snacks
Eaters are mainly concentrated in the Km17 area at the foot of the mountain. If you want to have lunch there, you have to go back from the summit, which is quite inconvenient. The best way is to buy food beforehand in Hue City or at the entrance and bring it up. Bread, rice balls, energy bars, fruit, and drinks sufficient for a whole day of climbing are popular choices for trekkers. If you go on a package tour, meals at restaurants inside the park are usually included in the tour package.
5.2 Breakfast and Dinner at Km17
Homestays and guesthouses in the Km17 area serve meals with simple, budget-friendly menus. This is a good option for breakfast before the summit and dinner after returning.
5.3 Eating at Bach Ma Village
If you combine your trip with a visit to Bach Ma Village, this is the place with the most well-organized dining services in the area. The food court here offers a vegetable buffet included in the entrance ticket, along with specialty grilled dishes such as grilled chicken, grilled frog, and grilled lamb leg at reasonable prices, and a coffee bar by the stream. However, please note that you are not allowed to bring food or drinks into the area, except for fruit.
6. Important Notes When Visiting Bach Ma National Park
To make your trip to Bach Ma National Park complete, you need to prepare some essential items below:
โข Sunscreen and insect repellent.
โข A light jacket and comfortable clothing.
โข Snacks and drinks.
โข Hiking shoes or athletic shoes for exploring the Bach Ma forest.
โข A travel bag or backpack.
โข If you intend to camp, don’t forget to bring a tent.
The entire route is not too steep and is relatively easy to conquer. However, the path up the mountain is relatively slippery and often shrouded in fog, obscuring visibility. You should equip yourself with adequate personal protective equipment and specialized mountaineering gear to ensure a safe journey.
